2016-2017 Budget: K35.5 Billion For Food Purchase

Government has announced that the 2016/2017 Budget has allocated K35. 5 billion for the purchase of food response.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Goodall Gondwe has announced today when presenting the 2016/2017 Budget estimates.

"Of this amount, MK6.0 billion is in support of the winter cropping initiative to purchase maize from large scale farmers through contract farming." He indicated  

"The total allocation for maize procurement is additional be pleased to note that development partners cooperating under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund in Agriculture have indicated that they may provide additional resources specifically in support of winter cropping." Said Gondwe

He said ADMARC is also purchasing local maize for immediate sales with support provided through Government guarantees for ADMARC to borrow from commercial banks to purchase food for sales to the public.

Hon. Gondwe mentioned that the U.K. and the ADB already pledged their support in response to President Peter Mutharika's disaster call and that United States Government has already pledged support amounting to about US$63 million for humanitarian food assistance, which will be managed by the World Food Program (WFP). In addition he said the ADB has also pledged US$18 million.

He said other support for food crisis will come from Chinese Government who pledged over US$9 million and from the Japanese Government of US$7 million.

But he noted that the IMF has also provided support amounting to US$49 million through the Augmentation of Access facility, which allows the Government to borrow more money from the Reserve Bank of Malawi specifically for this purpose. He added that the World Bank currently conducting a post disaster needs assessment in the country, to determine their level of support through the Crisis Response Window facility a facility that was used by the World Bank to provide support amounting to US$80 million in response to the flood disaster of 2014/15.

Gondewe also mentioned that through resource support from European Union and the World Bank, each district has been allocated with K500 million in this financial year towards Public Works Programme in order to boost rural income among smallholder farmers in rural areas to enable the buy food. He noted that it is clear that people in rural areas have had drastically reduced agricultural production due to the drought, and that their incomes have also been reduced.

The second round crop estimates recently released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development showed that maize production during the 2015/16 growing season has declined by an estimated 12.4 percent relative to production in 2014/15. 

Maize production has been estimated at 2.4 million metric tons. It is estimated that the country requires an additional 790,000 metric tons of relief food to support an estimated 8.4 million people. An additional 250,000 metric tons is required for sale in ADMARC markets, while another 250,000 metric tons is required to restock the strategic grain reserves.

Get 2016-2017 Budget Statement here 

Khumbo Asks Chaponda To Have Listening Ear

Former Vice President and Member of Parliament for Mzimba South West, Khumbo Kachali has asked Government Ministers to listen to constructive views being suggested by some opposition legislators in ongoing National Assembly Meeting.

Kachali was reacting to Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda's outburst when Chitipa North legislator James Munthali said the agriculture minister has failed in his duties for not starting now the implementation of some of the measures that the ministry has put in place to avert hunger.

The former Agriculture Minister Hon James Munthali member for Chitipa North asked why Government has not started distribution of Treadle pumps, seeds and fertilizers now to avert hunger other than to wait, because the water is still available so that people can start to utilize this.

George Chaponda, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development also Leader of House responded with rants  by outburstly reminded Munthali that he as former agriculture minister failed during his time to rescue Malawians from hunger situation and that even maize rotten at National Food Reserve Agency when Malawians were facing hunger.

Mzimba South West Legislator, former Vice President, Khumbo Hastings Kachali who took the floor on point of order asked Chaponda to listen to views and not being political.

“So, it was unfortunate for the sitting Minister of Agriculture instead of taking note of the friendly advice he actually was saying no, why couldn’t you do it when you were in Government." noted Kachali in an interview 

"My concern was, we in opposition we have to give constructive ideas. And this was an idea from former minister of Agriculture. Instead of taking note and going back to the drawing board and say yes indeed we are late. But the sitting minister of agriculture is talking politics.” lamented Kachali

So, he said "that is what made me to stand up and say no, Government is a continuous process, and the challenges that we are facing now they are not only challenges for those members that are in the Government but for Malawians that is both in Government and in opposition."

He continued "Malawians are suffering; this time around there is no food, so we all have to bang our heads and find solution and here is an advice a solution let us start now. So my humble request is Government should also listen when opposition members are giving advice.”

He then hoped that his fellow cabinet ministers should advise Dr. Chaponda to have a listening ear and begin to take advices.

House Wants Death Penalty To Curb Albino Killings

As ugly waves of attacks and killings of persons with albinism continues in Malawi, it now seem the option left to curb the problem is tit-for tat as a lot of Legislators in the ongoing Meeting of National Assembly wants Malawi to use death penalty as protection of albinos.

