News In Central Region (1297)
Analysts thrash DPP Chakwera Impeachment Calls
Political analysts have thrashed an idea by the Democratic Progressive Party DPP that president Lazarus Chakwera should step down or risk being impeached by parliament.
The analysts have told us that despite the Tonse led administration not delivering several of its campaign promises, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party DPP is not being realistic in its fresh demands.
One of the analysts, Wonderful Mkhutche says the approach DPP has taken will not bring the change Malawians want, as it lacks solutions to challenges facing people.
“The current government is not working according to its promises and our expectations, but for DPP to go ahead to call for the president to step down or even go for an impeachment, that’s overthinking or overstepping because even if the president was removed today, DPP is not an option for power,” he said.
He adds; “At the briefing they were not offering any alternatives. They were not presenting ideas, as to how they could have handled the issue. They were simply talking about how things were during their time.”
Another analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi is of the view that, the party missed an opportunity by not having leader of opposition in parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa at the presser.
“I would expect the leader of opposition in parliament, Dr Kondwani Nankhumwa to have been among the people that addressed the press conference. And to show that leadership as the leader of opposition for Malawians to see the seriousness the opposition has,” he said.
On Monday, DPP senior officials held a press briefing in Blantyre where they discussed challenges Malawians are facing.
On Monday, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) senior officials Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, Shadric Namalomba, Mary Navicha, Bright Msaka and Leonard Chimbanga held a press briefing dubbed “Enough is Enough; Chakwera Must Fall”.
At the briefing, the party made fresh calls for president Lazarus Chakwera to step down, or risk facing an impeachment from parliament. There were also allegations that, president Lazarus Chakwera and his Tonse led government are already working on rigging the 2025 general elections.
In response, the government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu laughed of the claims, saying that rigging is not part of their tactic.
MACRA Engages Telecommunication Stakeholders on Service Delivery
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has convened a week-long engagement meeting with stakeholders in the telecommunication sector in Lilongwe, where they are discussing challenges that have rocked the sector and compromised quality of service to their customers.
Speaking Tuesday August 29, 2023 MACRA’s director of telecommunication Edward Kauka said the authority is overwhelmed with concerns from consumers on how poor telecommunication services are affecting their daily living. They cited frequent dropped calls and high internet cost as examples.
Kauka said this is unfortunate as telecommunication is regarded as very important tool in any development process, hence calling for the meeting to appreciate challenges the operators are going through, and see how best they can help to improve service provision.
“You will appreciate that our operators have been doing business in the country for some years now, but we keep receiving complaints from people about poor quality services on telecommunication. So, we thought it wise that we bring together all the stakeholders in the sector, to discuss all the challenges and map the way forward," said Kauka.
He added; “We have engaged an expert from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) who is going to facilitate the process, having done bench-marking across the world and he will direct us on the way forward.”
By the end of the exercise MACRA says it will revise Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and regulations to start punishing none-compliant operators, when found offering poor services to the people.
Commenting on the matter Executive Director for Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) John Kapito said, they anticipate a candid discussion with players in the telecommunication sector, having presented their grievances to the authority bordering on poor services.
“I think the cost of communicating in the country is a bit high, and we raised such issues with MACRA to intervene.
“High cost of data, challenges with connectivity and unreliable mobile money services have become the order of the day and we hope this meeting will help address them for us to start enjoying these services.”
Apart from CAMA, the regulator has invited participants from Airtel Malawi and TNM.
Woman Arrested for Stealing a Baby
By Henderson Charles Msusa
A 30-year woman has been apprehended for allegedly stealing a newborn at Ntchisi District Hospital.
Ntchisi Police Public Relations Officer Glory Kondowe, has identified the suspect as Mayines Banda, and was arrested Monday in the district.
" Banda tricked the owner of the baby, linafe Hayiton, that she was a friend to her guardian, who by that time had gone to the guardian shelter to prepare food. She offered herself to carry the baby, so that the mother could rest," Kondowe said.
Kondowe added, that with that assuarance, the mother then slept, then the suspect took advantage of this to sneaking out of the ward, fortunately, she was intercepted by the hospital's perimeter guard.
Banda who is expected to be taken to court soon to answer the charge of stealing a child. She comes from Chole village, Traditional Authority Kalumo in the district.
One dies eight others injured in Ntchisi accident
By Henderson Charles Msusa
A man was killed while eight others were admitted to Ntchisi District Hospital following a road accident which occurred on an earth road between Chikhwakhwa and M'nyanga village Saturday.
One of the persons who was in the car involved in the accident, Petro Jaziel told Zodiak that the accident involved a lorry which carried about 63 people on board, a group of mourners, going to a funeral ceremony in M'nyanga Village Traditional Authority Vuso Jere in the district.
"At the time, the vehicle was coming from Malomo direction heading to the funeral ceremony. The driver failed to control the vehicle when passing through a mound, resulting into an overturn," he said.
Spokesperson for Ntchisi District Hospital Samison Mfuyeni, said following the accident, one man died because of severe head injuries.
