Malawi SDA Church Meets President Mutharika: Commit To Support Govt In Development

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church assures Government of total support to the development of Malawi.

The delegation of the church leadership was on Thursday meeting President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe with an aim of introducing to him the newly transitioned leadership from SDA Malawi Union Mission to the SDA Malawi Conference Union.

When introducing the new leadership, President for the SDA Malawi Union Conference Pastor Frackson Kayoma said SDA church will continue to work with Government in various development projects that the church is implementing countrywide.

He said apart from spiritual services, the SDA church is supporting Government through various projects and programmes including offering education, health and women welfare and rights services.

Said Kayoma, "Seventh Day Adventist Church under this new leadership is committed to work with you in the development of this nation"

He assured the president of the church earnest prayers for the good leadership and health and also thanked Mutharika for guaranteeing the Church freedom of worship.

"We thank you, Your Excellency for providing us conducive environment of freedom of worship in this country. This assures us that we have a God fearing leader" he added

In his remarks president Mutharika commended the SDA church for its number of development projects which are supporting his government goals and aspirations.

"As Government, we will do all we can to improve the welfare of the people" he said

"Government recognises the role of the church for both spiritual and wellbeing of the people.

My Government will continue to create space for churches to worship freely"

He also congratulated the SDA Church for the transition from SDA Malawi Union Mission to the SDA Malawi Conference Union. He said this shows that the church is going on the path for self independence.

The SDA Church since  12th June 2015 transitioned from SDA Malawi Union Mission to the SDA Malawi Conference Union. The transition means that the SDA Church in Malawi is independent in its affairs.

President Mutharika Warns On Rampant Theft Of Maize In ADMARC Depots

President Peter Mutharika sent a warning on Wednesday against rampant theft on Government maize in ADMARC depots which has now created shortage of maize in most depots.

Reports indicate that some ADMARC officials are conniving together with some maize vendors to buy ADMARC maize at night and sell it to poor Malawians elsewhere at very exorbitant prices and in some places the  maize prices are as high as Fifteen Thousand kwacha per 50kg bag, and those who cannot find maize at ADMARC or fail to afford such exorbitant prices are left

starving.

"It is with considerable sadness that I address you today because what is happening to the maize at ADMARC depots is totally unacceptable." Said Mutharika

He expressed his deepest disappointment to hear reports of maize scarcity in ADMARC depots just few months after Government procured and received enough maize to cater for everyone’s needs particularly 2.8 million people who needs food support.

"Most sadly, I have been told that there is critical shortage of maize at many ADMARC depots. I am further informed

that some ADMARC officials are conniving together with some criminal maize vendors, who buy ADMARC maize at night and sell it to poor Malawians elsewhere at very exorbitant prices. In some places poor Malawians are

forced to buy this maize at Fifteen Thousand kwacha per 50kg bag, because

they cannot find maize at ADMARC. Consequently some of them are now

starving. This is outrageous and most criminal. It is moral

recklessness which I am not going to tolerate, or allow to continue." He said 

He then warn "I must

warn everyone strongly that such atrocities by criminal ADMARC maize vendors have got to stop immediately."

He said Police have been instructed "to investigate thoroughly, and take vigorous action." 

"If they catch you, you will go to jail. So you better stop right away." warns Mutharika further indicating that Police will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that these culprits do not return on the scene to steal more maize.

"I am appeal to all decent Malawians to examine their moral conscience and reflect deeply." He added

"I have repeatedly talked

about patriotism, hard work and integrity. Because of hard work and careful planning, my government bought this maize through ADMARC at much higher costs for you to buy only at Five Thousand Five Hundred Kwacha (MK5,500) per 50kg. In effect, these thieves are therefore stealing this maize from you. If you are as morally outraged as I am, don’t just sit and wait for what the government and police shall do for you. 

I want you to know that you can and must do something. The police are carrying out their duties to track and arrest these thieves. On your part, you know where these thieves

are and where they hide or sell the stolen maize. You know the ADMARC officials with whom they are conniving. I want you to report them all to the police immediately. The police will handle the information

confidentially so that these culprits will never know who turned them in." Appeals Mutharika then assured all Malawians that together with the help, police shall apprehend and arrest all the wrongdoers as a result this shall make maize to be

available in ADMARC depots for all who genuinely need to buy it.

Mutharika has also assured that ADMARC, will continue to replenish the maize stocks and there is additional money to buy more maize if needed. 

A total of 2.8 million people representing 17% of the country’s total population was declared to be at risk of hunger for the period of 2015/2016 following adverse weather conditions early 2015 which resulted in declined maize production and other food crops across the country.

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

Recent Government statement indicated that International Community assisted the country amounting to about US$91million but there was still a shortfall of US$55.378 million for hunger response. 

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.

China For Malawi’s Economic Independence

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi said China will continue to support Malawi to gain full economic independence.

Honorable Wang Yi, was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Sunday during an audience with Malawi President Peter Mutharika.

Mama Ye Project Call Media To Prop Up Efforts In Maternal, Newborn Survival

Mama Ye Project has called on Media to keep alive issues of maternal and newborn survival for the country to continue registering progress.

Chatuluka

Country Project Leader of Mama Ye Campaign, Mathias Chatuluka made the call at a two day media orientation workshop on Thursday, aimed at equipping Journalists at national level to understand current situation of Maternal and Newborn and the interventions being carried out and in turn help to amplify the work of the MamaYe Campaign in Malawi.

