CHRR, Cedep applaud Malawi govt for acceptance to attend African Commission on Human Rights Session

CHRR, Cedep applaud Malawi govt for acceptance to attend African Commission on Human Rights Session

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep), has welcomed decision by Malawi government to appear before the 56th session of African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

The decision to attend African commission Session, Malawi will make another milestone in promotion of Hunan Rights issues following a positive background of Malawi’s similar maiden historical appearance at the 111^th session of United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva recently.

According to a Press Statement dated 12^th November 2014 co-signed by Executive Directors Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence for CHRR and Cedep respectively says by resolving to appear before the 56^th Session of African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights the Malawi government has not only demonstrated its willingness towards adherence to her international obligations but also commitment towards the promotion and protection of human rights for all.

It is an obligation of State parties to the African Charter on human and peoples’ rights to submit reports every two years updating the commission on their promotion and protection mandate of human and peoples' rights in their respective countries. But according to CHHR and Cedep statement “Malawi submitted its maiden report in 2012 after 25 years of non-compliance to her obligations to the commission.”

“In the absence of such state party reports, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation since 1998 [when it acquired the observer status to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights] had been presenting and submitting human rights brief reports to the African Commission highlighting the progress, challenges and recommendations to the Malawi government on issues of human rights and good governance.”

The statement further states “The Civil Society, through Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep), also submitted their shadow report in 2012, concurrently with Malawi government, which included a number of recommendations of the human rights situation in the country”

Among the recommendations the statement included;

1.       The state party to take steps and measures to comply with the Francis Kafantayen vs. The Attorney General decisions by ensuring that all murder convicts are re-sentenced as a matter of urgency

2.       The state Party to ensure that Dr. Kalonga Stambuli Commission of Inquiry Report is released and action should be taken against any person or persons who played a hand in his death

3.       The State Party to allocate a minimum of 15% of its national budget towards health in line with the Abuja Declaration

4.       The State Party as a matter of urgency compensate victims of 2O July demonstrations, investigate and prosecute the perpetrators

5.       The State Party as a matter of urgency to bring to justice those responsible for the brutal murder of a Polytechnic student activist Robert Chasowa and compensate late Robert Chasowa’s family

6.       The State Party to safeguard the independence of the Judiciary and desist from making bad comments in public against judicial officers and also ensure that judicial officers are properly remunerated and protected

The forthcoming session of the African commission in Gambia will hence provide the platform for Malawi government to give the status quo of protection and promotion of human rights in the country, the progress on implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples rights, and also update the commission on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations made in the 2012 civil society shadow report.

The 56^th Session will commence from the 1^st December to 17^th December 2014 in Banjul Gambia where Malawi government’s initial report is due for review on 7^th, 8^th and 9^th December 2014.

A 34 year old rapist infects STDs to a 13 year old girl in Lilongwe

A 34 year old rapist infects STDs to a 13 year old girl in Lilongwe

A 34 year old man in Lilongwe has passed on a Sexual Transmitted Disease (STDs) to a young girl aged 13. The man whose name is Owen Mkambeni is in police custody for defilement charge.

Kanengo Police Station Public Relations Officer Sergeant Esther Mkwanda has confirmed that the young girl was defiled on 2 November but kept silence the matter until her parents on 11^th November noticed some unusual limp movements of the girl and when checked they realized that her private parts were passing pus which caused smell.

According to Sergeant Mkwanda when the Kamuzu Central Hospital examined the victim confirmed in the medical report that the girl has one of the sexually transmitted diseases.

The officer said both the man and the victim lives in area 25 where the incident took place. Sergeant Mkwanda said the rapist defiled the girl when she was on her way to buy airtime at some groceries shop.

The rapist hails from Njolomole village T/A Njolomole in Ncheu and he has failed to appear in court this week due to the ongoing strike by some Court workers.

