President Mutharika Invites American Companies To Invest In Malawi: Meets Six US Congressmen

As Malawi continues to market to the global community its endowed resources and investiment opportunities, President Peter Mutharika on Friday asked American investors to come and invest in Malawi.

Mutharika was speaking in Lilongwe when meeting with a Six member delegation of Republican Senators and Representatives from the United States of America who were on five hour visit to Malawi. The members of Congress are on their trip to some African Countries.

Mutharika informed the Congressmen that there are investment opportunities in Malawi that the country is seeking investors from around the globe. He therefore invited American Investors to come to explore opportunities in Malawi and also to participate in the second Malawi Investment Forum to be hosted later this year in October.

"We are hosting the second Malawi Investment Forum this year possibly on 11th October and it will be bigger. So I would like to call American companies to come" said Mutharika

He said Malawi is wooing investors across the globe because this is one way that will make the country to move away from donor dependece to an economically independent nation.

"We want to move away from aid dependency to economic independence" said Mutharika further expressing hope that through its investiment goals Malawi will attain economic independence in few years time

Malawi leader also thanked American Government through the delegation for continued support to Malawi Government in areas of human rights, economy, energy, and peace and security through bilateral and multilateral support. 

He further thanked US Government for the support in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He mentioned that US government has been influential in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Malawi and expressed hope and determination that through such support Malawi will achieve ending the pandemic by 2030. He addes that the country has already demonstrated its willingness to achieve this by putting many people on ART treatment and being the first country to adopt Option B+. 

He further thanked American Government for the humanitarian assistance to Malawians who experience floods that hit most parts of the country early last year. 

"United States of America continues to to play an instrumental role in Africa and Malawi." Added President Mutharika

Senator James Inhofe, a ranking member senate of armed services Committee said the visit to Malawi was to appreciate number of achievements the country is making.

Inhofe added that USA Government consider Malawi as one of its strong friend.

US Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer hinted that the coming of these Senators was also to appreciate the impact of US government assistance to Malawi.

The five hour visit to Malawi  by the delegation had first stop-over in Tanzania and are proceeding to Rwanda and Ethiopia.

The six Congressmen are: U.S. Senator James Inhofe R-OK, a ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Mike Enzi R. WY, Republican leader of the Sub Committee on Children and Families; Mike Rounds, Services on the Senate Armed Services; Rep. Randy Hultgren, Services on the Financial and Science, Space and Technology Committees; Rep. Tim Welberg and Rep. Reid Ribble.

Malawi Government Commends UK Government For Connecting Classrooms Programme

Michael Nevin, Vincent Ghambi, David Mundell 

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has hailed Government of United Kingdom (UK) for its education progamme ‘Connecting Classrooms’ for being one strand supporting Malawi in improving education.

Connecting Classrooms is a UK’s programme which is benefiting individuals and institutions globally through research, links and scholarships.

Vincent Ghambi

Speaking at the launch of the third phase of the programme in Lilongwe, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Vincent N’gambi said the programme will support development of core skills of young people and help teachers to impart necessary skills to students.

“If people from UK they come and teach our students and our teachers trained by the British Government, this is indeed good development as far as education in Malawi is concerned” he said

The education minister hailed the programe's new phase focus on attainment of Core Skills and said the launch of this third phase of Connecting Classrooms coincides with the introduction of the new curriculum for secondary schools this school year and further wellcomed the focus for thennext three years of the programme on working with Secondary Schools sector. 

Vincent Ghambi exchanging gifts with
David Mundell

"I believe it will make a valuable contribution to two priority policy goals of improving quality and equity in the secondary schools and improving management of secondary schools. Connecting Classrooms will support teachers to introduce young people to new ways of working, new ways of thinking, and new ways of living in a global world. It does this by providing opportunities for education professional and policy makers to contribute to education discourse in national, regional and global forums, supporting system development and through the provision of continuous professional development opportunities for teachers and school leaders"

He underlined that the opportunities for international collaboration for both teachers and learners in Malawi and the UK brings forth additional benefits saying as it offers early exposure for our young people to the outside world and help foster a natural curiosity and deeper understanding that will benefit their future engagement with the world of work, higher education and communities in which they live.

“As Government we are doing a lot to make sure that this UK Government is gets full support from my Ministry and Malawi Government” he added

David Mundell

The visiting Scotland Secretary of State David Mundell who also graced the occasion said was delighted that the programme has began to bear fruitful results through partnerships that schools and teachers have established with their friends in the UK. 