Death penalty is currently not used as punishment in the country due to human rights campaigns to end death penalty.

Contrary to growing campaigns against death penalty, a good number of legislators who took the floor on the debate on State of National Address today have expressed their support that death penalty must fall upon the convicted persons involved in attacks and killings of persons with albinism.

Legislators who commented on this have suggested 'the eye- for- an eye' approach for the fact tthat regardless of number of efforts to end the situation seem not to work.

For example, a 38 year old man with albinism was horribly murdered on Tuesday while alone in his garden in Ntcheu district. The mmurderers chopped off his legs, hands and private parts.

One of the Parliamentarian, a Mulanje South legislator, Bon Kalindo joined members who spoke earlier to express support for death penalty and warned that if the debate on albino attacks will fail to come on Friday he will walk out of the House in protest adding that there will be chaos.

"We need to come up with the debate on death penalty." He said "If death penalty does not come tomorrow in this House I will walk out of this House"

He continued "To morrow be the day to make change! To make our persons with albinism walk freely in this country!" He said warning that "If that issue will not come to morrow, and If i will walk out you know what will happen, people will follow me and there will be chaos"

Kalindo agreed with fellow parliamentarians by emphasizing that people killing albinos are being inhuman and persons with albinism must walk free in this country.  

The House which is continuing debate on State of National Address by President Peter Mutharika was on Thursday informed that due to urgency of the albino killings, the Business Committee had agreed that this Friday the House should debate on albino killings which is being described as "National crisis"

Among other things, Hon Kalindo also commended the recent move by Government to deploy Malawi Defense Force to give protection to Mulanje Mountain. He said this will help to protect valuable natural resources found in that mountain but have been neglected for a long time.

"This will make that place a non-go zone" he said "anthu atibulidwako kumeneko"

But he observed that for the deployment of the Army to be effective therefore the group which is currently working to protect the mountain 'Mulanje Conservation Trust' should be forced to pack up and go.

"Those guys have destroyed the natural resources in Mulanje mountain" he added

Malawi Traditional Healers Denies Participating In Albino Attacks

Frank Manyowa

The umbrella body Organization of traditional healers in Malawi suspects foreign immigrants claiming to be traditional healers as being those fueling attacks and killings of people with albinism in the country.

Fingers are pointing at traditional healers for being ones tricking people that body parts of an albino can bring fortune such as wealth.

But Frank Manyowa, President for the Traditional Healers Association of Malawi has cleared Malawian herbalist from the rumours saying  they do not have a hand in these ugly violence.

Manyowa said the group had recently met to hunt for possible perpetrators among their circles following the allegations that it is them perpetrating attacks of persons with albinism. But he said they did not identify Malawian herbalist perpetrating this and therefore concluded that the perpetrators are foreigners who came into the country and claim to be traditional healers.

“We have observed that this is a strange practice and we have never had this situation before in the country.” He noted

“We have noted that with recent influx of foreigners particularly those that are claiming to be traditional healers coming from various countries including Tanzania are possibly ones who have brought this." He said, and explained "Because we have learnt that a number of Traditional Healers have fled from Tanzania into Malawi because of tough regulations there”

While distancing themselves by stressing that Malawi traditional healers are clean from these evil he described these killings as "witchcraft rituals" which he said they don’t condone and condemn in strongest terms. 

The traditional healers president indicated that their grouping is guided by code of conduct which does not allow any of their member to practice magic and drawing distinction between real traditional healer and sham traditional healers, he said real traditional healers only provide herbs and medicine to heal specific illnesses while the fake ones claim to multiply money and do all sorts of magic just to steal from people. 

He disclosed that their association has resolved to register all traditional healers and that those who may shun the excercise will never be allowed to practice their medicine in the country.

“From today, I would like to announce that we will not allow any traditional healer to make adverts on radio without our approval” announced Manyowa who expressed his disappointed that the issue of albino attacks has badly affected thier businesses

He further asked Courts to give life sentences to culprits found guilty in these attacks and hinted that they will be conducting sensitization across the country to stop people from believing false rumours that albino body parts can bring wealth.

Ministry of Justice Response To Albino Killings

Meanwhile, Neverson Chisiza a Senior State Advocate in the Ministry of Justice and Prosecutor for the cases of albino said the ministry is revisiting the operations of the Traditional Healers to ensure that they meet standards. 

