Self-Upgraded Teachers Wants Automatic Promotion Not Interviews

Mzura

Teachers who are seeking promotion after having ‘self upgrade’ to Diploma and Degrees levels are now demanding for automatic promotion and not undergo for interviews.

This comes when Ministry of Education, Science and Technology officials announced on Wednesday during a round table meeting between Parliamentary Committee on Education and the delegation of Self Upgraded Teachers that ‘a round’ process of promoting upgraded teachers has begun but will have to passing through interviews.

Secretary for Teaching Service Commission, Richard Kayesa informed the Committee and Teachers that the Ministry began the process of promoting teachers in March this year with invitation of applications from all upgraded teachers to fill-in the vacant posts and that the list of successful candidates has been released to the public and interviews will begin from Monday next week until May 11, 2016.

Although, Chairperson for Self Upgraded Teachers, David Mzura, made acknowledgement that teachers have applied for the advertised posts, but reacted that the interview process was not the actual promotion arrangement that self-upgraded teachers were supposed to go through.

He said “We are not satisfied with the decision that has been made because they have followed wrong procedure. At pre-graduation meeting at Domasi College, we were told to submit our copies immediately after graduation so that we could be promoted immediately.” added “We submitted 20 copies to the division soon after graduation”

One of Self Upgraded Teachers also commented saying the interview policy came later after they issued a petition in 2014 to the ministry seeking clarification. The concerned teacher further observed that the ministry is applying the policy selectively because despite them being subjected to interviews, others have recently been promoted without interviews.

When the Chairperson for the committee, Elias Chakwera, asked the ministry to clarify about the interview Policy, Director of Human Resource in the Ministry, Joyce Somanje said interview policy is not new development but only that teachers did not know that the policy exist. She said every person in Civil Service who wants promotion after upgrading goes thought the same process and “It is a normal policy and requirement that teachers cannot be exempted from”

The officials from the Ministry of Education also indicated that it is not automatic that one who upgrade can be promoted because there are a lot of people now upgrading and therefore the ministry cannot accommodate all of them at once.

“We were asked to submit the copies of certificates for us to be promoted automatically and this is not what is going to happen.” Insists Mzura later in an interview

The total number of teachers eligible for promotion are in four categories; 1,500 Secondary School teachers (Grade TI), 220 Teacher Training College (TTC) Lectures (Grade TI), 1,700 Secondary School Teachers (Grade TJ with Diploma in Education) and 300 Principal Primary School Teachers-Special Needs (Grade TJ with Diploma).

The concerned teachers also fear that the interview policy will see many of them being left out since the ministry wants to promote very few.

According to figures from the Ministry, there are only 483 vacancies for the post of Secondary School Teachers Grade TI against a total of 872 applicants invited to compete for the post while for the post of TTC Lecture Grade TI, there are only 50 vacancies yet 116 applicants will compete for the post.

And 586 applicants have been invited to compete for the post of Secondary School Teacher Grade TJ which has 516 vacant positions while 229 applicants have been invited for the post of Principal Primary School Teachers-Special Needs Grade TJ which has only 169 positions.

“If you have seen the statistics they have given us, you will find that a large number of teachers will not have a chance of being promoted to the next grade. And they have to wait for another four years to be promoted’’ Observed Mzura

‘’So, if you are a worker and you are demotivated, how are you going to work effectively?’’ wondered Mzura,  ‘’And therefore when we are saying that quality education is being affected in Malawi this is one of the issues that is causing this because teachers are being demotivated.”

He then said they will continue holding discussions with the Ministry in order to find ways how the problem can be solved.

He however encouraged fellow shortlisted teachers to continue with the interviews and urged other self-upgraded teachers to join their group so that they can speak with one voice.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Court Orders Police To Return Phone, Driving License Back To Kumwembe

Kumwembe to get his phone and driving license 

High Court in Lilongwe has ordered Malawi Police Service to return the seized driving license and a Nokia mobile phone back to owner, Mr. McDonald Kumwembe after court heard that Police are failing to return the items to him since 2013 arrest. 

Today, Kumwembe, the first accused person with case to answer on conspiracy and attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo, informed court that the Malawi Police Service had seized his Nokia mobile phone and driving license in November, 2013 when he was being arrested. 

However, the state had closed its case without tendering those items as exhibits and now the case is torwards the end of defense stage.

Kumwembe asked for his property to be given back to him saying he has been trying in vain to ask Police to give him back the items. 