Reacting to the incident, one of the NGOs operating in Area 25 ‘Nditsogolo Langa’, has condemned the act by calling it ‘unfortunate’ development disturbing girls, and an incident happening in the area barely few days after the organization had a community sensitization campaigns at Kalambo Primary School, a place happens to be the victims school where people were warned of demerits of harassing girls.

“We are pleading with men in the country who have similar evil motives to stop this act and start to respect and protect girls. Sexual abuse is offensive act and is a annoying development which is disturbing the psychological, health and education of girls in this country and we commend police for immediately arresting this man when the matter was reported to them” Said Joyce Chitsulo Executive Director for Nditsogolo Langa

While applauding the parents of the child for their quick reaction by taking the matter to police and plea to other parents to follow suit by not hiding such matters, Chitsulo also views the reaction taken by the victims parents and the girl’s reflection by revealing to her parents about what happened though it took some days, as a positive signal that the community is now utilizing the messages that Nditsogolo Langa has been giving to the community and pupils learning in the schools surrounding area 25.

“Otherwise they would have not reported the matter to police” she said, and explained “May be if it were not for our sensitization campaigns encouraging them to report such kind of abuse cases we would have not known, or parents would have kept this silence and say this is our internal issue lets resolve it internally and in the process violating the rights of the girl.”

Chitsulo has pledged commitment that her organizations will continue making sensitization messages of empowering girls and women in the area particularly on the importance of reporting to police or any relevant authority any incidences of rape or harassment in order to end such malpractice.

Media messages can encourage men to get circumcised

Media messages can encourage men to get circumcised

A communication Specialist at the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Daniel Rutz says media should keep in the mainstream issues of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) in order to encourage more men to get circumcised.

In an interview Rutz said a lot of men in Malawi can get circumcised if the media is also on the forefront informing the public with accurate information on the importance of MMC in prevention of HIV/AIDS and other Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs).

“There are number of things that media can do to help men to be attracted to the idea of being circumcised to prevent them from being exposed of HIV risk. One of which is to keep the issue in the main stream so that people become not only familiar with it but that they are reminded that it’s there and available for them.” He said

He stressed that accuracy in such messages would be vital to prevent some who are opposing medical male circumcision for their own “selfish reasons” from distorting reality of circumcision.

“…more importantly it is really vital that the coverage be accurate that science around medical circumcision be accurately portrayed that those who are opposing medical circumcision for their own selfish reasons not to be allowed to distort reality..."

“And we don’t want critics of MMC to be able to steal the platform and make arguments to the contrary because we are very convinced that the science governing the procedure is solid and good science. We know that medical circumcision is safe, we know that does not harm men in any way and it makes possible avoiding life threatening infection.” Said Rutz

Medical Male Circumcision is a safe Male circumcision which does not prevent HIV/AIDS but help to reduce risk that a man will acquire HIV from an infected female partner, and also lowers the risk of other STDs, penile cancer, and infant urinary tract infection.

For female partners, male circumcision reduces the risk of cervical cancer, genital ulceration, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and HPV. Although male circumcision has risks including pain, bleeding, and infection, more serious complications are rare.

Currently in Malawi, 160,000 men have been circumcised for a period of 3 years in 7 districts.

The ministry of health targets 1.8 million adult males aged between 10 to 35 years to undergo MMC by 2020. 

And According to Spokes person for the Ministry Henry Chimbali, the ministry is planning to scale up the MMC campaign in other districts by 2015 when World Bank funds are made available.

Mutharika Names New Board of Directors for 25 Statutory Corporations:Meet the List of the Appointees

Mutharika Names New Board of Directors for 25 Statutory Corporations: Meet the List of the Appointees

The President of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, has appointed new Boards of Directors of Statutory Corporations following the expiry of the mandates of previous appointees.

Mutharika made the appointments with immediate effect

Govt Says Nurturing Artisanal, Small Scale Mining Potential To Support Economy

Malawi government is optimistic that transforming the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) sub-sector from informal to formal with proper regulation in place, would increase the mining sector income and cause an upward adjustment of mining contribution to the GDP.

