News In Central Region (1292)
Rehabilitation of M5 Road Takes Off
First phase of rehabilitation works on a 60-kilometer stretch of the M5 road from Kaphatenga in Salima to Benga in Nkhotakota have taken off, with the contractor expressing hope the project will be completed within the set two years period.
The contractor, China Railway 20, they are focusing much of its efforts now on erecting bridges as they race against time to beat the rainy season, before embarking on the actual road.
“We want to first put up the bridges before the rains come. We hope to finish this in the coming few months before taking on the road itself.”
During a media tour organized the ministry of information to appreciate road construction projects in the central region, we found works on two bridges; Lipyozi and Navikoko on track, with diversions created.
There is also a major construction of a box culvert at Kamzanga stream, which is mostly cut off during rainy season.
The government of Malawi will spend K37 billion on the 60-kilometer stretch.
DC for Salima James Mwenda who represented Nkhotakota and Salima district councils said that when completed the road section will address many challenges motorists face.
Other than this, he said communities in the two districts are also benefiting from the project.
“The works that you are seeing are largely done by the locals, Our people are being employed to work for the contractor,” said Mwenda.
The M5 road popularly known as the lake shore road, from Salima turn-off in Ntcheu to Nkhata-Bay, is in bad shape and has turned into a death trap for motorists.
The government plans to rehabilitate it in four phases, beginning with the Kaphatenga – Benga stretch, then from Benga to Dwangwa in Nkhotakota. The third phase will be from Dwangwa to Mkwiya in Nkhata-Bay and lastly from Kamuzu road in Salima to Ntcheu.
The government is currently looking for financiers for the remaining three phases.
Another road construction project we visited during the media tour is the Dzaleka-Ntchisi-Malomo road. Here one woman, Mary Ganizani, told us they face many challenges on this stretch.
Said Ganizani; “Our road is in bad shape, we struggle a lot to get to the hospital and we believe this project will help us a lot.”
However, it was evident during the tour that, the fuel crisis the country is facing has taken a toll on the project.
The contractors for the two projects admitted that the fuel scarcity has slowed down progress. They, however said, government has assured them that they would be allowed to start importing fuel and cement.
For past two weeks, the Malawi has also been struggling with Cement shortages a thing attributed to forex challenges. This forced traders to hike prices of the commodity, from 11 000 Kwacha to around 20 000 Kwacha.
EU Pumps in K3.5 bn for 2025 Elections Preps
The European Union (EU) says it will provide 3 million euros (approximately K3.5 billion) towards the 2025 elections basket fund through its flagship Malawi Democratic Governance Programme.
EU ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach told journalists in Lilongwe Thursday that the funds will be used to strengthen the capacity of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Malawi Police Service and civil society organizations to ably engage with stakeholders and the electorate in the electoral process.
Skinnebach says this is in a bid that Malawi should have a well-managed, inclusive and transparent electoral process.
“The EU wishes to support peaceful elections, reduce tensions and potential disputes regarding the electoral process by strengthening existing mechanisms contributing to conflict prevention and mitigation,” said Skinnebach.
He added that the EU will also support the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
According to Skinnebach, the donor funds are only complementing the huge budget that the Malawi government will set aside for elections. He therefore called on the government to give MEC enough resources in preparations towards the forthcoming election.
“For the successful conduct of the 2025 tripartite elections, it is imperative that the government allocates sufficient financial resources to MEC in a timely manner, so that it can proceed with electoral preparations as needed."
The EU ambassador also disclosed that they will also continue to support other broader democratic governance initiatives including the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and Ministry of Local Government under its “Boma lathu programme”.
The NRB, he said, will receive 3 million euros through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop and roll out the first civil registration system while the Directorate of Civic Education in the Ministry of Local Government will also get 3 million euros to support civic education and increase public participation.
Recently, the UK Government also unveiled a contribution of 2 million pounds (approximately K2.5 billion) towards the Malawi Electoral Support Project to assist in the preparation for the forthcoming elections to be free, fair and credible.
Eleven People Arrested for Buying Fuel in Jerrycans
By Henderson Charles Msusa
At least eleven people have been arrested for allegedly buying fuel using jerrrycans in Dowa District.
Dowa Police Spokesperson Alice Sitima says people were arrested Saturday August 13, 2023 during a special operation which the law enforcement officers conducted at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in the district.
"During the operation we also managed to confiscate about 70 liters of fuel and 30 empty jerrycans," she said.
Sitima says the suspect, who are of ages between 20 and 47, will appear in court soon.