He among other things mentioned that the ministry has placed focus on the cases of albino attacks and killings and that “This matter has been given seriousness it deserve” 

He disclosed that for immediate solutions on sentencing, his office has already sent some proposed provisions that are calling for stiffer sentences to Solicitor General  which include capital punishment for being found in possession with fresh body parts and bones while for exhumation of bones is the proposed sentence is “not less than life imprisonment”

Chisiza mentioned also that the ministry of Justice is in the process of reviewing some laws such as Anatomy Act, to ensure that courts are handing stiffer sentences to culprits, letting all cases involving albinism be handled by professional magistrates and that the Ministry is also working on handbook that have all provisions for the charges to do with attacks on persons with albinism to guide prosecution in such cases.

As some are continuing with attacks and killings of persons with albinism, police have said they have established that there are no markets for body parts or bones of persons with albinism as it is alleged.

Stan Kaliza, a Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police at Police Headquarters said all culprits who have been arrested so far, have confessed that the time of their arrests they were stranded walking around with albino bones and body parts for they had no clue of where to sell the parts.

“The culprits caught so far have told police that they killed an albino or exhumed their bones just because they heard rumors that having those parts is a hot business, so they were just walking around with the body parts. There is no market all and this is just completely unfounded rumours.” He said 

Albino Grouping Urge Parliament To Allocate Resources, Review Necessary Laws For Fight Against Albino Killings

Bonface Massah

Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) stresses that the ongoing Budget Meeting of the National Assembly should allocate resources for the fight against dreadful attacks and killings of persons with albinism.

President for the association, Bonface Massah said resources are needed to fight the criminals who are adept in the attacks and added that relevant legislations also be reviewed in this Meeting of National Assembly to support the prosecution of cases of albino attacks.

Massah was speaking at the press briefing in Lilongwe on Wednesday, when the National Technical Committee on Abuse of Persons with Albinism in Malawi chaired by Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba was providing details of progress and action plan for response to the abductions, killings and exhumation of the remains of persons with albinism.

He warned that if the Parliamentarians will spend time in the House without addressing the problem then “They are killing us”

He stressed that the response to the problem should not only be the word of mouth but with resources and that “Investigations must be urgent” as well.

On Tuesday, Malawi has recorded a fresh brutal murder in Ntcheu district of a male albino aged 38 who has been identified by police as Fletcher Masina picture found here He was attacked while in his garden and attackers chopped off his arms, legs and private parts.

Referring to this case, Massah said even him as person championing the rights of persons with albinism is not safe and that without concrete efforts to curb the situation, persons with albinism will all die. 

He also called for speedy prosecution involving albino attacks.

Later in an interview, Massah said “Government has accepted that this is a crisis and that is why we are calling Parliament to also address this with a crisis response. Normally parliament has mandate to allocate resources when we have crisis or disasters in our country and this is one clear a crisis that we are experiencing in Malawi that needs urgent attention by our parliament.” 

He said adequate budgetary allocation should be channeled to the Ministry of Health in order to address the health needs of people with albinism, to Ministry of Home Affairs for Police investigations and police trainings on how to tackle the problem.

“Parliament must ensure that each budget that they are passing this year must have clear response to our needs and even setting aside special funds that will really respond to the current crisis that we are experiencing like to deal with altitudes and special needs that people with albinism have.” He stressed

He also explained that apart from resources, people with albinism wants the House to review weak laws that Malawians have been highlighting as one of the contributing factor to the lighter sentences that courts have been handing to convicted criminals. 

“That is also a key role that Parliament must play to support the response that has been taken by various stakeholders.” He emphasized

Technical Committee’s Work Progress

Ntaba

Chairperson for the Committee, Hetherwick Ntaba announced that short term actions have been identified by his committee and there is progress in terms of implementation.

“The mapping exercise to identify the population of person with albinism across the country for targeted interventions has started and is being coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government. The ministry will involve the TAs (Traditional Authorities), Group Village Heads and Village Heads in this task” disclosed Ntaba expressing hope that this will make it possible to reach many of the persons with albinism 

He outlined that there will be continued awareness campaigns on albinism issues to stop attacks, speedy investigations and prosecutions of criminal suspects, investigative and intelligence research to establish loot cause of attacks, regulation of traditional healers since the attacks are allegedly perpetrated by myth that body parts of albinos can bring fortunes when used in magic.

On health related needs for persons with albinism Ntaba said the Ministry of Health shall provide sunscreen lotions, supply of protective clothing including hats and sunglasses to persons with albinism. 

“They will also alert their clinicians to look out for possible skin cancer complications in patients with albinism at the clinics” he added

Mr. Ntaba further mentioned that Ministry of Education will also put into Boarding Schools with appropriate security arrangements all children who are failing to go to school for fear of being attacked.