Currently the mining sector contributes 10% of Malawi’s GDP and when all the upcoming mining projects are in full operation including proper regulations in ASM, government’s projection is that the contribution of the sector to GDP will move up to 20%.

Financial Literacy Week offering rare opportunities to Malawians

Financial Literacy Week offering rare opportunities to Malawians

Several Malawians who patronised activities for the week long messages on ‘Financial Literacy’ have described the event as a very important moment to learn various financial matters that people don’t understand much on.

Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) organized a Financial Literacy Week which began on Monday 27^th October to Friday 31^st of October 2014 where several activities including drama, traditional dances and road shows were done in various towns and villages of Lilongwe. There was also a pavilion at Wullian Super Market premise where people interested in various finance management issues had an opportunity to visit any kiosk that offer  financial service of their interest.

One person who visited almost every kiosk, Moses Likagwa who owns Ndamo Auctioneers and Estate Agents said with contentment that he has greatly benefited from the week because he has learnt where to go whenever there is an issue between him and any financial institution.

“They have enlightened me where to go once I get the problems with financial institutions” adding “Courts are a waste of time.” He said

“I told them that I quitted many accounts in the banks because I fed up with the banks, and in the mean time I do all the things in my house, and not under banks because of their mismanagement of conditions, they would change them and say go anywhere.” But he said now with the proper information on the importance of making right choices before engaging with financial institutions, he will go back and research all the banks with their conditions,

“This week is important to me and to my family even to all Malawians. We have been lacking these introductions of finance particularly on how to manage money and this time I have understood that everything is good.” He cherished

A woman who visited Capital Markets kiosk but declined to be revealed her name told this reporter that the Financial Literacy Week has significantly helped her in understanding how to buy Shares and Treasury Bills.

“I have always wanted to buy shares and Treasury Bills, but I did not know where to go, at one point I went straight to Reserve Bank to buy Treasury Bills but I was told that they cannot transact with me I needed an agent, now I know where to begin.” She said

“I have also learned that I cannot deal directly with Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) when buying shares, am supposed to go through a licensed Stock Broker that is a member of the exchange. Now I need to find and choose a Stock Broker who is the investor’s link with the Stock Exchange and place my buy”

According to Mr. Lanjesi Sinoya Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Chief Examiner responsible for Consumer Protection and Financial Literacy said with the interest shown by the public during the week to know financial issues, demands financial institutions to do more in sensitizing Malawians on financial matters.

“I see the interest growing among Malawians to know about financial matters. And it is a right for every Malawian to have financial literacy messages because while I agree to the fact that our capacity to generate income is low, but Malawians do generate income and what is probably lacking is how to wisely use that income.”

“And that’s what we (RBM, through Financial Literacy Week) are trying to address, advising Malawians on how best to use their money, through saving, coming up with a budget and revealing some investments opportunities to Malawians in the event that they have resources to invest.” Said Sinoya

Sinoya confidently said “Malawi can develop in a short period of time if everyone is educated on financial issues.” And urged Malawians to develop interest “to know more on financial matters and put in practice of information” that financial institutions particularly RBM is giving them.

The first event of National Financial Literacy Week was done in Blantyre last year, throughout the week financial institutions sensitize the public on the importance of managing funds using financial institutions. They make awareness of the available information, opportunities, and services they offer just to enable people have some information before entering into contract with them.

Several Banks, Insurance companies, Capital Markets, Micro and Micro Finance companies, SACCO and Pension institutions took part in this year’s event which was commemorated under the theme ‘Financial Literacy: Building a Financially Literate Nation’.

Cashgate: Soko to Face His Fate on Thursday Next Week

Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe is expected on Thursday next week 13^th November to pass sentence to a Deputy Director of Youth for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Wyson Zinyemba Soko whose crime is connected to cashgate.

Soko is a third cashgate convict after conviction and sentencing of former Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Tressa Namathanga Senzani to three years and nine month imprisonment. And Patrick Victor Sithole a former Accounts Assistant on Tuesday this week was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment both on cashgate cases.