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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Enjoying 'The Poetry of Geoffrey Hill'
The way Henry Hart has put it, and the introduction by Donald Hall, the Southern Illinois University Press publication is a must read for poetry enthusiasts.
I, especially, like the part on journeys, meditations, and elegies.
The other parts are also true, especially on poets. The poet has their own battles, within and without, and strives to meet demands of a tradition, no matter obscure.
Normally, the poet finds that issues to do with power- the use and abuse of it- surfaces one way or the other, and that, somehow somewhere, they have to deal with it. This (power) issue naturally escapes into the question of authority- issues well captured in Continuities, The Poetry of Poesis, The Nightmare of History, Doctor Faustus and the Poetry Banquet, 'Funeral Music', and "The Songbook of Sebastian Arrurruz".
Life without rituals is colourless, and this is the logical discussion of such issues as "The Pentecost Castle". The Journey to Love, Love, Death, and the Mystical Marriage, Rituals of Meditation, among others.
To know the poetryof Geoffrey Hill, simply put, is to see ourselves.
I, especially, like the part on journeys, meditations, and elegies.
The other parts are also true, especially on poets. The poet has their own battles, within and without, and strives to meet demands of a tradition, no matter obscure.
Normally, the poet finds that issues to do with power- the use and abuse of it- surfaces one way or the other, and that, somehow somewhere, they have to deal with it. This (power) issue naturally escapes into the question of authority- issues well captured in Continuities, The Poetry of Poesis, The Nightmare of History, Doctor Faustus and the Poetry Banquet, 'Funeral Music', and "The Songbook of Sebastian Arrurruz".
Life without rituals is colourless, and this is the logical discussion of such issues as "The Pentecost Castle". The Journey to Love, Love, Death, and the Mystical Marriage, Rituals of Meditation, among others.
To know the poetryof Geoffrey Hill, simply put, is to see ourselves.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thousands of Egyptians waiting for justice
...One year after Egypt's 'January 25 Revolution'
Last February, military police and soldiers beat up Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry and arrested him at a protest in Cairo. Days later, a military court sentenced him to five years in prison for assaulting a public officer and breaking the curfew.
Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry had no chance of a fair trial. His hearing lasted just minutes. The court didn’t allow his family, or lawyer, into the room. Instead, it chose its own lawyer to defend him.
Now, a military appeals court has said Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry will be retried – by another military court.
As for Maikel Nabil Sanad, the army is toying with his life. He has already served 10 months in jail for criticizing the army. His family’s hopes were dashed when he was not released in spite of an official announcement.
He should never have been sentenced in the first place.
Since the uprising, military courts have tried about 12,000 cases and convicted an estimated 8,000 ordinary Egyptians for crimes like “thuggery” or “breaking curfew”.
The cases of Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry and Maikel Nabil Sanad are two of those. Military courts have even sentenced people to death.
Egypt’s military rulers have said they will release nearly 2,000 people locked up after military trials. However, they have not said how many will be left behind bars.
Military courts can’t deliver justice. It’s time to put a stop such trials once and for all.
Last February, military police and soldiers beat up Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry and arrested him at a protest in Cairo. Days later, a military court sentenced him to five years in prison for assaulting a public officer and breaking the curfew.
Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry had no chance of a fair trial. His hearing lasted just minutes. The court didn’t allow his family, or lawyer, into the room. Instead, it chose its own lawyer to defend him.
Now, a military appeals court has said Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry will be retried – by another military court.
As for Maikel Nabil Sanad, the army is toying with his life. He has already served 10 months in jail for criticizing the army. His family’s hopes were dashed when he was not released in spite of an official announcement.
He should never have been sentenced in the first place.
Since the uprising, military courts have tried about 12,000 cases and convicted an estimated 8,000 ordinary Egyptians for crimes like “thuggery” or “breaking curfew”.
The cases of Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry and Maikel Nabil Sanad are two of those. Military courts have even sentenced people to death.
Egypt’s military rulers have said they will release nearly 2,000 people locked up after military trials. However, they have not said how many will be left behind bars.
Military courts can’t deliver justice. It’s time to put a stop such trials once and for all.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Quiet in the Land
The streets of Lilongwe,
The capital city that went amok,
Stripping women of their dignity,
In the middle of a shy-less sun,
Has gone home to sleep.