“What this initiative mean is to link schools in Scotland and the rest of Britain with schools here in Malawi and it means teachers can share experiences with teachers back in Britain and that pupils in Britain can get a real feel for Malawi  and the self support that they can give to Malawi and schools. And that is real sharing of experiences so that both sides came out of this better than they went into it”

“Friendships have been developed between Scotland teachers and Malawi, friendships have developed between pupils who had opportunities to go between schools. I know from my own constituency schools that have a very strong links now with schools in Malawi” said Mundell

He also urged Malawi Government to further enhance the programme by making sure that more schools are involved in the Connecting Classrooms programme

“I think that it is good to see that there is spread of schools across the whole of Malawi because obviously it is quite different in the South and cities in the North so I think it is very encouraging to see that there are schools in rural areas, schools in towns and cities taking part. So am pleased that there is whole range of schools and when I look at the list of schools in Scotland I see that they got from very north of Scotland to the South of Scotland cities and rural areas. So there is good range of schools and experiences in there.”David Mundell

There has been a lot of schools who have already been in the previous phases of connecting classrooms initiative and more are coming in this phase and it is expected that more schools will want to join in the programe because of the benefits.

Ntcheu Primary School Teacher Nabbed For Defilement Of 15 Year Old Girl

Police in Ntcheu district are keeping in custody a primary school teacher Davie Katankha aged 38, for allegedly defiling a15 year old pupil.

According to Sub Inspector Hastings Chigalu, Ntcheu district Police Pubic Relations Officer said the accused who teach at Tambala Primary School has been defiling a Standard 6 pupil who goes to the same school for several times before he was finally caught by the victims uncle.

Sub Inspector Chigalu said police recorded statement from the girl who confessed that she was in secret romantic relationship with her teacher Mr. Davie Katankha since December 2015 but this was because she grew tired of rebuffing his relationship proposals putting to her since 2014.

"However, on 6 February this year the girl's Uncle caught the two together and the girl had her teachers cellphone in her possession. 

When asked, the accused admitted to the uncle that he has been sleeping with the girl for several times and further discloses that they once travelled to Balaka district where they spent a night together and had sex with the girl for first the time. On her part, the girl said she was promised marriage in future." Explains Sub Inspector Chigalu

Then Chigalu said after revealing everything, the teacher pleaded with the uncle not to reveal this relationship to anyone for fear of losing his job and he also bribed the uncle with One Thousand and Two Hundred Kwacha (K1, 200) to zip his mouth. 

Regardless of the plea and bribe, Sub Inspector Chigalu said the uncle proceeded to report the matter to Bilila Police Unit where a case of  Defilement contrary to Section 138  of the Penal Code was opened. 

"The suspect is in police custody at Ntcheu Police Station ready to appear in court to answer the charges." Said Chigalu

"As Police, it is our appeal to the teachers that they should exercise maximum responsibility in caring for girls, they should not be the ones in the forefront in victimising the children especially young girls. We will not hesitate to arrest a teacher who violates the rights of these innocent children." Warns Sub Inspector Chigalu

Teacher, Davie Katankha comes from Chikanda village of T/A Wimbe in Kasungu district while the victim, comes from Tambala village of T/A Tanya in Ntcheu district.

Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme Receives 18 Vehicles From EU, KfW

Cross section of EU, KfW vehicles 

Cutting the tape

The European Union (EU) and the German government-owned development bank KfW has donated 18 vehicles to Malawi Government to ease transport problems in the Social Cash Transfer programme 

Kaliati

Speaking at handover ceremony on Wednesday, in Lilongwe, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare said the donation has come at a right time as the ministry was finding challenges in reaching out to remote rural areas.

“We have been having problems in reaching into our 18 districts which are our targeted areas and to travel from one place to another we used to borrow vehicles from other ministries and district councils” said Kaliati

“On behalf of Government and through you Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann, I would like to thank European Union and German Government through KfW for the support of the programme and buying of these 18 vehicles to assist us in implementation of this programme and make sure that our people are reached in this program.”

The Gender Minister then indicated that the continue financial support from European Union and KfW of German towards the programme is bearing fruit as lives of many beneficiaries are being transformed in many ways.

Kaliati said at the moment the programme is now reaching to over 50 percent of the targeted vulnerable utra-poor families and that most of the beneficiaries are beginning to graduate from the initiative.

Through Cash Transfer Programme, she said, utra-poor families are being empowered economicaly because they are now able to do small scale businesses, farming and owning livestock as well as do savings through village banking. She added that through these economic activities such targeted families are now building and living in better houses, becoming food secure, able to provide their children with basic needs and sending them to school a development which has led to an improvement in school enrollment with 40 percent in all pilot districts.

