Elephant Brutally Kills A Farmer Near Thuma Forest

A farmer in Salima district was brutally trampled to death by an elephant from Thuma Forest-the horrific attack has brought fear among people farming closer to the forest.

Police in the district identified the deceased as a 55 year old man Enuya Enali of Mkwatire village T/A Kambwiri in Salima.

Salima district police public relations officer, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, explained that the shocking incident took place near Thuma Forest Reserve in the evening of April 30 2016 around 17:00 hours.

"The deceased was in his garden slashing maize stalks when a charged elephant suddenly emerged and attacked him to death" said Chitowe while indicating that the deceased garden borders with Thuma Forest Reserve

He said people from neighboring farms who witnessed the incident tried in vain to prevent the attack by ringing bells and blowing whistles just to fend-off the animal and also to send warning to others about the incoming danger.

"One of the eyewitness said they saw the deceased trying to escape while shouting for help. They blew whistles and rung bells just to scare-off the elephant as well warning each other to run away. Unfortunately the elephant appeared too close from his behind and it trampled him" narrates Chitowe

Chitowe said the deceased was pronounced dead at the scene and he suffered severe injuries as his body was trumpled to pieces.

This is a fourth attack in a period of three years since the fence surrounding the forest was ransacked.

According to Chitowe, elephants from Thuma forest are on loose because the fence surrounding the forest was vandalized by communities around the forest who wanted an easy access into the forest to cut down trees for making charcoal.

‘By Any Means Necessary’ Morgan Heritage Came Back And Delivered ‘Rockaz’ Moment

April 30, 2016 was biggest night of the year for reggae music fans and Malawi music industry as the 2016 Grammy Award winning group, Morgan Heritage sent the crowd wild at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe as they delivered a highly anticipated live performance.

Standard Bank Introduces Visa Platinum Card

Margaret Kubwalo

One of Malawi's leading bank,  Standard Bank has launched a new-look Visa Platinum Debit Card which offers exclusive lifestyle benefits and increased personalized security.

Margaret Kubwalo-Chaika, Standard Bank Head of Personal and Business Banking said the new card offers prestige services to its customers and that they intend to deliver progressive and convenient banking services to its high-end customers.

"This card is more than debt card, it is a card that works both locally and internationally, it is about prestige” said Kubwalo on Thursday night in Lilongwe when launching the new card

Visa Platinum Debit Card is a new product with exclusive features like the highly secure new chip and pin that will see private bankers transact across the world with minimal risk. 

She mentioned that platinum card among others  offers exclusive benefits which include a guaranteed 24/7 world-wide concierge service, travel accident insurance, travel perks, lifestyle privileges and shopping rewards, zero liability and an end to queues.

“It is just ensuring that Standard Bank is close to the customers, it is answering to the needs of customer in just one card.” she said 

“Soon we will also be able to make e-commerce payments using this very same card” added Kubwalo further pledging that the bank will continue bringing innovative products and services to achieve excellence in the delivery of its services to customers.

According to Chaika, for customers to access Platinum Visa Card they will have to bring in their old cards and apply for the Visa Platinum cards. 

“With the release of the new card which will be offered for free for those whose cards would not have expired in this year, the old cards will have to be returned to the bank and be destroyed to avoid inconveniences" said Chaika

She explained that whole process will be done at the Private Banking suites and the bankers have been duly trained on how to handle the process.

She said Standard Bank always goes an extra mile to demonstrate capability in offering tailor-made products and services to its customers and that customers can contact their private bankers who will guide them on the whole process.

Experience "Rokaz" On April 30- Morgan Heritage

The Royal Family of reggae, Morgan Heritage is finally in the country for the much anticipated Reggae Unite Festival by Bon Afrikan Productions scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, 2016 at Civo Stadium in the capital city of Lilongwe.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Court Ban Communication Btwn Accused and Chiumbuzo Family

Manondo

High Court justice Michael Mtambo has granted state an order restraining three accused persons answering attempted murder trial of Paul Mpwiyo to temporally stop communicating with Chiumbuzo family, the close relations to first accused, McDonald Kumwembe.

“Accused persons and all agents should not contact Luciano Chiumbuzo and all his nuclear family” ordered Mtambo on Tuesday evening at Lilongwe High Court  

The order come following ‘rebuttal evidence’ application made by State relating to alibi of suspected gunman, Kumwembe who stand by his claim that he was in Mozambique when Mphwiyo was shot in the night of September 13, 2013.