The women now walk in pants,
Somehow afraid,
Somehow unsure,
Somehow broken;
Wondering whether this calm will last.
The capital city that went amok,
Stripping women of their dignity,
In the middle of a shy-less sun,
Has gone home to sleep.
The women now walk in pants,
Somehow afraid,
Somehow unsure,
Somehow broken;
Wondering whether this calm will last.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Lawyer Ralph Kasambara Summoned By Southern Region Police Over On-going Industrial Strike
The President of Malawi Law Society and all colleagues,
I regret to let you know that I was summoned by the Commissioner of Police South to his office this afternoon. He relayed to me his gathered intelligence report that Mr Humprey Mvula and I have been secretly meeting with other people within the last 48 hours to take advantage of the industrial action by informing Malawians that the on-going strike is violating people's rights. He further went on to say that we are intending to publicise to Malawians how the strike is aiding the police in violating the 48 hour rule with the result that "Malawians will have disaffection for the President Bingu wa Mutharika". He urged as to be patriotic and not get involved in the judicial strike. His statement got closer to suggesting that we are about to commit sedition or treason. How we intended to do that he declined to comment further but said that he was simply carrying out his duty of preventing commission of a crime.
We all know how these twin offences are used by the Bingu administration to harass opposition and civic society leaders; and no such case has been prosecuted to its logical conclusion. No wonder those 2 offences were picked and thrown at us.
My initial reaction was that of laughter at the ridiculous charges and disinformation that the police were peddling. Second, was one of sadness of the ineptitude of our police service since Mr Mvula and I had neither met nor talked on the phone for over 10 days. The last time I saw him in my office was about 2 weeks ago when he had come to sign Affidavits in an on-going UDF case. Third, was one of disbelief on our Politicians' attempt to use the Police institution to silence people and intimidate them into cowardice so that the other side of the industrial action is not exposed. Most people are not aware of the serious implications of the strike on our economy and human rights. The on-going industrial action affects all of us as Malawians.
Members might wish to remind themselves of the genesis of this matter. In 2006, the Malawi Law Society took out a judicial review case against the State President challenging the State President to comply with the constitution in so far as the remuneration of the judiciary is concerned. Judgment was delivered by 2 member panel on 2nd September 2007. The case is cited as The State v President et al ex parte MLS [2007] MWHC 7. The High Court was composed of Justices Chinangwa, Chikopa and Kamwambi. The Court WAS OF THE OPINION that:
"The Applicants sought three declarations namely that:
1) the Respondents were duty bound to implement the determination of the National Assembly as regards the salaries and remuneration of the Chief Justice and other holders of judicial office;
2) the refusal by the Respondents to implement the determination of the National Assembly as regards the salaries and remuneration of the Chief Justice was in breach of the Constitution;
3) the Respondents had no power to determine the remuneration of Chief Justice and other holders of judicial office.
They are all granted. As we have shown in our discussion above once the National Assembly has in its wisdom determined the terms and conditions of service of the judiciary it becomes the duty of the executive to implement such determination. Any refusal can only be in breach of the constitution. The power to determine the Terms and Conditions of service in the Judiciary resides with the National Assembly not in the Executive. The Applicant also sought an order akin to mandamus requiring the Respondents to implement the determination of the National Assembly as regards the salaries and remuneration of the Chief Justice and other holders of judicial office. It is also granted" per Justice Chikopa with whom the other 2 judges concurred and adopted his written opinion.
I was the lead counsel for the team of lawyers representing the MLS and the State President was representing by the incumbent Attorney General then a lawyer in private practice.
To the best of my knowledge the President has not complied with that court order culminating into the present industrial action. To the best of my knowledge no contempt of court proceedings were commenced against the President as Respondent.
My being singled out today is an attempt to silence me and intimidate me into inactivity as an advocate so as not raise issues of contempt of court [ which can easily and SHOULD BE be done] as one way of pushing the striking JUDICIAL staff agenda. This attempt by the Police, I believe, is a violation of my right to economic activity as a lwyer and indeed my freedom of expression and opinion as an individual in so far as they believe that they can silence me into not commenting on the ongoing strike.