“If we are to bail out our people from extreme poverty, these are programmes that we need to support because they target utra-poor families both men and women.” said Kaliati

Kaliati receiving car keys from
Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann

However, she noted that there are 10 remaining districts that which Government wants to be reached with the programme and she asked EU and KfW and all institutions to help Government to roll out programme in those remaining districts.

“We want to rollout also in districts like Dowa and Chiradzulu where we are experiencing a lot of gender based violence, defilement cases, problems of wills and inheritance. And if we are going to roll out Cash Transfer into these districts we are going to reduce all gender based violence because men and women are going to be busy and also they are going to benefit from programmes that comes along with Social Cash Transfer including adult literacy and nutrition programmes. And this is gong to propel our goal of achieving Sustainable Goals by 2030”

Kaliati also assured EU and KfW that effective measure are already in place to ensure that the donated vehicles are being taken care to achieve results.

On his part, Head of EU Delegation to Malawi Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann said EU is happy to support the programme because it is changing people’s lives and also hinted that the 18 vehicles have been bought at Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euro (€ 650, 000) which is just 2% of the total support to the programme.

“The Cash Transfer Programme is a very important programme, it is helping the poorest of the poor of Malawi and am very proud actually that together with development partners we are supporting 700 thousand people who get these Cash Transfers. Out of this, 40% are being supported by European Union and we are working in 8 district and most of them are very large and hard to reach. So the vehicles are important to deliver in the programme.” he said

"I am very proud with the programme because it helps poorest of the poor to send children to school, buying some livestock helping them when they need health services, it helps to save a little bit, so very concrete ways of improving their lives and am very pround as EU that we are supporting this and also we are thankful to the Government and KfW of German organization and other partners implementing this programme.”

Responding to Government request to help in rollout in remaining districts he said "As EU we are currently active in 8 district and we still have two years of this programme to deliver so I think that is what we will do. 

I think we have to be careful that we cannot be active in all districts and I think it is also important that part of this programme is delivered by the Government because if not then actually Government will become completely depending on donors for this and that is not good at the time when we are also thinking on how can Malawi make the next move towards trade and investment agenda and lower its dependency, but nevertheless for the coming two years, we are fully committed  and to support this important programme.”

The Cash Transfer Programme was created to help contribute to national efforts to reduce poverty and hunger among ultra-poor and labor constrained households, increase school enrolment and attendance of children, improve health, nutrition, protection and well-being of vulnerable children. 

The Social Cash Transfer programme was launched as a pilot study in Mchinji district in 2006 and currently is in an additional 16 districts. However government plans to extend the programme to all parts of the country. The programme is funded through help from organisations such as European Union, German Government, Irish Aid, World Bank, UNICEF and the government of Malawi.

Programme support it self by EU is 35 million Euro and the 18 cars are valued at 650, 000 thousand Euro which is about 2% of their contribution.

KCNU To Construct Cafeteria Worth US$ 50 Thousand At Mwera Learning Centre

KNCU Secretary Dong-Seok Min in 2015 with
Malawi Minister of Gender Patricia Kaliati

One of the Bridge project sites, Mwera Community Learning Centre in Lilongwe has been earmarked for a US$ 50 thousand worth cafeteria project which after its completion it is expected to support lives of communities and enhance skills for learners.

Dong-Seok Min

When confirming the development Dong-Seok MIN, Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) said the construction works are expeted to begin this year. 

“It has not finally been decided but on my way to Lilongwe I had a telephone conversation with CEO of a company whom I suggested to work with us in constructing cafeteria as we did to the Community Learning Center of Ha-motsu in Lesotho last year." Said the KNCU Secretary 

"It will be a good facility of providing food to the student’s studying at Community Learning center of Mwera area and more importantly it will play a role of enhancing learners skills for making food for restaurants in that area so we could use the cafeteria once completed for number of ways.” He said

Through its Bridge Africa Project, KNCU operates three project sites in Malawi namely; Mwera, Namiyango (Blantyre) and Naphini located in Songani (Zomba) Community Learning Centres. The project is done in partnership with Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, National Centre for Literacy and Adult Education (NCLAE).

At the recent joint media briefing between Malawi Government and KNCU, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Honorable Patricia Kaliati commended KNCU for the life changing programmes that KNCU is implementing in Malawi especially in literacy and vocational training. 

Kaliati also urged Malawians to unite and support Government in its quest of promoting pre-schools and literacy saying this helped to transform Korea from a recipient country to a donor country after war that broke out in the country in 1950 which left the country in ruins and despair.

For the past five years, KNCU has developed Community Learning Centres in various African Countries and provided them with support to implement their own projects as well as providing intensive training workshops and educational materials.