“Whenever I go to get my license and phone, they just continue telling me to come back next time” said Kumwembe

Kachale: her office never saw the items 

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mary Kachale said her office never received such items from Police and if indeed they were taken by police, then police would better be in a position to return the items and bear trouble of producing them if they fail to give back to Kumwembe.

“We did not receive them as Directorate of Public Prosecutions so, if they were there, they are still with the police.” Said Kachale

Delivering his ruling, Justice Michael Mtambo ordered Malawi Police Service to return the items “within 10 days” and the order is effective beginning today April 19, 2016.

Mtambo ruling also indicated that failure to return the items within the specified period, Police will have to inform court reasons that would stop Court from compelling them to bear the trouble of producing the items.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to next week Tuesday, April 26, 2016 following Pika Manondo’s request for early adjournment since his third and last witness-experts from Airtel failed to come.

The two day business was for the defense witnesses to testify for Pika Manondo.

Manondo called Kondwani Ndovie on Monday and spoke about the deal they had involving supply of various campaign materials for the Malawi Congress Party Convention particularly resources for the election of John Tembo as the party candidate for the last Tripartite elections.

Court continued on Tuesday morning hearing witness of Austin Chinseu. Chinseu who maintained that he met Pika at 11:10 pm at Chez-Mtemba club at Bwandilo in Area 47 as he was getting out of the club.

The witness of Chinseu was trying to invalidate the State claim that Pika must have been at the scene of Paul Mphwiyo shooting around that hour and 12 midnight in Area 43.

No, Pika has told court that he is remaining with one witness, that is from Airtel.

As defense remains with one witness, Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale has since said now the case is coming closer to conclusion.

“Ordinarily, after next week there is always close of all cases. So this case is coming to an end” said Kachale

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Pika Parades Witnesses

Pika Manondo, second accused in the ongoing attempted murder trial of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo, has paraded his two witnesses.

The two witnesses are among a total of four witnesses for his defense.

Manondo called Kondwani Ndovi who spoke about the deal they had involving supply of various campaign materials for the Malawi Congress Party Convention particularly resources for the election of John Tembo as the party candidate for the last Tripartite elections.

Court will continue to hear witness of Austin Chinseu man who is expected to tell more about places and times of Pika's whereabouts during the night of Mphwiyo shooting on September 13, 2013.

Meanwhile, Chinseu has told court that he met Pika at 11:10 pm at Chez-Mtemba club at Bwandilo in Area 47. He said he met Pika when he was getting out of the club.

State believes Pika was at the shooting scene around that hour and 12 midnight in Area 43.

Pika Manondo, McDonald Kumwembe and Raphael Kasambara are have case to answer in the attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo 

Cabinet Secretaries Challenged To Provide Evidence Based Policies For Africa To Move Forward

President Peter Mutharika has stressed that Cabinet Secretaries have capacity to help African Governments move the right direction by providing the cabinets with evidence based policies.

Mutharika was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Monday when opening Third Africa Cabinet Secretaries Roundtable Workshop expected to end on 22nd April 2016.

Delegates from fourteen African countries are participating in the workshop themed: Enhancing Government’s Effectiveness through Evidence-informed Policy-making. 

Mutharika said the conference comes at a time when many African Governments are trying to develop and implement policies that will bear fruits for their citizens particularly policies that directly address poverty, inequality, as well as corruption. 

He emphasized that problems facing the continent of Africa can be addressed adequately through evidence based decisions and therefore “without evidence as the basis, policies are bound to be theoretical and unpractical” that “simply end up on book shelves, left to gather dust”

“Cabinet Secretaries fulfill a very critical role in the policy-making process.” Said Mutharika

“It is your duty to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in Cabinet decision making. It is your duty to ensure availability of evidence to Cabinet. This includes, among other things, making sure that all relevant stakeholders at all levels, including the beneficiaries of the policies, are engaged sufficiently in the development of the policy process.  It is your duty to ensure that appropriate procedures are developed to guide the policy-making process.” He said 

“If Africa is to move forward, we cannot tolerate haphazard policy development. We cannot accept policies that do not listen to the people, to the procedures, and to evidence.” Stressed Mutharika

He then reminded the delegates that “Africa is waiting for the results” and that Council of African Cabinet Secretaries is a living symbol of African government’s commitment to strengthen decision-making processes. He therefore urged delegates to seize this opportunity to engage adequately with each other and put together the best lessons they can. 