It is actually because of my earlier involvement with this matter that colleagues might have noticed that I have been audibly silent on the on-going debate on the way forward as Malawi Law Society. But now in view of this intimidation and unnecessary harassment from the Police I HEREBY DO RENOUNCE my silence and will join the rest of members on charting the way forward lest I be misunderstood to have been silenced by the Police.
I thought Mr President and my colleagues should know what happened this afternoon; and my change of heart on this debate.
Ralph Kasambara, Esq.
Managing Partner, Ralph & Arnold Associates, Legal Practitioners & Law Consultants Off Old Chileka Road, Magalasi
Private Bag 55,
Blantyre,
Malawi
I regret to let you know that I was summoned by the Commissioner of Police South to his office this afternoon. He relayed to me his gathered intelligence report that Mr Humprey Mvula and I have been secretly meeting with other people within the last 48 hours to take advantage of the industrial action by informing Malawians that the on-going strike is violating people's rights. He further went on to say that we are intending to publicise to Malawians how the strike is aiding the police in violating the 48 hour rule with the result that "Malawians will have disaffection for the President Bingu wa Mutharika". He urged as to be patriotic and not get involved in the judicial strike. His statement got closer to suggesting that we are about to commit sedition or treason. How we intended to do that he declined to comment further but said that he was simply carrying out his duty of preventing commission of a crime.
We all know how these twin offences are used by the Bingu administration to harass opposition and civic society leaders; and no such case has been prosecuted to its logical conclusion. No wonder those 2 offences were picked and thrown at us.
My initial reaction was that of laughter at the ridiculous charges and disinformation that the police were peddling. Second, was one of sadness of the ineptitude of our police service since Mr Mvula and I had neither met nor talked on the phone for over 10 days. The last time I saw him in my office was about 2 weeks ago when he had come to sign Affidavits in an on-going UDF case. Third, was one of disbelief on our Politicians' attempt to use the Police institution to silence people and intimidate them into cowardice so that the other side of the industrial action is not exposed. Most people are not aware of the serious implications of the strike on our economy and human rights. The on-going industrial action affects all of us as Malawians.
Members might wish to remind themselves of the genesis of this matter. In 2006, the Malawi Law Society took out a judicial review case against the State President challenging the State President to comply with the constitution in so far as the remuneration of the judiciary is concerned. Judgment was delivered by 2 member panel on 2nd September 2007. The case is cited as The State v President et al ex parte MLS [2007] MWHC 7. The High Court was composed of Justices Chinangwa, Chikopa and Kamwambi. The Court WAS OF THE OPINION that:
"The Applicants sought three declarations namely that:
1) the Respondents were duty bound to implement the determination of the National Assembly as regards the salaries and remuneration of the Chief Justice and other holders of judicial office;
2) the refusal by the Respondents to implement the determination of the National Assembly as regards the salaries and remuneration of the Chief Justice was in breach of the Constitution;
3) the Respondents had no power to determine the remuneration of Chief Justice and other holders of judicial office.
They are all granted. As we have shown in our discussion above once the National Assembly has in its wisdom determined the terms and conditions of service of the judiciary it becomes the duty of the executive to implement such determination. Any refusal can only be in breach of the constitution. The power to determine the Terms and Conditions of service in the Judiciary resides with the National Assembly not in the Executive. The Applicant also sought an order akin to mandamus requiring the Respondents to implement the determination of the National Assembly as regards the salaries and remuneration of the Chief Justice and other holders of judicial office. It is also granted" per Justice Chikopa with whom the other 2 judges concurred and adopted his written opinion.
I was the lead counsel for the team of lawyers representing the MLS and the State President was representing by the incumbent Attorney General then a lawyer in private practice.
To the best of my knowledge the President has not complied with that court order culminating into the present industrial action. To the best of my knowledge no contempt of court proceedings were commenced against the President as Respondent.
My being singled out today is an attempt to silence me and intimidate me into inactivity as an advocate so as not raise issues of contempt of court [ which can easily and SHOULD BE be done] as one way of pushing the striking JUDICIAL staff agenda. This attempt by the Police, I believe, is a violation of my right to economic activity as a lwyer and indeed my freedom of expression and opinion as an individual in so far as they believe that they can silence me into not commenting on the ongoing strike.