1st Bridge Africa Conference Kick starts In Lilongwe

The 1st Bridge Africa Conference has started in Lilongwe on Wednesday with much anticipation from Malawi Government to learn best ways of achieving results in the Bridge Africa projects being implemented in the country.   

Bridge Africa Project aims at promoting field level efforts that expand access to quality education in Sub-Saharan African countries. 

Emmanuel Fabiano

“This conference is very important because it will be focusing on learning from each other between South Korean country and countries in Africa who have participated. So this will help Malawi to learn best practices from achievements made by other countries” said Malawi Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano when asked about Malawi expectations from the conference

Earlier, speaking when opening the conference, Fabiano commended Korean Government for its Bridge Africa Project which has brought together various African countries.

Fabiano underlined that collaboration and learning from one another as Bridge Africa conference has done will help African countries to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

He noted in his remarks that Bridge Africa Project approach is in tandem with SDG’s no. 4 which calls upon the World Community to ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all”  

“It is an innovative approach that would help developing nations to accelerate attainment of SDG no 4.” He said 

“I am fully convinced that the Bridge Africa Project concept has the capability of harnessing the potential and zeal of communities in addressing the education challenges faced by the communities themselves.  By empowering communities to take full control of their education development agenda, the Bridge Africa Project is not only promoting ownership of the education programmes by the communities, but is also encouraging them to break their mental barriers own what they can achieve for their children and for themselves in education.”

In Malawi KNCU is supporting Government in areas of Early Childhood Education, Adult Literacy and vocational Skills.

On skills development, Fabiano said on its part, Malawi Government is also championing programmes that are aiming at investing in human capital including Community Technical Colleges which empowers young people with relevant entrepreneurial and employable skills.

Hubert Gijzen

The Director and Representative from UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, Professor Hubert Gijzen also shared similar sentiments made by Fabiano on the importance of creating partnerships

“This new ambitious agenda needs partnerships at all levels. So this calls for new partnerships and new cooperation” he said adding there is also a need to look for new funding models of programmes especially domestic funding to achieve results

He said Bridge Africa Project focuses on Community Learning Centre because it intends to empower rural communities especially in African Countries where large portion of the population lives in the rural areas to start helping themselves in order for countries to achieve progress.

He also urged communities to own the Community Learning Centers and carryout by themselves all programmes so that they realise full benefits of the initiatives.

Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) and Malawi National Commission for UNESCO have organized the three day conference in Lilongwe with an aim of facilitating South-South cooperation to produce practical and incremental learning effects for all the participants and all the stakeholders in the Bridge Africa Programme through sharing of good practices appropriate to different local circumstances.

The conference will further provide participants from Bridge Africa partner countries with practical opportunity to better understand the concept and practices of Bridge Africa Programme and to form partnerships to develop innovative models for Community Learning Centres (CLCs)

The 1st Bridge Africa Conference is being held under the theme; Sharing Experiences, Paving Way Forward and has drawn 60 participants from Rwanda, Malawi, Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Swazland.

Scottish Govt Donates K63 Billion To Malawi Towards Food Response

Mutharika and Mundell

Government of Scotland says is going to assist Malawi with £4.5 million translating to K63 billion,  to assist the country on humanitarian response for the population which was adversely affected by droughts and floods.

David Mundell, MP, Secretary of State for Scotland told Journalists after holding camera talks with President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe that Scotland would like to help Malawi with money which will be used to buy food for the flood victims.

"We are increasing our humanitarian support to Malawi by donating £ 4.5 million. This support is for the procurement of food for the people who are facing hunger due to floods" 

He explained that Scottish Government is through this humanitarian response going to work with the World Food Programme (WFP) in the procurement and distribution of the food to vulnerable Malawians.

This announcement brings the UK’s humanitarian support in Malawi since October 2015 to £14.5m. In total, the UK’s £14.5m support will ensure:  The World Food Programme (WFP) can deliver emergency food packages including basic rations of maize and nutrient-rich cereals for over 800,000 people;  UNICEF can undertake mass screening of up to 800,000 children to identify urgent nutritional support needs;  A Save the Children-led consortium can provide small cash transfers to over 450,000 people to buy basic food supplies for their families at food markets, helping stimulate local maize and other food markets.  WFP and UNICEF can provide specialist supplies for up to 140,000 people suffering from acute malnutrition, including children under five, pregnant women and people who are HIV-positive or suffering from tuberculosis;  Vital protection support to vulnerable people, including women and girls, in displacement and refugee camps through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees  Support to improve livelihoods for some of the most vulnerable households, including vaccinations for over 150,000 livestock through the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

Mundell also promised that Scottish Government will continue to support Malawi in several areas including health, education agriculture among others.