“What we bind in union cannot be unbound easily. This is your moment to form strong networks for sharing ideas and experiences. This is your moment to partake in the refocusing of the African vision. Show us the path of effective decision-making; and Africa will follow.” added Mutharika

Among others Mutharika said Malawi is making efforts to enhance the policy-making process. He pointed out the recently launched ‘Public Policy Research and Analysis Project’ aimed at strengthen the development and implementation of policies that are based on evidence as well as the development of a Policy Manual called ‘The Guide to Executive Decision-making Process’ a reference tool for all those who are involved in policy formulation and implementation. 

Dr. Ernest Surrur, President of the Council of African Cabinet Secretaries said the meeting will deliberate on policy formulation with focus on evidence and that the second agenda is on Role of Cabinet Secretaries in political transitions.

He also mentioned that the third agenda seeks to invite some Cabinet Ministers to better understand their perspectives in the decision making processes.

“One question for this discussion, is how to foster an evidence culture in cabinet where ministers will question their colleagues about the evidence to support the proposals from the perspective of the broader interest of Government rather than political point scoring as they compete with one another for financial resources and also for approvals of the President.” said Dr. Ernest Surrur, 

Dr. Surrur, said the network is supporting African Cabinet processes including strengthen capacity of secretariats to better support cabinet members on making better informed and collective decisions.

The first meeting of this kind was held in Ethiopia in 2014 while Ghana hosted second meeting in 2015.

The network was established in 2004 with a group of Secretaries to Government or Chief Secretaries where they meet periodically and consult each other and also mobilize resources for the trainings of the staff in the Cabinet Secretariat.

George Mkondiwa Chief Secretary to Malawi Government said Malawi has benefited immensely through the trainings from the network among others he said there is now a cabinet calendar where everyone would know when is cabinet meeting going to take place.

Mkondiwa also mentioned the trainings have led to the development of a Policy Manual called ‘The Guide to Executive Decision-making Process’ 

Delegates to the workshop include Cabinet Secretaries or their representatives and other senior officials from Cabinet Offices of Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar and Malawi.

The workshop is an initiative of the Africa Cabinet Government Network (ACGN) which was established in 2014 as a voluntary organization for Cabinet Secretaries.The ACGN, whose headquarters is in Freetown, Sierra Leone, serves as a platform for cross-country collaboration on evidence-based decision making and Cabinet procedures. 

The network was created out of necessity to provide formal and informal opportunities for the collaboration, mutual support and sharing of practical experiences.The network was as well established to provide technical assistance to the cabinet secretaries and others involved in managing the cabinet processes in Africa in order to facilitate evidence informed collective decision making bygovernments and effective implementation of their decisions.

Dr. Jean Kalilani ‘K2 Million’ Trophy To Encourage Dowa Central Youth Stay Health, Avoid Criminal Acts

Kalilani accompanied
by Grace Chiumia meeting
With players 

Dowa Central constituency legislature, Dr. Jean Kalilani, has launched football and netball league worth K2 million in order to encourage young people in her constituency live a healthy life style through sporting activities as well as keep them busy so that they do not engage in criminal activities.

Kalilani& Chiumia pose
with Black Rhino team

Kalilani pose with
Mponela United 

Kalilani well known in her constituency as ‘A Nachika’, launched the trophy at Mponela football ground on Saturday.

“The reason we put this league is to keep the youth busy and stay away from behaviors that would bring problems to their health” said Kalilani, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare 

Kalilani with Dowa Governors for DPP

Kalilani with Patriotic Democratic Cadets

“Going smoking will bring problems to their lungs and going after girls or men they will get sexual transmitted diseases like HIV or even going for stealing, it will not help them. But when they are busy with football and netball, they will stay fit and their mind will be busy focusing on sporting activities.” explained Kalilani 

Kalilani added that the league will further help to unearth talent needed in both netball and football national team.

Grace Chiumia

Minister of Sports and Culture, Grace Chiumia, a guest of honor at the launch commended Dr. Jean ‘A Nachika’ Kalilani for promoting sports in her constituency.

“This is quite important” she said, “Let me thank Dr. Jean Kalilani for launching this trophy, this is one way of helping the youth to avoid other behaviors. You know, by now others would have been drunk or fighting but are here to watch or to play games. And also this is a way where youth are showcasing their skills. So, it is quite wonderful”

Kalilani ready to score

Chiumia also encourage other Members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers to emulate what Dr. Kalilani has done.

At the launch of the league which is estimated to run for a period of three months, people watched a netball game and two football matches where each winning team got K50 thousand prize while the second position team went home with K25 thousand.

