Western Guta
The meeting by various community stakeholders on security in Lilongwe Thursday agreed that lack of professionalism by some law enforcers has contributed to the lost trust on these men in uniform by the citizenry.
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority has attributed continuing fire accidents in the country to unscrupulous and unlicensed electrical installers.
Outgoing Japanese ambassador to Malawi has tipped the country to focus much on finding ways of improving the country’s economy, other than politics.
Prison inmates in the country say a lot needs to be done to ensure rights of prisoners are protected and upheld.
Prisoners at Maula prison have bemoaned the conditions of their facility and their rights in general.
The Malawi Human Rights Commission has admitted that the country is fairing badly on human rights issues.
MHRC executive secretary David Nungu said this on Monday, as Malawi and the rest of the world commemorates World Human Rights Day on 10 December in Lilongwe.
Speaking ahead of the day, Nungu said that like in most countries, the youth in the country top the list in having their rights abused.
“It has not been well for Malawi this year on issues to do with respect for human rights for especially the youths,” said Nungu.
Nungu said the need for special focus on the country’s youthful population is because they are lacking in many basic needs.
Said Nungu, “The youths are lacking in their basic needs like jobs, and have little knowledge about human rights issues hence falling victim.”
This year the day marks 71 years since the world adopted the universal declaration of human rights.
Although years have gone by, stakeholders observe that the youth remain less empowered on human rights issues hence the theme for this year focusing on this population group, “Youth Up for Human Rights”
The main event to mark the day is scheduled for Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
An anti-corruption advocacy grouping, National Alliance Against Serious and Organized Corruption has threatened an unspecified action if government does not operationalize the Access To Information Act.
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources students will have to wait longer before they resume studies after two trade unions differ on their ongoing strike.
President of University Workers’ Trade Union, Stevens Thengo, says his union will continue with their sit-in, in a bid to push for better remuneration.
“We started the strike with our colleagues, the Staff Union, who accepted the offer but we don’t want partial fulfillment of the demands. We will continue until every detail of the grievances are addressed,” said Thengo.
President of Luanar Staff Union, Dr. Sekanao Kasiya, says lecturers are returning to work because their concerns have been addressed and they are satisfied.
Dr. Kasiya said, “An offer was put on the table and we took it, that’s why we are going back to work. Of course our colleagues feel that the offer is not enough. This means Luanar Staff Union has called off the strike and will resume work."
The deadlock between the unions means classes will not resume without the support staff.
Last week, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources staff downed tools on realizing that their salaries and benefits were low compared to those in all other public universities.
Communities surrounding Chileka Admarc Depot in Lilongwe say they are hoping that maize sales continue, after authorities were forced to start selling the maize at the depot.