Ntaba also hinted that there are mid- and long-term plans lined up for implementation and would like to have the National Response Plan on attacks of persons with albinism fully implemented. He mentioned that the plan will among other things trainings for magistrates, police prosecutors and investigators, and address health needs for the persons with albinism.

Ntaba also noted that although the committee does not have resources, a lot can be done without finances because this is a human issue that requires collect efforts by being each brother’s keeper. However, he said resources are necessary but “let not lack of resources stop us from protecting persons with albinism”

Persons with albinism in Malawi are being attacked, killed and even their remains exhumed due to the disbelief that their body parts can grant benefits such as wealth. 

On 5th May 2016, President Peter Mutharika instituted the National Technical Committee on Abuse of Persons with Albinism in Malawi with mandate of discussing and reach agreements with all stakeholders and oversee implementation of agreements, initiatives and strategies with an aim of ending increased and gross violation of human rights of persons with albinism. 

The multi-sectoral committee comprises institution such as Office of President and Cabinet, Line Ministries of Information, Gender, Justice, Health, Home Affairs, Local Government and Education. It also included Malawi Police Service, the Judiciary, The Association of People with Albinism, Association of Traditional Healers, and Citizens Alliance representing civil society organizations in Malawi. There are also stakeholders from the donor community.

Win K5 million In Airtel Malawi Tayale Tayale Promo

Francis Matseketsa

Airtel Malawi has unveiled yet another exciting promotion dubbed Tayale- Tayale promotion.

The promotion which will run for a period of three months, ending in August, 2016 this an Airtel Money’s mobile money portfolio and that one lucky customer will at the end of the promotion win a grand prize of a whooping K5 million preluded by 2 lucky subscribers who each month will win K1 million each.

When unveiling the promotion in Lilongwe, Airtel Money Country Director Francis Matseketsa said Tayale-Tayale promotion is Airtel’s mission to innovate, grow and continue being the people’s brands of choice.

Matseketsa said through this promotion

“We are encouraging customers to come on board to Airtel money and also come out of pillow and mattress kind of banking and use their mobile phones to transact as banking in their pocket.”

He therefore encouraged Airtel customers who are not yet on Airtel Mobile Money to get registered and start transact and win the prizes in the promotion.

The promotion will run until August 31, 2016 and the company is giving away a total prize money worth K25 million.

Mr. Matseketsa indicated that on daily basis, 100 people will win K2 thousand each throughout the period of promotion and that these daily winners will be determined by selecting the first 10 customers who pay bills on Airtel Money every hour between 8 am and 6 pm every day.

In terms of eligibility for the competition, he said only Airtel Money registered customers who transact on Airtel Money via bill payments, grocery purchases or sending money to family and friends within Malawi with minimum transaction amount of K2 thousand will qualify to enter the promotion.

“Customers will also be able to check their numbers of entry by dialing *727#” He said adding that draws will be conducted at the end of every month.

Don't Just "Be At The Receiving End"- Chakwera

Lazarus Chakwera titled his speech
'Dzukani A Malawi'

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President and Leader of Opposition in Parliament has said it all why he is calling Malawians to Rise Up.

Chakwera says time to be a mare listener of leaders is over and Malawians should begin to have a say in issues happening in the country for the country to move forward.

He was speaking in an interview to highlight more on the meaning behind naming of his speech, Dzukani A Malawi, a response to State of National Address.

MCP leader, also said the ongoing exercise by Legal Affairs Committee of enhancing the Standing Orders to incorporate Constitutional provision which requires the President to take questions from legislators immediately after delivering State of National Address, will be a significant step of making Presidents answerable to Malawians.

“Malawians its high time to take the responsibility over the decisions we make. Its not right to just be at the receiving end of those we think they know more than we do." cautions Chakwera

"Every Malawian has a right to have a say in what happens in this country." He said 

He sadly observed that Malawi has developed a community and society where "we think" certain intellectuals or certain experts or certain leaders which includes politicians can say something and then "we say, Oh! father is always right, when in fact majority of our people have never been quotientised and educated enough to be able to make decisions that will make this country move forward." 

"We cannot have a large population in the rural areas depending on elite that continues to swindle them by prosing them Heaven when actually they live in Hell.” He said

Asked if he is sticking to his question to President which he reserved last Meeting of National Assembly until President Mutharika finds time to come to Parliament, he responded, “This is a constitutional issue. It has nothing to do whether I ask questions or not so other people might want to ask questions like we did. 

But when these standing orders are in place and we know the modalities that could be used in order for us to have the Head of Government then we will see how to proceed.”