2015/2016 Budget Sidelines People of North- Says MPs

2015/2016 budget sideline Northern Region people says Legislatures, appeals for the increased allocation for the Development Budget.

The 2015/2016 Budget has K224 billion but the northern region MPs says out of this allocation the northern region will get almost nothing.

During the press briefing held at the Parliament Building in the capital city Lilongwe, 9 parliamentarians representing all northern region constituencies said it is worrisome that this year' budget like other previous years the northern part of Malawi will again not benefit from the budget.

The Parliamentarians bemoaned that number of promised projects like roads, Mzuzu Airport, education and health including water projects have received nothing yet government continues to boast doing a lot to the Northern region.

Nine legislatures, representatives of Northern region including hon Mzomera Ngwira, Enoch Chihana, Agnes Nyalonje, Werani Chilenga and Kamlepo Kalua said there is nothing in this budget that can benefit people of north.

Hon Mzomera Ngwira who led the meeting said Northern region MPs have seen that each year budget is not benefiting people of north citing that even last year budget had completely nothing to support northern region projects.

He mentioned of number of unfulfilled promises including Mzuzu airport since 2010 yet government has allocated more resources for Chileka and Kamuzu airport which are from Southern Region and Central Region respectively.

Amlosnt every parliamentarian in the meeting observed that more budget support is skewed to Southern region and Central region areas and said this may lead to future conflicts.

Rumphi West parliamentarian Jacqueline Kouwenhoven proved the point that northern region is being sidelined saying, though her constituency has two national parks of Nyika and Vwaza marsh but roads and other infrastructure are in pathetic state.

Kamlepo Kalua member for Rumphi East emphasized that time has come that governments should unite people in all regions by formulating budget that reflects nationalism.

He therefore proposed that out K224 billion for Development budget, northern region has to be allocated at least K60 billion.

Other MPs complained that even CDF money, northern districts have less disbursement yet Southern region and central region have received 90% of their K9 million.

The Northern region MPs says remains adamant to pressure government through parliament chambers, consult people in their constituents and continue to engage relevant people to ensure that government is implementing fairness in the budget.

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10% Excise Duty on SMS Scare Flood Victims

Survivers: 

New excise duty on text messaging has scared people of Nsanje who survived from this years worst flood disaster.

In order to expand the tax base to generate resources for budget, 10% excise duty to be levied on text messaging and all data transfers including internet and similar services.

People of Nsanje district have made a very strong argument through Member of Parliament for Nsanje South West Constituency, Hon Joseph Chidanti Malunga who spoke in the National Assembly about how the new tax has disappointed and scared people of Nsanje.

Hon Chidanti: Survivers are scared 

The parliamentarian, Honorable Chidanti Malunga, made the formal request in the National Assembly that government should stop implementing that punitive tax because text messages saved many lives of people of his constituency during floods.

He said people from Nsanje are worried and of the view that it is not wise decision to raise tax on such life saving services.

That flood disaster day, he said, "The commonest form of communication was text messages."

"We were able to text warning messages to one another and with family and friends so, we were saved”

Hon. Chidanti then said, "Today we are worried" and repeated "we are worried that we have to pay more for these services."

"We therefore urge government to re-look at this proposal to raise the tariff on text messaging in this year’s budget” pleaded the peoples representative

Malawians continue mounting pressure on government to abandon decision of raising tax on SMS, Data and Internet.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planing and Development, Honorable Goodall Gondwe when presenting 2015/2016 budget estimates, where he announced the new tax, said government decision to increase the tax was reached upon having observed that government core to improve access to mobile telecommunication has been fulfilled after it removed custom duties on mobile phones and solar cellular telephone chargers.

The minister said there is now tremendous uptake of the telecommunication services.

However, many people have spoken against the decision.

Sports Firm CNS Introducing 5 Aside Soccer in Malawi

A Sports Management firm, Corporate Networking Sports (CNS) plans to introduce 5 aside Soccer in Malawi.

The group says it wants to popularise the 5 aside football as a social and corporate past time activity in the country through working partnerships with all groups and organizations with passion for sports and healthy active lifestyle.

"CNS will target every business, social and corporate grouping looking for a way to enhance fitness, team work and team performance and discipline through exciting team sport activities." Said Francis Muleso chairman for CNS at a press briefing in Lilongwe on Friday 

Muleso said CNS intends to undertake a gradual introduction of the Game in Malawi by among others sustainability running a competitive 5 aside football leagues.

The CNS chairman mentioned that the gradual introduction of the sport will include the building of facilities where different sporting activities can be enjoyed by the corporate world. 

Since the sport is new in Malawi, Muleso said the launch campaign will take place 31st October 2015 with the purpose of sensitising the corporate world of the benefits that comes with the sport. 

Francis Muleso further indicated that the launch will comprise a inaugural 5- Aside one day tournament which will include the participation of 1 top 5- Aside team from South Africa which will play against selected Malawian teams in Lilongwe at a venue to be announced. 

CNS founded in 2013 by a group of four South African based Malawians with common interest in sports, fitness and good health, ventured into 5 Aside football because it is a version of sports generally regarded as more exciting, high octane format of team sport and social programmes. 

