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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.
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| Gwengwe: Match into August House |
The 2023/24 national budget is pegged at K3.87 trillion, the finance minister said.
He says overall deficit is seen at K1.32 trillion.
To address the deficit, government will borrow K1.19 trillion from the domestic front and the rest will be foreign borrowing.
Gwengwe has announced an 8 percent salary increment and introduction of a transport allowance for civil servants.
Government has also doubled the honorarium of all chiefs under the payroll.
Paramount chiefs will be allowed to import at least one vehicle duty-free.
Government has set aside K8.9 billion for recruitment of primary school teachers.
Interest repayment on government debt is seen at K986 billion.
The Education and Skills Development Sector has been allocated K603.36 billion. According to Gwengwe, government plans to start constructing six schools of excellence in the financial year.
The Agricultural Sector has been allocated K455.1 billion meant for wages and salaries, AIP and other projects. K117 billion has been allocated towards AIP.
Government has allocated K330.18 billion to the Health Sector. The funds will cater for, among others, construction of Cancer Centre and 55 health posts.
Energy, Industry and Tourism has K51.83 billion for wages and salaries as well as energy projects like Mpatamanga Hydro Electric Power Project.
Ministry of Trade has been allocated K1 billion to coordinate anti-smuggling efforts.
Government has allocated resources towards mineral laboratories to ensure that testing of minerals is done in Malawi.
K488 billion has been allocated towards local councils. The funds will go towards recurrent and development budgets.
The funds include K19.3 billion for Constituency Development Fund.
Government has also moved to encourage production of electric vehicles by incentivising importation of materials used for production of electric vehicles in Malawi.
It has also removed taxes on the importation of electric motor vehicles and electrical vehicle charging equipment.
Attendance of both parliamentarians and other stakeholders was not impressive, with many seats, especially on the opposition side and galleries for other stakeholders, vacant.
Among those from the diplomatic community that were in attendance were the European Union Ambassador Rune Skinnebach, Japanese Head of Economic Cooperation Shima Naoyuki and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malawi Rebecca Adda-Dontoh.
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| Kampondeni |
Kampondeni has made the announcement this afternoon during the Quarterly State House Brief which he hosted art Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Addressing the media towards the end of the briefing, Kampondeni said today’s briefing is his last as the Director of Communications as the President will soon appoint a new Director of Communications at State House.
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| RV. Muthali |
Munthali on March 1, 2023, resigned as MCP national publicity and Chakwera’s advisor on unity.
MCP observes that Munthali’s evidence will help Tonse government fight corruption.
In a press statement dated March 2, 2023, signed by MCP Acting National Publicity Secretary, Ezekiel Ching’oma states that Munthali should bring evidence of alleged corruption which he indicated in his resignation letter.
Ng’oma said MCP as democratic political entity upholds freedom of expression and impliedly dissociation.
“We refer to Rev Munthali’s resignation letter dated 1st March 2023, which we have seen on social media. As the Malawi Congress Party, we are deeply saddened to hear that Rev. Maurice Munthali has resigned from his position as the National Publicity Secretary for the Party as well as Presidential Advisor on Peace, Reconciliation and National Unity. Rev. Munthali has been an asset to our team, and we are grateful for the contributions he has made over the years.
“In his two separate letters of resignation, Rev Munthali cites governance challenges and alleged corruption as a basis for his resignation,” reads MCP statement.
Added, “As per His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s commitment to the fight against corruption, we urge Rev Munthali to bring forward any evidence of alleged corruption to relevant institutions to help fight the vice. As a democratic institution, MCP upholds freedom of association (and impliedly dissociation).
“The party would like to thank Rev. Munthali for his service in both capacities as National Publicity Secretary and Presidential Advisor and wish him success in his future endeavors”.
Munthali is yet to comment again on MCP reaction on his resignation and corruption allegation.Political analysts have described the resignation of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) publicity secretary Maurice Munthali from the position and that of presidential adviser as a sign that the country’s leadership is failing to fight corruption.
In an interview Wednesday, MCP secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka said, as presidential adviser, Munthali was supposed to play his part in advising President Lazarus Chakwera on the issues he has raised.
In giving up his position as Chakwera’s adviser on national unity, peace and reconciliation, Munthali said persistent reports of corruption and related scandals had pushed him to the decision.
“Despite the great gains we have made so far against some external forces beyond our control, I personally feel that, as a government, we have not provided the type of leadership and/or direction that would meet the hopes of Malawians for better life in the foreseeable future,” Munthali’s letter, addressed to Secretary to the President and Cabinet, reads.
In another letter, on his resignation as MCP spokesperson, Munthali cited similar reasons.
He claims that the prevailing circumstances do not sit well with his divine calling as “a man of faith” and the intentions he had when accepting the roles.