"Even though there might be some changes in donors approach but UK will continue with its support to support Malawi through number of areas that it is supporting. We are supporting the building blocks of Malawi but we rely on Malawians to lead the self efficiency” he added

During talks with President Mutharika, the Scottish Secretary of State said his Government welcomes Malawi's agenda of reforms and investments and expressed hope that investors from Scotland will also look into investment opportunities that Malawi has and hoped that president Mutharika's visit to Scotland later this year will offer opportunity for him to connect with prospective investors.

Scottish Secretary of state said was delighted to be in Malawi and believes that his visit will strength ties with Malawi and also promised that Scotland will “remain strong partner of Malawi”

The news of this assistance has been warmly welcomed by Malawi Government.

Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda described the Scottish Government gesture as "true friend indeed"

"On behalf of Malawi Government I would like to appreciate the Scottish Government for this timely assistance."

He said this support will go along way at this time when the country is still looking for humanitarian support for 2.8 million people who are in need of food support following the adverse climate condition which caused reduction in food production in the country.

Chaponda further noted that as government is trying its best to make available of maize through ADMARC, therefore the support from Scotland will further give assurance of food availability throughout the year.


Earlier, President Peter Mutharika described the visit as “Clear testimony for cordial and bilateral relations with Scotland”


He said Malawi continues to enjoy long history with Scotland of 175 years and also appreciates continued support it receives from Scotland through Malawi Scotland Partnership and in number of areas including health, education among others.


He informed the Scottish Minister of climatic challenges that Malawi is experiencing to extent that there is significant reduction in country's food production as well as how his government is tirelessly trying to resolve the problem among others by crop diversification and taking several measures that mitigates climate change effects.


"We had unprecedented floods in some parts of the country, and dry spells in others. Consequently our national output dwindled significantly. So reduced , was the amount of food and export crop, and this led to significant macroeconomic challenges. My government appealed for humanitarian food assistance to the tune of US$146 million to avert the critical food shortages and so far, we have received support approximately US$100 million, with a shortfall of US$46 million.We are still looking for additional support to close the gap.


In our view, in order to avert the perennial droughts and dry spells, my government needs to aggressively embark on diversifying our economy through, among others, revamping the irrigation sub sector, through the Green Belt Initiative (GBI)." He said


He further mentioned number of measures on macro-economic stability to restore Malawi economy now going through difficult time.


"On the macroeconomic side, our low export earnings have translated into high inflation, high interest rates and depreciating currency. My government has, therefore, put in place measures to restore macroeconomic stability, through tight fiscal and monetary policies, as well as expediting implementation of Public Financial Management Reforms.


He continued "My government is prioritising skills development among our youth, through the establishment of Technical Community Colleges. This is to take advantage of the youth bulge of our country and ensure that they are properly trained and skilled to contribute better to economic growth. We believe this is an area too that Scotland can support us.


Honourable Minister, we will certainly invite Scotland to assist Malawi in industrial and technological development, through technical assistance and capacity building programmes." He said and appealed that further support from Scotland in all these areas to Malawi is welcome.


"My government also aims at improving our ranking on Cost of Doing Business. I am pleased to report, Honourable Minister, that for the first time in many years, Malawi has made recognisable improvements. According to the World Bank Business Index for 2016, Malawi has now been ranked 141 from 164 out of the 189 global economies. However, our main target is to achieve 100 top ranking as soon as possible." He said


He among others highlighted his Government efforts of wooing investors into the country and said Malawi recall promise made by Scottish investors and and that the Scottish Government agreed to set up an investment fund named ‘The African Lakes Corporation’ in memory of John and Fredrick Moir, to promote Scottish investments to Malawi. He, therefore said is hopeful that this initiative will be realized soon.


The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, will make a three-day visit to Malawi from 16 th to 18 th February 2016. Mr Mundell’s visit will further promote the strong ties between the UK and Malawi, and the close historical and modern relationship between Malawi and Scotland in particular.


While in Malawi, Mr Mundell will meet staff and partner organisations working to deliver the £80m UK Aid development programme, including those involved in providing the humanitarian response to Malawi’s current maize shortage. Mr Mundell will also meet a wide range of individuals and groups who contribute to the breadth of the UK - Malawi bilateral relationship, and those involved in promoting ever deeper Scotland – Malawi ties, such as the Malawi- Scotland Partnership.


He will also launch the next phase of the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme, which has included exchanges with schools in Scotland.


In his engagements with the Malawi Government, Mr Mundell is expected to highlight close cooperation with Malawi across a range of bilateral, regional and international issues and to encourage progress on the process of wide-ranging reform under the Government of President Mutharika.