Kalilani is set to score as
goalkeeper is
getting instructions 

For Netball game, Mponera Police Officers lost to Sambani Sisters while football games, DPP Governors from Dowa district lost to Patriotic Democratic Cadets (PDC) from Blantyre and Black Rhino from Blantyre lost to Mponela United.

Its a Goal! By Jean Kalilani

UN Rights Expert To Assess Situation Of Attacks Of Albinos in Malawi

Ikponwosa Ero

United Nations Independent Expert Ikponwosa Ero will visit the country to assess the human rights situation of the people with Albinism.

A statement from Geneva dated April 14th 2016, indicates that the monitoring visit by Ms. Ero from 18 to 29 April 2016, comes as reports of the attacks of persons with albinism and the sale of their body parts continue to surface in the country.

“I look forward to this first official mission to evaluate the situation of human rights of persons with albinism in Malawi, make concrete recommendations, and identify good practices to promote regionally,” said Ms. Ero, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government.

UN says this is the first country visit ever by the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism since the Human Rights Council established the mandate in March 2015.

“Attacks of persons with albinism and the sale of their body parts will be one of the main focusses of my visit. Yet, I cannot separate these crimes from other relevant and contributing human rights issues faced by this group in the spheres of health, disability, education, harmful traditional practices, among others,” she stressed.

The Independent Expert is tasked to report on developments and obstacles to enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism; identify and promote good practices; and combat stereotypes, prejudices, harmful traditional practices and beliefs that hinder the enjoyment of their human rights.

During her two-week visit, the human rights expert will travel to Lilongwe, Machinga, Zomba, Phalombe and Kasungu. She will meet with representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial branches, local and territorial authorities, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, civil society groups, including organisations of persons with albinism, and members of the diplomatic community. 

“I also give particular importance to meeting with persons with albinism as well as families affected by violations of the human rights of persons with albinism,” Ms. Ero added.

At the end of her visit, on Friday 29 April 2016, the expert will share with the media her preliminary observations at a press conference but will present a comprehensive report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2017. 

Ms. Ikponwosa Ero from Nigeria was designated in June 2015 as the first UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism by the Human Rights Council.

Malawi Launches Short Video On Anti-Illegal Wildlife Trade Campaign

Malawi Government has launched a video clip to be used for the anti-wildlife trade campaign.

Launching the ‘Say No to Ivory Trade Campaign’ video on Thursday afternoon at Kamuzu Palace, President Peter Mutharika committed that his government will do its best to end wildlife crimes in the country.

The clip features President Peter Mutharika and 15 foreign ambassadors mainly informing people of the importance of wildlife and dangers of illegal wildlife trade.

 

 

At the very beginning of the video, President Mutharika encourages people not to tolerate wildlife crimes followed by messages from foreign ambassadors and it ends with the president Mutharika pleading with people to say “No” to wildlife crime. The english messages in the video have also been translated into official languages for each foreign ambassador featured in the clip but for Malawi it is Chichewa.

15 foreign ambassadors who featured in the video are directing messages to their own citizens both visiting and working in Malawi to support the country’s effort to protect its natural assets and fight international wildlife crime.

 

The launched video mainly focusing on Elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade will be shown in the airports and sent out on social media.

“It is so sad of what is going on and am sure we will do our best to make sure that we stop this savage and criminal behavior globally” reacted President Mutharika after watching the video clip which was played along with a short film from Kenya which is highlighting the impact of the ivory trade and how purchase of ivory products is linked to organized crime which is fueling elephant crisis.

 

 

President Mutharika said the video launched sends the strong warning to wildlife criminals that he will not under his watch allow natural resources plundered for the benefit of few and further warned that Malawi will not accept criminals to use the country for illegal trade or operate within its borders.

The Malawi President noted that survival of human kind also depends on the ability to protect natural heritage and that protecting animals is an economic-social and environmental responsibility.

He emphasized that failure to save Africa’s majestic species such as elephants and rhinos erode hope for the rest of the wildlife.

He said failure to act in combating illegal ivory trade and poaching now, Malawi will lose wildlife species, biodiversity as well a loss of opportunities for development through tourism and the associated impacts on agriculture and human health.

He said wildlife crime fight will be his Government priority and committed to do his best to make sure that wildlife criminal behavior is stopped.

“My Government is working hard to combat wildlife crime. We are adapting to the growing threat by strengthening our laws, improving law enforcement and increasing our inter-agency and cross-border cooperation among so many other strategies.” He said

Mutharika called on Malawians to be vigilant and work together to stop plunder of the God given natural heritage by urging every citizen to say no to illegal ivory trade and report any suspicious activity.