While confirming that he had resigned, Munthali refused to comment further on the matter.
George Phiri: Political Analyst
However political analyst George Phiri has said the resignation depicts how Munthali perceives the future of the party and the Tonse Alliance administration, “which has recently been involved in alleged corruption at political and national levels”.
“The fight against corruption has been debated in all forums in the country but it seems authorities do not fully accept that we have a problem.
“Munthali is not the first person to resign. This means that the Tonse Alliance administration has failed to lead the country in fighting corruption,” Phiri said.
Political communication lecturer at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Chimwemwe Tsitsi, said Munthali’s resignation should act as a wake-up call for MCP and the alliance to honestly gauge what is there on the ground.
Tsitsi urged the party and Chakwera to find ways of addressing the challenges that are forcing some people out of the alliance.
“The leadership should do some research, evaluate style and see what new measures they can take to regain the confidence of Malawians and people that are resigning,” he said.
However, Mkaka said he had not received Munthali’s letter.
He was quick to say MCP’s constitution guarantees freedom of association.
“If it is true that he has resigned, then he had all the reasons to change things using his position,” Mkaka said.
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| Daudi Chikwanje |
Member of Parliament for Machinga Central East Daudi Chikwanje wants Government to increase the honoraria which chiefs receive.
The MP made the remarks in Parliament when he was responding to the State of the Nation Address which was presented by President Lazarus Chakwera in parliament.
Chikwanje said after the devaluation of Kwacha Chiefs are struggling to sustain their families with the honoraria, they receive which is too little.
“In fact, I was emphasizing on the depreciation of Kwacha. People are struggling to sustain their families more especially the Chiefs, they are unable to sustain their families for a month. For example, a Senior chief is getting K30,000 per month which is very little for them to sustain their families and I thought it wise that I should ask the President to consider increasing the Honorarium of Chiefs in this year’s budget,” said Chikwanje.
According to Chikwanje, the Chiefs are doing quite a lot in the communities in terms of development, and they are the ones who go to councils to make follow-ups on development projects.
“So, these Chiefs, despite their hard work in our communities, are facing a lot of challenges most of them are failing to even buy a bicycle and other resources for their families,” he said.
He added that chiefs also get their honoraria through banks, and this means that they spend money in order to access their honoraria.
“Most of our chiefs stay in very remote areas and so for them to access their honoraria in banks it is very difficult. Banks are very far away, and they spend more money just for transport and with the little money they get, they spend all the honoraria for transport which is not good. So, Government should consider increasing their honoraria,” explained Chikwanje.
On Tuesday, President Lazarus Chakwera told Parliament that his government will look into the issue of chiefs’ honoraria.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs is expected to present the 2023/2024 budget statement today in Parliament.
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| Chakwera: Taking on questions |
Chakwera started by poking fun at Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa for apparently failing to keep track of current affairs in his response to the State of the Nation Address (Sona).
In his response to the Sona, Nankhumwa demanded details on what the President was doing to arrest the scourge of cholera in the country.
Commenting on Nankhumwa’s response, Chakwera said authorities have done a lot, including launching the Tithetse Cholera Campaign.
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| Chakwera meets Chizuma |
Other participants included Minister of Justice Hon. Titus Mvalo, the Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala.
According to Chakwera, the meeting aimed at consolidating the efforts of his administration in fighting corruption.
“The cordial engagement among these critical institutions further cements our resolve to deal with corruption with a seamless approach that bears fruits.
“I have prompted the institutional heads to collaboratively undertake their noble duty guided only by the sovereign administrative and legal statutes above anything else,” the president wrote on his Facebook page.
The meeting comes weeks after Zamba, on 31 January, suspended Chizuma from exercising her duties as Anti-Corruption Bureau chief because she was facing charges related to remarks she made in a leaked audio.
It was reported that the decision to suspend Chizuma was made after a government official lied to Chakwera that the ACB had obtained a warrant of arrest against First Lady Monica Chakwera.
The interdiction of Chizuma led to a court battle as Malawi Law Society (MLS) obtained an injunction against Chizuma’s criminal charges and interdiction. The government through Attorney General Nyirenda unsuccessfully challenged the injunction at the High Court before going to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
However, DPP Chamkakala stepped in by dropping the charges against Chizuma and this forced the Attorney General to withdraw the interdiction case at the Supreme Court and Zamba to cancel the interdiction.
Zamba is the subject of corruption allegations made by former National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) chief executive officer Helen Buluma who told Parliament last year that Zamba attempted to influence awarding of fuel supply contracts at NOCMA.
Chakwera: Speaking on the fifth UN least developed countries conference P resident Lazarus Chakwera splash a warning to the world’s 46 poor...