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale said state would like to rebut his excuse by bringing four witnesses among them are members from Chiumbuzo family who are related him. 

State evidence through Airtel mobile company call logs indicates that during the period in question, Kumwembe cell phone was actively used in communicating with second accused Pika Manondo here in Malawi up until the morning of September 14. Call logs, shows the morning of September 14, the two met in Dedza, the neighboring district of Lilongwe, where they communicated to each other using network tower for Dedza market.

But his earlier testimony, Kumwembe said he left his mobile phone in Malawi with his cousin, Luciano Chiumbuzo so he can communicate with Pika and any other person on number of business issues while he was away. Kumwembe who claim to have left the country though Dedza boarder agrees with witness of Pika that it was Luciano Chiumbuzo who had met with Pika in Deza in the morning of September 14.

Mphwiyo who until the time of attempted murder was serving as Budget Director at Ministry of Finance was shot while entering the gate of his home at area 43 in Lilongwe.

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale made the rebuttal application immediately after defense had closed its case

“What the law allow is that when the defense have given their case and there are what we consider as new matters that we could not have reasonably foreseen then in that case the State is allowed to bring in the rebuttal evidence so that is what we want to do” said Kachale in an interview

The matter has been adjourned to May 9, 10 and 11, 2016 but before adjournment Judge Michael Mtambo advised parties that court must finish dealing with the new business within the specified dates. It is now expected that after concluding with new business, parties will submit whether the suspects are guilty or not guilty.

In the day, Second accused Pika Manondo paraded Airtel expert to speak about network and how it precisely locate position of the phone making or receiving a call. Before the expert was introduced in the court, parties had met to define scope of evidence the defense were looking from Airtel since the company is also prosecution witness.

Pika brought Airtel expert to clarify because it is believed that he was present at the shooting scene in Area 43 since call logs had traced him being in Area 43 around the hours of the shooting.

Through his testimony, Pika said he was drinking that night staring from City Centre and had stopover at Area 10 Pacific Mall a neighboring area to area 43 around 23:00 hours. He then proceeded through Malawi College of Accountancy road heading to Area 10 crossroads where traffic lights are he took M1 road and drove to Area 47 at Bwandilo where he continued drinking at Chez-Mtemba till early hours of September 14.

Kuyere

Explanation from Kelvin Kuyere, Radio Network Planning Manager at Airtel Malawi throughout cross-examination in chief and during cross examination with first and second accused maintained that a person driving from City Centre passing through Capital Hotel to area 10 then proceed to Area 47, one’s cell phone is likely going to register network towers for Capital Hill, area 10, area 18 and area 43 tower which is at Petroda filling station near area 30 and very close to Area 10 Pacific Mall.

He said it most likely because very often signal from separate network towers in very close areas do overlap just to make sure that a subscriber is fully covered.

However, Kuyere contradicted himself during cross examination with State when more than once said was “certain” that Pika was outside range of coverage area of Area 43 tower. He also told court that it was not likely that Pika phone could be picked by far and weaker signal from Area 43 when stronger signals from Area 10 and other nearby towers were at off-peak hours which normally begin after 19:00 hours to the next day 09: 00 hours.

In his explanation, Kuyere said only when a closest tower is experiencing loading, the tower at far distance offering weak signal is allowed to take users. He emphasized that normally, when making a phone call network automatically decides cell tower offering best signal but in cases where there is loading, the network pushes subscriber to the next cell even if that cell is offering weak signal.

But he emphasized that during the off-pick hours closer tower always offer strong signal and it is therefore not likely in such circumstances that cell phone can pick far and weaker signal.

He also told court during cross examination of both first and second accused persons that call logs cannot be used to locate actual position but to locate general locality of subscriber within the radius of the tower. He emphasized that call logs must be used along with GIS application.

Pope Appoints New Bishop Of Mzuzu Diocese

Rev. Fr. John Alphonsus Ryan 

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Father John Alphonsus Ryan of the Missionary Society of St. Patrick as Bishop of Mzuzu-the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has announced.

A statement signed by Rev. Fr. Henry Saindi Secretary General of  ECM dated April 26, 2016 has indicated that His Excellency Archbishop Julio Murat, Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia relayed the news to Malawi this Tuesday after the news of the appointment was published in the Vatican on same day at Noon time in the Vatican City.

"The Reverend Mons. Michael A. Muwowo, Diocesan Administrator of Mzuzu, remains in charge of the Diocese until the new Bishop will take possession of the Episcopal See of Mzuzu" reads part of the statement

The office of the bishop for Mzuzu Diocese fell vacant on January 15, 2015 following the sudden passing of His Lordship Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza who was involved in an accident.