Chatuluka said media is a key strategic partner in promoting survival of mothers and newborn.

He said media can play its role by reporting positive stories that highlights the progress in maternal and newborn survival through number of interventions by Government and various institutions including Mama Ye campaign.

He observed that at present, media is not giving much attention to issues of maternal and newborn and as such it is "rare to find such stories on front pages" in newspaper articles.

But Chatuluka encouraged the media to publicize positively the achievements being made on maternal and infant mortality and encourage safe motherhood.

Chatuluka highlighted that Maternal mortality rate in Malawi stands at 574 per 100,000 live births, a significant improvement from the situation ten years before when the mortality rate was 984.

He said improvements are partly owing to a number of factors including improved coverage for antenatal care by skilled health personnel. 

However, he said gaps still exist in terms of poorly equipped facilities, long distances to a health facility, inadequate human resources and insufficient funding.

But he said The Evidence4Action MamaYe Campaign has been working on a number of parameters to address the gaps and that most of its interventions are producing significant results which are helping in the reduction of maternal and infant deaths.

Macadamia Entertainment Releases ‘The Goon Tape’ With Bull-Dozer

Entertainment and events brand, Macadamia Entertainment, has released a Mixtape called The Goon Tape with one of the music asset in the label; Bull-Dozer.  

Lutepo Nearly Run Over By Prison Vehicle After Delivering Testimony In Mphwiyo Shooting Case

Lutepo: pushing approaching vehicle with hand as
Officer comew quickly to his rescue 

 The ‘chief Cashgate’ convict Oswald Lutepo was narrowly run over by Malawi Prison vehicle which he was about to get into just after he had finished giving his testimony in the ongoing case of attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

Lutepo just coming out of court

Lutepo was told to wait for the Prison Vehicle to pick him near 

court entrance

The incident was captured Wednesday evening outside Lilongwe High Court as he was about to start off to Blantyre, Chichiri Prison where he is serving his 11 year sentence, after appearing as witness for the defense of the first accused, McDonald Kumwembe.

The vehicle is finally here

Prison officer pushing Lutepo near the reversing vehicle

The driver of the prison vehicle was reversing so as to get close position of picking Lutepo into the car. Unfortunately, he moved beyond too close as the back of the vehicle got contact of Lutepo who sat on his wheelchair waiting for the reversing car to pick him.

Now drama begins

unexpectedly, the reversing vehicle getting so close

Lutepo attempted in a vain to push himself away from the slowly approaching vehicle in a bid to protect his life and he tried to rescue himself by using his right hand which was trying to push the back of the approaching vehicle.

Lutepo: pushing approaching vehicle with hand as
Officer come quickly to his rescue 

 But as some prison officers tried to make shouts, warning the driver to stop, another officer was seen quickly rushing save Lutepo by trying to push the wheelchair away from the vehicle.

Lutepo being taken into the vehicle that nearly run over him

That was great escape: Lutepo looked so calm after the incident

Fortunately, the driver heard the shouts and stopped the vehicle. He made a forward move which gave space for the officers to carry Lutepo into the car and start off back to Blantyre, Chichiri Prison where he is serving his 11 year sentence.

Lutepo taken into the car after people had watched the horror

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: DPP Says Kasambara Threatened Her As The Accused Pray For Bail, Access To Computer While In Prison

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mary Kachale on Wednesday had recused herself from commenting on bail application for Raphael Kasambara after she openly said she was afraid of him following a recent incident where he had threatened her and spoke in her face that she was the reason why court had revoked his bail last year.

After third accused, Kasambara who is answering the charge of conspiracy in the attempted murder trial of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo had finished submitting his request to have his bail revocation dropped, the DPP said she was not going to comment anything as she was still terrified by threats made by Kasambara during their recent closed meeting where he also made accusations that she was responsible for his bail revocation.

“I would like to recuse myself from commenting on bail application for the third accused because he threatened and shouted at me in our recent meeting. He reached the point of mentioning my name that You Mary, are the reason why I am in prison.” revealed Kachale 

She indicated that it was State Counsel, Enoch Chibwana who helped to ease the tension in the room when he quickly made himself seat between the two.

“I Came out of that meeting while shaking and am still shaking now" she added

However, court did not comment on the claim made by the DPP.

Kasambara On Wednesday asked court to let him free on bail because restrictive conditions in prison are barring him from interacting with his witnesses and that he is also failing to access to medical attention.   

But, Justice Michael Mtambo ruled that the third accused should make a formal bail application which the State would be expected to respond to. 

The third accused also made a second request asking the court to make directive that prison officials must allow him to have access to supporting materials like computers where he can use to do research and write some valuable documents for the court proceedings. 

Kasambara said he is being denied to fair trial in the ongoing case because he is being restricted to access to computer.

But Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mary Kachale responded that the state was not aware that the accused were not allowed to access to computer and said if were informed, a good arrangement could have been made to provide defense with such facilities.

When making his ruling on the matter, Justice Michael Mtambo ordered that “access to computers for the research, should have a restricted access in accordance with the prison orders."

Last year, court revoked bail of both Raphael Kasambara and first accused McDonald Kumwembe for number of applications which were delaying the proceedings of the case and on security issues. 

Former Justice Minister, Raphael Kasambara is answering conspiracy while second accused, Pika Manondo and first accused, McDonald Kumwembe are answering both conspiracy and attempted murder of their friend also former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

Paul Mpwhiyo was shot outside the gate of his house in area 43 in Lilongwe in the night of September, 13th 2013.