Recently, Kamuzu Central Hospital complained of increased cases of fire accidents, a development it said is putting a stain on limited resources.
In under two weeks, five have died while three others are nursing injuries, this according to a statement by the hospital.
Wapolisi wavulala, kulandidwa mfuti ku Kasungu
Wa polisi m'modzi wavulala pa chiphwilikiti chomwe chinabuka pa mudzi wa Ganthu kwa mfumu Kayesa mdera la mfumu Lukwa ku Kasungu usiku walachinayi.
Anthu a mmudziwo akuti analanda mfuti pa chipolowecho, chomwe akuti chinadza kaamba koti munthu wina akufuna kuti awasamutse pa mudzipo kuti atsekulepo munda.
Mfumu Kayesa yati anthuwa anakwiya ndi kubwera kwa apolisi pa mudzipo, pa nkhani yomwe akuona kuti akuphwanyilidwa ufulu wawo.
"Mudzi wa Ganthu udayamba mchaka cha 1932, koma m’modzi mwa akubanja la chifumu akufuna abale ake , asuweni asamuke kuti azilimapo zomwe mzolakwika," inatero mfumuyi.
Koma mneneri wa apolisi ku Kasungu a Josephy Kachikho wati nthambi ya za nkhalango inakatenga apolisiwo kuti akathandize kulanda makala ndipo ndi komwe chiphwilikiticho chinabuka.
Iwo atsimikiza za kuvalazidwa kwa wapolisiyo, ndipo anati apolisi akufufuza kuti adziwe msonga yeniyeni ya nkhaniyi.
"Ofesi ya za nkhalango inatifunsa kuti akufuna asilikali kuti akalande makala. Ngati anthuwo akuti ndi nkhani ya malo ndiye kuti tifufuza," atero a Kachikho.
Wapolisi yemwe wavulalazidwa ali mchipatala cha Kasungu ndipo mfuti yomwe anthuwo analanda yapezeka.
Quton Diversifies into Maize Seed Production
One of Malawi’s leading cotton seed suppliers, Quton Malawi Limited, a subsidiary of Mahyco International Private Limited of India, is diversifying its work by going into the production and distribution of maize seed.
MDF Commander Claims Politicians, Government Officials Bribing Soldiers
The commander of the Malawi Defence Force, General Paul Valentino Phiri, claims that some top government officials, politicians and influential business persons are influencing and bribing MDF soldiers at check-points.
General Phiri said this at a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, where he addressed security issues in the country and clarification on issues surrounding the Chilumba roadblock.
The developments come following an outcry from communities surrounding Chirumba barracks in Karonga, that the MDF soldiers subject them to various forms of abuses when they are passing at the roadblock, which is manned by the soldiers.
General Phiri said these people engage in such acts in order to pass their goods at the check points.
He said MDF will report the perpetrators to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and other relevant authorities.
"The military is not a court, and we are not the police to arrest people. Unfortunately, we find people who have actually contravened certain statues of the country. What we do is hand them over to the appropriate stakeholders, who will be able to deal with them, and that is what we have done," explained General Phiri.
He further says that his institution will conduct a survey on why soldiers are being involved in such acts now.
"We are planning to conduct a survey, to establish why some soldiers are behaving like this, and intensify more on instilling discipline in our colleges. It is just a few individuals who may decide to be doing business in a very unusual way. Soldiering is about following what you have been directed and not doing your own things," he said.
Governance expert George Chaima says it is important for these influential people to let the law enforcers do their job without fear or favour.
"If that is the case, what everybody, including politicians, should know, is that we are putting our national security at stake, because security matters need to be managed professionally," said Chaima.
MCA Withdrawals DStv Services in Malawi
A legal battle between the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) over DStv tariffs’ adjustment has led to the withdrawal of DStv services in Malawi with immediate effect.
Area 18B Residents Mad after Damaged Sewer Pipe Goes Weeks Not Fixed
Residents of Area 18B in Lilongwe have expressed concern over unattended sewer pipe which leaked two months ago but the responsible authorities have turned a blind eye. According to the residents around the place, the sewer pipe has been producing a bad smell which forces the residents to always be indoors.
Misunderstandings Over Employment, Promotions Erupt in Civil Service
There is growing resentment in the corridors of the civil service where top technocrats are questioning a sudden pattern of what they call “unprocedural employment, promotions and redeployments”.
Anti-Same Sex Marriages Petition Not Yet Tabled in Parliament
Barely a month after petitioning the government to protect the what they called sacred institution of marriage, some religious bodies say they are optimistic that their petition will be tabled in parliament before the current sitting winds up.