"About 15 people sustained minor injuries and we treated them as outpatients," he added.
Technology Key for MW Economy Growth
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director General Daudi Suleiman has noted that Malawi’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has stagnated for long, raising the need to shift to other sectors like technology.
In his remarks during the opening of a Cyber Security Conference for Academia in Lilongwe, Suleiman attributed the slow growth to low production.
He made reference to the continued reliance on the country’s green gold (Tobacco) as a major export and forex earner as one contributing factor.
“Our GDP is very small and not responding to current needs. Technology has the potential to compliment the country’s agro-based economy,” said Suleiman.
Suleiman hinted on a number of issues being undertaken by MACRA that include lobbying for Zero-Rating of education websites and pursuing the Data Must Fall Campaign.
Chief Executive Officer for Malawi Research and Education Network Solomon Ndindi called on government to strive at creating a conducive environment for a thriving cyber space.
Said Ndindi; “We have a direct role to play to make sure that the traffic passing through our network is secure enough. Attacks should be sent back and at the same time. We need to work with universities, to make sure that they protect themselves, as you know that sometimes the enemy is within.”
The Malawi 2063 envisions creating a robust ICT infrastructure with cross-country coverage of reliable and affordable services fostering technological adoption and digital access.
GO Jet Agro-Dealer Emerges Best SEEDCO Malawi Distributor
Ahead of the new farming season, a seed manufacturer and distributor SEED CO Malawi has awarded an agricultural enterprise, Go Jet Investment as the best seed distributor for the North in the 2022 – 2023 selling and farming season.
Non-Revenue Water Cost Billions
The amount of water which the country is losing across all water boards, before it reaches consumers (Non-Revenue Water) has slightly increased from 35% last year, to 39% this year, officials have revealed.
The loss translates to MK60 billion total annual revenue that the country’s water boards are failing to realise.
Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) alone according to the institution’s Chief Executive Officer, Silli Mbewe loses MK15 billion Kwacha annually, a majority of this through leaked pipes, theft and illegal connections.
“We have two major causes, physical and commercial losses, we are losing more water from the physical loss and these are pipe breakages and vandalism,” said Mbewe.
Mbewe further revealed that, through the Strengthening the Capacity of Non-Revenue Water Reduction for Lilongwe Water Board project (LiSCap), LWB intends to strengthen institution and human capacity to sustain interventions towards abating the vice.
Image: Sili Mbewe
LWB on Wednesday held a 9th Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) for the project which brought together officials from all the water boards to explore better ways of dealing with the problem.
Director for Water Supply Services at the ministry of Water and Sanitation, Prince Mleta asked the water boards to invest in water supply systems as he said this is key to achieving development.
“Issues of non-revenue water are very well connected with initiatives that Government is taking, because we are using so much resources to clean the water to make sure that we are suppling the customers. So we are in line with the policy of sustainable goal number six, but also the Malawi 2063 development agenda,” Mleta said.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is an implementing partner for the project and its Chief Representative, Kazuhiro Tambala is hoping that through the project, Malawi will see a reduction in non-revenue water.
Said Tambala; “We work together in the formulation of strategic plan to reduce non-revenue water, as well as actual ground to find ways of how to solve the problem.”
LiSCap was designed to enhance capacity for NRW reduction management for LWB an reduce improve the efficiency of water-use in the city of Lilongwe.
Africa Unites on Inclusion of Health on Climate Change Debate
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has warned that if not checked, climate change may undermine all progress that has been made in global health.
Advocacy Group for Youth-Friendly SRH Responsive National Budget
Some youth groups operating under Sexual Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent (SRMNCAN) Youth Platform have called for re-alignment of national budget indicators as well as budget lines to allow the youth to effectively participate in budget and policy processes in the country.
Old Mutual Group Donates MK5 Million to ICAM
Franklin Mtambalika
Old Mutual Group on Tuesday donated a MK5 Million cheque to the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAM) to go towards the institution’s Annual Lakeshore Conference slated for September 14th to 16th 2023.
Head of Property Services at Old Mutual Group Elliot Jambo said the the sponsorship is to enable ICAM successfully organise the conference.
He hopes this will add value to the attendee's professional development and experience at the conference.
“As a responsible business entity, Old Mutual want to help the accountants body properly organize the conference. We believe they will exchange ideas which will help them achieve professional growth in the country,” said Jambo.
ICAM president Moffat Ngalande hailed Old Mutual for the support, adding, for the country to achieve MW2063, collaboration and partnerships need to be encouraged.
“We think that partnerships are critical if we are to transform Malawi into a wealthy and self-reliant industrialized upper middle-income country by the year 2063, hence encouraging key partners to work together.
“Old Mutual has just demonstrated that, by making this donation. We appreciate their work in the country, and most of our members are engaged by this institution in some of its projects,” said Ngalande.
Ngalande also urged accounting professionals to desist from corruption and fraud, and remain good stewards of resources they manage for the betterment of the country.
The Annual Lakeshore Conference by ICAM, will be commemorated under the theme “Creating Value, Building sustainable economy towards MW2063".
