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Chakwera: Speaking on the fifth UN least developed countries conference |
President Lazarus Chakwera praises Qatar for providing $600 million (about K600 billion) to help low-income countries, including Malawi, beat poverty.
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| Chakwera: Being confident |
Prince of Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani announced the financial contribution at the ongoing Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC) in Doha.
Chakwera, who is chairperson of the once-in-a-decade meeting postponed in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions, rallied wealthy nations and development actors to follow the host nation’s example by supporting the LDCs’ Doha Programme of Action.
“I am confident that our development partners will respond with the required technical and financial support in the same way that the State of Qatar did,” he said.
The group of the world’s 46 poorest countries adopted the Doha Programme of Action for sustainable graduation from potential to prosperity at the UN Headquarters in New York last year.
The blueprint provides for the establishment of an online university for all LDCs to boost access to education and life-changing skills for all and a common food reserve to reduce hunger and skyrocketing food prices.
It also creates a special fund for graduating nations to lessen the impact of lost aid.
The President said the weakest economies that are often hit the hardest by problems fuelled by wealthy nations require further support for the implementation of the Doha action plan.
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| Nigerian's polls |
Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, DIGC, Pastor Paul Enenche has reacted to the outcome of the 2023 presidential poll that was held Saturday, February 25, 2023, likening it to Malawi’s scenario in 2019.
After conducting awareness campaign in Karonga on Saturday, Federalism Institute Coordinator for Karonga Bruce Kaponda emphasized that the federal system of government is very effective unlike the unitary system which has failed.
Kaponda noted that despite being blessed with mineral deposits and Songwe border, Karonga is still not benefiting anything hence the need to adopt federal system of Government.
“We are raising awareness of federal system of Government, we need Malawians to adopt federal system of Government. Unitary system has failed now we need the system of Government that give power or people, people should decide on development. So, the federal system of Government is the only system to go for now in Malawi. Here in Karonga if we talk of development, there is nothing we benefit despite having Songwe border as our resource where Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) get billions of Kwacha there, we also have Uranium mine in Kayelekela billions of Kwachas are being raised there but Karonga never benefit from it.
“So now just because of the system of the government we are using in Malawi we can’t do anything, we need federal system of Government in Malawi,” explained Kaponda.
The issue of federalism was recently taken to Parliament by Member of Parliament for Mzimba North Yeremia Chihana but minister of Justice Titus Mvalo said the issue is not a priority in the country at the moment.
The Vice President amid of his speech spotted out that some of the government’s failed plans are due to sabotage have not gone down well with some analysts, who have described the remarks as acceptance that the government has failed to serve the interests of Malawians.
Chilima told Malawians in Nkhata Bay District on Friday, during a memorial service marking Martyrs’ Day, that the country is failing to develop because of sabotage by some public officials and civil servants working in different sectors.
He said some people are supposed to be replaced in their positions because they are failing to serve the interests of the current administration.
“So when the President has made a directive on programmes, we must work. Those who are lazy must be removed to put those who are capable to serve this government. We want progress. If they are failing [at] work, why should we be keeping them?” Chilima queried.
And, when delivering his State of the Nation Address on February 17 2023, Chakwera attributed failure by his administration to deliver some promises on factors such as “political sabotage by political agents camouflaged as public servants”.
Other factors he cited included dysfunctional public procurement processes, an insatiable appetite for cash handouts by government officials and community leaders and rent seeking behaviour by some public officers.
But in separate interviews, analysts have argued that Chakwera and Chilima cannot attribute their failure to deliver to sabotage when the public service is at their disposal.
They also say the current administration has placed officers of its preference in key positions to help them deliver.
Centre for Research and Consultancy Director Milwad Tobias faulted Chilima for his Nkhata Bay comment, saying the statement leaves Malawians hopeless.
“A statement to the effect that the government is failing to deliver due to sabotage is a statement of defeat, hopelessness. A leader cannot tell people that his poor performance is the work of his rivals and expect people to still believe in his capability,” Tobias said.
He said the Tonse Alliance administration has no one, and nothing, to blame except itself.
“There has never been a time when the current administration found it hard to pass bills in Parliament. As such, they cannot claim that there is sabotage,” Tobias said.
He argued that from 2004 to 2009, the late president Bingu wa Mutharika faced stiff opposition because he had no members of Parliament and could be believed had he claimed that some people were sabotaging government projects.
Executive Director for Church and Society of the Blantyre Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Synod, Reverend Master Jumbe, said Chakwera and Chilima have simply been running away from the truth.
“What has been said is pure scapegoating and failure to accept failure,” Jumbe said.
Jumbe challenged the leadership of the country to find solutions to the challenges facing the people because that is one of their core functions.
“The Vice President and his boss should admit that they have failed Malawians and should not blame anyone for their failures. As leaders, one of their core mandates is to find solutions for all challenges that stand in the way of socio-economic development of the nation.
“Let them accept that they promised Malawians what they cannot deliver. They should equally admit that plans and development projects under the Tonse Alliance administration have failed because of rampant corruption, which has reached worrying levels during their reign.
“Every Malawian knows, for example, that AIP [Affordable Inputs Programme] implementation has failed this year because of corruption. How can that be blamed on sabotage?” he added.
Many projects under the watch of the current administration are taking time to be completed. Some of them have missed timelines. These include the 6-lane Kenyatta Road in Lilongwe, which is at 25 percent when it was supposed to be completed by February 2023.
The Lirangwe- Chingale-Machinga Road has been the subject of activism for almost 20 years during which time it has appeared in almost all budget statements but is yet to be completed.