Having ventured into the game, CNS boasts of leading the successful formation a very competitive 5 aside Soccer team in Midrand - Johannesburg, known as Nyau Stars (named after Malawi's popular traditional dance) which was crowned Champions for three consecutive seasons between 2013 and early 2015.

Hunger In Nsanje District; People Eating Water Lily ‘Nyika’ says MP

The Malawi National Assembly was shocked Thursday evening when legislature for Nsanje South West constituency showed the house what majority of people in his area are eating for survival, the area is facing shortage of staple food ‘maize’.

Hon Joseph Chidanti Malunga showed the house a bunch of aquatic plant ‘water lily tubers’ and said such are types of foods that people in his constituency are surviving on due to hunger which has hit the area following the past drought and floods.

Hon Chidanti Malunga

The Parliamentarian was making his constituency statement during Thursday’s Private Members Day where he emphasized that there is no more “looming hunger”in his constituency but now “hunger is here”

“We need to know where we are with the maize purchase.” He demanded, “We need to know if we have started purchasing and how long shall we wait while eating this before it gets to ADMARC markets” he told the house as he asks those charged with responsibility to answer the question.

He said Nsanje South West hunger situation has changed from looming to reality, quicker than the rest of disaster areas due serious problem caused by two ecological zones which are subject to agricultural activities. He said this year the area faced both floods and drought, a combination of the two have reduced crop yields.

He then said Nsanje South West Constituency requires immediate food assistance and that government should respond as soon as possible.

However, Leader of House Hon Francis Lazaro Kasaila said the nation has enough stock of grain reserve in all storage facilities remarks which did not go well with Leader for Peoples Party in the National Assembly Hon Ulladi Mussa who said the leader of house was out of order to say that maize is available at Grain reserve yet people are suffering. He demanded that that maize be available to people of Nsanje

But speaking in an interview, hon. Chidanti said “The problem is probably in the whole of Nsanje” but noted that he could not speak for the whole Nsanje district“I was just speaking for a small part of Nsanje which is my constituency Nsanje South West but the truth is that the situation is the same everywhere else” he said

“We are in a very critical condition; there is no food and there is no maize in ADMARC market depot.” He said refereeing to two ADMARC market depots in his area of Nsanje Mbenje and Ng’oma.

He said the development has worsened situation as those that have money to afford maize have joined others to flock to the streams and swamps in search for “things that they can eat”then said ‘water lily’ locally known as Nyika is the hottest food now.

“I know government has not abandoned us but I am just to reporting this development to government to do more on saving the people of Nsanje” he saidwhile maintaining that the money that was approved by the National Assembly to buy maize should trickle down to people of Nsanje.

“People are suffering right now and we don’t want them to suffer forever and be eating the stuff that I showed in the parliament” he said

“I think this is a wake-up call that something quickly must be done” he added

The financial year of 2015/2016 budget to be approved in this session has the amount of K133.7 billion allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water development which part of it will be for maize purchase and that the a US $80 million Loan Authorization bill has been passed by the National Assembly on the same course.

“I have two suggestions” said Hon Chidanti regarding the money to be for the food purchase, “Firstly, we have to make sure that the ADMARC markets have enough maize to enable those that have money to buy the maize and that secondly, the most vulnerable be given free maize.”

Speaker’s Ruling On Teachers Petition Irks Education Committee

The Second Deputy Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly hon Dr. Clement Chiwaya irked the Parliamentary Education Committee on Thursday evening when he ruled that the Secondary School Teachers petition on ‘delayed promotion’ be referred back to education committee.

Regarding the urgency of issues raised in the petition, the relevant parliamentary committee, Education Committee had wanted to send the petition directly to the Teaching Service Commission which deals with the Teachers conditions of service through the Minister of Education Science and Technology after it was presented in the house for a quick solution.

Honorable member for Mzimba North Constituency and Vice Chairperson for Education Committee of parliament, Agnes Nyalonje presented teachers petition in the house on Thursday afternoon but the ruling implore that teachers grievances will remain unsolved for a while.

360 Secondary school teachers who upgraded themselves through doing various courses including diploma and degree courses signed the petition which was handed to National Assembly through the committee on 13th May 2015.

Teachers stated in their petition that they want to be promoted and gave Ministry of Education up to the end of the month of May to give them promotion failing which they are going to down tools country wide until they get the correct response.

Before Hon Nyalonje finished reading the petition in the house, wanted to present the committee recommendation that the petition be referred to the Teaching Service Commission because matters therein are urgent. However, the Second Deputy Speaker for more than three times, interrupted and guided the honorable member to follow the rules by refer the petition to the relevant committee which in this case it is back to the Education committee.

According to Parliamentary Standing Orders, the Member presenting the petition may move that it be “referred to a Select Committee”

Hon Nyalonje and the committee accepted to follow the ruling and referred the petition back to her committee.

However, in an interview Hon Nyalonje could not hide her disappointment over the ruling. She said the committee felt and recommended that the necessary procedure was to ask the whole house to refer the petition directly to the Teaching Service Commission. 

