News In Central Region (1292)
Push for Release of MSCE Results
An educationist Wesley Mwambakulu has asked authorities to release the 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination results, following the commencement of this year’s academic calendar.
Mwambakulu told Zodiak Online Tuesday, that the delay is likely to inconvenience some students who may want to re-take the national examinations.
“Timely release of the results is crucial, in preparing both the students and parents for the new academic calendar,” he said.
But, Ministry of education Spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera is asking for patience, saying processes are underway.
“The public will be notified once all the processes are finalized,” he said.
Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) administered the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) national examinations from 27 June to 21 July 2023.
Court Rejects The Bushiris' Application to Dismiss Extradition Case
The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court Monday rejected an application by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to dismiss entirely their extradition request by South Africa, and described it as premature and without evidence.
The Bushiris through their lawyer Wapona Kita moved the court to dismiss the extradition case, accusing the South African government of using uncertified documents in court.
In her ruling, the Chief Resident Magistrate Madalitso Chimwza agreed with the Bushiris that the documents used by South Africa government were not certified, but dismissed the application on the basis that the documents have not yet been presented in court as evidence.
Said Chimwaza; “The court agrees with you that the said documents were not duly certified in line with the law. However, your application is premature because the said documents were presented as mere disclosures and not evidence.”
“If you had waited for the documents to be presented in court, then your application would hold because the issue of whether the documents are admissible or not, arises when the documents are tendered as evidence.”
The Chief Resident Magistrate also clarified that the court was not making a decision on whether the two are guilty or not, rather handling the request to surrender the Bushiris to South Africa to face trial.
State prosecutor Dzikondianthu Malunda told us after the court, that he hopes there would be no further disruptions after.
Said Malunda; “We are happy with the court ruling, and we are glad that there will be progress on this matter, and we hope that there will be no further disruptions”.
Lawyer representing the Bushiris Wapona Kita said not all hope was lost, and believes the court will dismiss the request when the “uncertified” documents are tendered as evidence.
“The court has agreed with us on the principal objection that we are raising, however, she has said that perhaps it is premature at this stage because the witness has not tendered the documents as part of evidence.
“So she has set a date when the witness comes and tenders those documents, then she will dismiss the case.”
The court adjourned the matter to October 10, when South African witnesses will testify. The matter will be heard again on October 10, 2023 when the witness from South Africa will testify.
The Bushiris are wanted in South Africa, where they bolted in November 2020, on criminal charges. Through the government of Malawi, the South African authorities asked the court to extradite the two, but this is being challenged in court.
CSAT for Vigilant Communities on Matters of Development
The Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) says enhancing citizen participation in matters of development is crucial in addressing issues of substandard public infrastructure construction works in communities.
Malawi Launches Teachers Council to Elevate Teaching Profession
The event, attended by dignitaries, educators, and government officials, marked a significant step in regulating and enhancing the teaching profession in the country.
Zodiak Women In Fundraising Drive For Mother’s Day
Zodiak Broadcasting Station female workers have ventured into a fundraising drive that will raise funds for a charitable cause to take place on Mothers’ Day this year.
USAid to Assist Malawi’s Economic Growth Through Agriculture
The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) has disclosed plans to partner with at least 25 private sector companies in Malawi “to help stimulate economic growth.”
Govt To Upgrade Water Schemes
Water and Sanitation Minister Abida Mia has reaffirmed government commitment towards the rehabilitation of water schemes in areas which were heavily hit by Cholera outbreak.
US Embassy Decries Rising Crime in Lilongwe
The American Embassy in Malawi has raised security concerns with increased crime in Lilongwe city this year warning its citizens to take extra caution.
A security alert from the embassy issued on 31 August indicates that the number of
crimes reported from January to August 2023, in area 10, 12 and 43, has nearly matched the total cases reported in the whole of 2022.
Reads part of the security alert: “This increase in crime is correlated with a heightened risk to foreign visitors and to the expatriate community.”
US Embassy Public Relations Officers, Namita Biggins, confirmed the development to Zodiak Online, adding the embassy has since issued the warning and recommendations for preventive actions to their citizens.
The security alert names home invasions, theft, car-jacking and break-ins as some of the crimes that frequently occur in the city.
It further says, other crimes such as kidnappings, though not frequent,also do occur in the city and other places in the country.
However, the police have dismissed this. Deputy national police spokesperson Alfred Chimthere told us crime in the city has actually declined this year in the said areas.
“The data that we have for car-jacking and others from January to June shows a 10 percent reduction from 41 cases in 2022 to 31 in 2023.”
He however said they will engage the American embassy to consolidate the figures and also ensure they provide maximum security in the city and other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, a security expert Master Mfune has dared the police to intensify patrols as one way of addressing the problem.
“The police should intensify their security, the normal patrols that they used to have are no longer there. In the past we could meet police officers on patrol, but now they have reduced,” said Mfune.
The American citizens in the country have since been advised to beware of their surroundings, be vigilant when visiting banks, Auto-teller Machines (ATMs) and should not display wealth by wearing expensive jewelry and watches. They have also been advised against resisting any robbery attempt, take caution when driving at night and desist from walking after dark.
Farmers Advised to Switch to Commercial Agriculture
Lilongwe District Council has asked farmers to commercialise their agricultural productivity by, among other things, adding value to their produce and making it stand competitively on the international market.
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.