Other road projects that keep appearing in budget statements include the Nsanama-Nayuchi Road said to be at 80 percent completion rate; Ntcheu-Tsangano-Neno- Mwanza Road; Njakwa- Livingstonia Loop Road; Thyolo-Makwasa- Muona-Bangula Road; Rumphi-Nyika-Chitipa Road at 22 percent and Malomo-Mpalo-Ntchisi- Dzaleka Road and the construction of an aquatic complex at Kamuzu Institute of Sports in Lilongwe, among others.
Sean Kampondeni: Removed
President Lazarus Chakwera has officially removed his son in-law Sean Kampondeni as State House Director of Communications and has replaced him with Kent Mphepo.
This is coming barely days after Kampondeni personally said goodbye to media personnel during the quarterly briefing on Wednesday 1st March at Kamuzu palace in Lilongwe.
Kampondeni during the briefing indicated that he will be assigned to other duties and pointed out that his replacement will be made public by relevant authorities after all recruitment processes are finalised.
On Saturday 4th March, President Chakwera through his Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda, announced the appointment of Mphepo who is Social and Behaviour Change Communications professional.
“The general public is hereby informed that His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, has removed Mr. Sean Kampondeni as State House Director of Communications and appointed Mr. Kent Mphepo as his replacement,” reads part of the statement.
In the statement, Kasunda further indicated that Kampondeni will continue to work as the Presidential Executive Assistant and Speechwriter in the office of the President and will also be assigned to other duties therein going forward
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| Chilima: laying wreath |
Chilima said Malawi cannot develop if some people continue frustrating government programmes in order to make Tonse look a failed government.
He was speaking at this year’s commemoration of Martyr’s Day and memorial service of worship at Chilundu point ground in Nkhata Bay district Friday.
Chilima made the remarks after the crowd cheered up Senior Chief Mkumbira and Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay Central Symon Vuwa Kaunda for their complaint on scarcity of maize in Agriculture Development and Marketing Cooperation of Malawi (Admarc) markets.
The Vice President said some people are supposed to be replaced in their positions because they are failing to serve the current government.
Chilima admitted that in some areas, implementation of programmes such as the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) has not gone well.
He therefore suggested that firing failed officers would be the best way of ensuring progress of government programmes.
| Bola Tinubu: Nigeria President elect |
The president-elect, Bola Tinubu emerged through a highly contested presidential election and he is expected to be sworn in as the 16th president of Nigeria.
The former Lagos State governor emerged despite several polls by different organizations that wrote him off. Also, the naira redesigning policy almost torpedoed his presidential ambition at the last minute but barring any court pronouncement, he will be sworn in as president on 29 May.
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| Chakwera (right shaking hands): In Qatar |
Upon arrival yesterday, the Malawi leader was welcomed by Malawi Envoy to the State of Qatar Roy Kachale, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo, Minister of Natural resources, Dr Michael Usi and Minister of Trade and Industry, Simplex Chithyola as well as State of Qatar officials.
Chakwera will attend the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Development Countries Conference in his capacity as Global Chairperson for the grouping.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo said the President is expected to participate in a number of high-level meetings scheduled to take place at the Qatar National Convention Centre from March 4 to 9.
She said the President has been the Chair for the organ and that this conference would mark the conclusion of Malawi’s Chairmanship of the grouping hence the need to participate.
‘’This is not the time for speeches but action, it is a great opportunity for Malawi after three year term to discuss progress made in all the eight priority areas as well as the six focus areas of the Doha Programme of Action,’’ Tembo added.
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Sam Kawale
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have asked government and Members of Parliament to consider an overhaul of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) amid challenges that marred the programme in the 2022-23 farming season.
In a statement reacting to President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address and the 2023-24 National Budget presented by the Minister of Finance on Thursday, the CSOs — Oxfam Malawi, Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn), Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen), and Civil Society Agriculture Network (Cisanet) — want Parliament to discuss this matter.
“Oxfam and partners recommend through the clusters that the 2023-2024 national budget supports an overhaul of the programme,” reads the statement.
They recommend capacitating and using cooperatives with smallholder purchasing power, and fully supporting and investing in the mega farms initiative.
They say these farms have the potential to become the game changer to food security, commercial farming and growth of the country’s agro-based economy.
Further, the CSOs are calling for a national budget that is revolutionary and departs from the norm of business as usual.
“Oxfam and partners expect that the budget balances consumption and development on one hand and adequately supports the fight against corruption and pilferage.
“We, therefore, appeal that the 2023-2024 national budget should demonstrate the drive to embark on a journey to transformation. Thus, Oxfam and partners recommend a budget that demonstrates a mission to fight inequality and to end poverty and injustice,” it reads.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee Sameer Suleiman said the 2022-23 AIP was the worst in the history of the farm input subsidy programmes.
“We have been saying for a long time that AIP needs an overhaul; better yet abolishment. It certainly does not achieve its intended purpose. If it is not network challenges it is fraud involved and this year was just the worst as from the onset, money meant for the programme was misappropriated.
“So I agree with those sentiments. We have time to plan until the next farming season. Such mistakes should not keep happening in a programme that is planned for and even budgeted for,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said plans are already in the pipeline to overhaul AIP.
“They [MP’s] can do that but we [government] have already made plans to overhaul it. We will hear what they will say. This coming season will be different,” he said.
On Thursday Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe presented a K3.87 trillion budget titled ‘Sacrificing Today for a Better Tomorrow: Regaining Macroeconomic Stability and Growth through Collective Responsibility for Our Shared Future’.
The agriculture sector has been allocated K455.1 billion meant for wages and salaries, AIP and other projects.
The AIP has been allocated K117 billion.
Chakwera: Speaking on the fifth UN least developed countries conference P resident Lazarus Chakwera splash a warning to the world’s 46 poor...