Hon Nyalonje said she “personally felt it was unfortunate” for the house to take that lengthy path which may only worsen problems in secondary schools which already have shortage of teachers.

“There is authority mandated to deal with the issue and that matters raised have a sense of urgency to that. As such if we know who is to deal with them what is the point referring it back when the committee in its wisdom as the committee entrusted with education knows that this petition should be dealt with in this manner?” questioned Hon Nyalonje

“Referring this petition to the Education Committee is a way of delay the solution of the issues contained in the letter” Said hon Nyalonje who feared that teachers may take an action which may disturb school calendar if their grievances remain unsettled as quickly as possible

“The Parliamentary Committee on Education Science and Technology was used as a conduit to present the petition to this house and get it to the right authority to deal with this issue.” She observed

“We in the committee felt that this petition instead of wasting time; referring to the committee which is not mandated to deal with it, it should go straight from the House to the Teaching Service Commission through the Minister of Education who should then be mandated to present a response in the house within 14 days.” She said

The teachers petition made four demands that; That promotion be done “promptly dating to the day” they graduated, paid arrears in full a month after effecting the changes in their pay slips, be refunded the money that was used to pay for fees arguing that ‘condition of service are clear that when one undergoes training the responsible ministry will pay the relevant allowances including a study leave.’

The petition further demands that their years of service should be taken into consideration for promotion into appropriate grade, as the delay into giving them the grade that they deserve made them miss the opportunity to attend the interviews that were done by Teaching Service Commission. 

PACHI Committed To Scale Up Child Survival Efforts As Govt Encourages Partnerships For Greater Impact

Parent and Child Health Initiative (PACHI) set to work hard with support from UNICEF in ending preventable child deaths by accelerating progress on maternal newborn and child survival.

Statistics indicates that though Malawi has registered a decline in child mortality rates per 1000 live births from 112 in 2010 to 71 representing annual rate of reduction of 5.6%, child death are unacceptably high as the A Promise Renewed (APR) 2013 report indicates 12 under five children die every minute.

According to the report, causes of death includes; pneumonia (13%), diarrhea (7%), malaria (14%), neonatal (32%) and HIV and AIDS (12%) and other diseases (12%) which are preventable and have treatment. 

Charles Makwenda 

Chief Executive Officer for PACHI Charles Makwenda says the organisation has set number of activities to including awareness among Malawians and lobby for improved health services.

“We would like to engage the communities, its very important for the communities to understand first that the number of death currently on the table are not acceptable and should do something because very often communities do accept the fate of death.”

“They have to understand that this can be changed” he added 

He said among others the engagements will include the awareness messages that the communities must demand for better health services from government 

Magwira 

Principal Secretary for Health Dr. MacPhail Magwira observes that partnerships and collaborative relationships are critical to deliver results for children and to contribute significantly to realising their rights and child survival.

"In a developing country shuch as Malawi it is critical that a broad range of strategic partnerships are established to achieve appropriate outcomes" said Magwira who called Civil Society Organisations (CSO's) to collaborate with government saying "Malawi realises" that CSO's has the local knowledge to inderstand what works at the grassroots level as well as challenges.

MacPhail Magwira: collaboration is power

He also appealed to all faith groups and CSO's to continue encourage local communities and families to adopt "priority behaviors" ten life saving acts for children.

"As government following our renewed commitment to reduce child deaths we will not only support but also initiate the involvement of the civil society in the APR movement" he said



Magwira however hailed CSO's for their focus on social accountability as part of APR in Malawi which he said will go beyond the sharpening, implementing and scaling up of high impact internvetions for maternal and neonatal health and provide a greater scope toward promoting engagement of children and families and communities to hold authorities accountable with respect to rights fulfilment.

Since the Child Survival Call to Action, in June 2012, in Washington DC, 178 governments as well as hundreds of civil society and faith based organisations have signed a pledge, vowing to do everything possible to stop women and children from dying of causes that are easily avoidable. 

Malawi is one of the 178 countries that have renewed their commitments to reduce under-five mortarity to 20 or less under-five deaths per 1000 live births by 2035 under 'A Promise Renewed (APR)' Initiative.

Local Participation in LL Trade Fair Let Down Organisers

Organizers for the Advertising for Business Growth Trade Fair in Lilongwe have appealed to Malawian businesses to learn to appreciate the importance of taking part in trade fairs.

Franklyn Mbewe one of the organizers for the 10 day trade fair event which began last week in Lilongwe made the remarks following the low participation by Malawian business.

A lot of businesses from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are among the most participating businesses. Some Malawian businesses have shunned the fair while others have began to attend the event which is meant for any kind of business.

Mbewe says participating in trade fair exposes businesses to potential markets and helps to grow businesses.

“The challenges we have so far is that the most of the businesses we have here are foreigners.” He said, “Malawians find it hard to participate in these fairs, so they delay while some only just promise to participate”

“It is good that Malawians businesses do participate in these trade fairs because this is a good market place for everyone to reach customers and have your contact details” emphasized Mbewe

A young Malawian business entrepreneur and Managing Director for Blessed Hands Investments, Charles Dillah says the fair has helped him to make connections with several customers.

He urged other businesses to make use of trade fair opportunities.