His tragic death was great loss to Church and faithful in Malawi as apart from being bishop of Mzuzu Diocese, late Zuza was also the Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

Evangelist Andrew Palau, Don Moen Coming For Love Malawi Festival in August

Andrew Palau

Love Malawi Festival is set to unite hundreds of Churches and Christians in the Capital Lilongwe in the month of August as renowned world evangelist Andrew Palau is coming to preach the Gospel of Hope in Malawi and with him will be a celebrated Christian Worship music singer, Don Moen.

Evangelist Palau is coming to Malawi at the invitation of Churches and leaders in partnership with Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), an umbrella body for more than one hundred Churches and Christians Organisations and over fifty Evangelical Churches.

This festival is considered as very significant evangelistic effort to foster unity, hope, and love in Malawi’s capital of Lilongwe.

Mkandawire

Reverend Francis Mkandawire, General Secretary for the EAM said at a media briefing jointly held with Palau in Lilongwe on Monday that this festival is a great opportunity that God has given to Malawi of taking the Gospel to people. 

“We are looking forward to this wonderful time to provide opportunity for our nation to hear the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ” he said and urged Malawians not to miss it

This historical Love Malawi Festival will reach its pinnacle on August 20-21, where Evangelist Palau will deliver the message and main stage music by Don Moen and other artists. There will also be Action Sports BMX and FMX stunt demonstrations by professional athletes including family fun Zone for Children.

 

Professional stunts and athletes will come 

However, the festival is s expected to be launched within each church between May and June followed by Pastor’s Enrichment Conference towards the end of May as well as friendship evangelism trainings in June and July.

Rev. Mkandawire said this will be exciting event because the local church will be empowered in many ways particularly that thousands are expected to be trained in personal evangelism and be helped to understand their role in prayer and leading people to Jesus.

“We highly recommend the evangelist Palau and his team” said Mkandawire who mentioned that EAM and various Church leaders have been attending Palau festivals in several African cities and were encouraged to see how Palau festivals are done

“Palau team is comprised of very seasoned evangelists who teach sound Biblical teachings, their emphasis is on Christ and what Christ can do in our lives” He explains, adding, “and their coming to Malawi will bring good message of Jesus Christ and it will be a refreshing to the nation and we look forward to that.” 

Evangelist Palau said was excited to partner with local churches to lift high the name of Jesus and serve together in reaching out to every member of the community in Malawi.

“We are believing God for historic work in Malawi” said Palau, “He has directly called us to be his ambassadors and we are so excited to join with believers in this great nation to lift up the wonderful name of Jesus Christ”

Among others, Palau said the goals for the festival are to further unity, give motivation and hope for the hearts of the next generation.

“We want to encourage and activate in all of us a heart of sacrificial service, a love for others around us, and a life marked by right living, holiness, which leads to Gods many promised blessings and benefits.” He said 

“What we would really love to see at the end of the event is that all of God’s people would be further unified, loving each other, growing in the heart of compassion and expressing heart of love and service for the community, we want to see the young people encouraged with the vision for the future and we really would love people to hear this message that God loves you as an individual and the nation of Malawi.” He added

A son of world evangelist and author, Luis Palau, Andrew has shared the Gospel with millions of people around the world. Through Luis Palau Association Worldwide ministry the festivals brings a powerful evangelistic opportunity to cities around the globe through family-friendly events bringing together hundreds of churches in a strong expression of unity while equipping thousands of believers to share their faith.

Andrew has led festivals across United States of America as well as Europe and Love Malawi Festival marks his eighth campaign in Africa. His recent festivals in Africa include: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (2014); Adis Ababa, Ethiopia (2013); Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2012); Bujumbura, Burundi (2011); Kampala Uganda (2010); Kigali, Rwanda (2009); and Cairo, Egypt (2008). 

According to Rev. Grey Mwalabu, Love Malawi Festival Coordinator, the very first weeks of August there will be satellite festivals in Zomba, Blantyre, Ntcheu, Mzuzu and Dzaleka Refugee Camp followed by affinity outreach events for business and civic leaders, prisons outreaches, evangelistic sports clinics, eyeglass and medical clinics.

Andrew Palau partner evangelists will also be presenting the Good News throughout the weeks of the festival at public festival events and that local civic and business leaders, media and sports celebrities and others in the faith community will share their testimonies in the various festival venues.