It is actually because of my earlier involvement with this matter that colleagues might have noticed that I have been audibly silent on the on-going debate on the way forward as Malawi Law Society. But now in view of this intimidation and unnecessary harassment from the Police I HEREBY DO RENOUNCE my silence and will join the rest of members on charting the way forward lest I be misunderstood to have been silenced by the Police.
I thought Mr President and my colleagues should know what happened this afternoon; and my change of heart on this debate.
Ralph Kasambara, Esq.
Managing Partner, Ralph & Arnold Associates, Legal Practitioners & Law Consultants Off Old Chileka Road, Magalasi
Private Bag 55,
Blantyre,
Malawi
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Mollywood: Is Malawi's Movie Industry Developing?
This picture speaks for itself. If Malawi's movie industry has not developed, at least the hope that it may is there. Mollywood is possible.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
TIME FOR ACTION AGAINST ECONOMIC FAILURE- CONCERNED CITIZENS
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MALAWI
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 JANUARY 2012
TIME FOR ACTION AGAINST ECONOMIC FAILURE
My Fellow Malawians.
I greet you in the name of the Lord our God.
97 years after Rt Rev John Chilembwe sacrificed his precious life to fight colonialism, Malawi is at the Crossroads again. Our leadership has failed us big time.
With their own hands, our leaders have created gargantuan problems for the ordinary people. With their own hands, our leaders have depleted all our forex reserves on luxuries such as the presidential jet, Mercedes Benz vehicles for members of the Cabinet and grand high level corruption.
With their own hands, our leaders have left the country’s health delivery system in a shambles. With their own hands, our leaders have facilitated the deaths of thousands of ordinary poor Malawians through failure to supply hospitals with basic essential drugs.
With their own hands, our leaders have rendered the public ambulance system which serves the medical emergency needs of 90% of Malawians ineffective leading to massive deaths.
With their own hands, our leaders are failing to support private sector growth, denying companies the much needed foreign exchange needed to import raw materials. With their own hands, our leaders are forcing companies to cut jobs, rendering thousands of Malawian jobless.
With their own hands, our leaders are forcing people to spend long unproductive hours and sleepless nights queuing for fuel at pump stations without any hope.
Yet, when the suffering public raises their voices to complain about the deteriorating life standards, with their own mouth, our leaders are happy to call its people chickens.
Are you really chickens Fellow Malawians? This is the question that we, as Concerned Malawian Citizens (CMC), would like every Malawian to reflect on as we commemorate the Rt Rev John Chilembwe’s uprising of 1915.
Let there be no doubt, my Fellow Malawians. Malawians succeeded to remove colonialism and one-party dictatorship despite immense resistance. There is absolutely nothing that can stop Malawians today from removing the current dictator and save the nation from further economic deterioration. We must remain united and focused on rescuing our poor people.
WAYFORWARD
The commemoration of the 1915 Chilembwe uprising gives us a window of hope. As Concerned Malawian Citizens, we would like to reject in the strongest terms possible, that Malawians are not Chickens. In view of that, we would like to appeal to all Malawians to unite and take the following peaceful actions in protest:
Effective today, 11 January 2012, all Malawian motorists are asked to blow their vehicle horns three times a day at the following times: 0830am, 1230pm and 1630pm. This must be done continuously for some 30 seconds. This also applies to motorists camping at a fuel stations.
Every Friday, all Malawians are requested to put on red attire or a red scarf in protest to continued suffering of the people.
All Malawians are requested to get a small red flag or red card. This red flag or red card should be waved in the air, everything you see any member of the Cabinet or other senior government officials. This must be done in the same way as Football Referees do when sending off a player who has breached football rules. Where possible, when raising the flag, you must shout: “I am not a Chicken”.
On Chilembwe Day, which falls on 15 January, all Malawians are asked to put on red attire and peacefully converge at the following places for a three-hour vigil. The vigil will start at 0900 am.
· In Blantyre, Kamuzu Upper Stadium
· Lilongwe, Area 18 Tower
· Zomba, Academic Freedom Park at Chancellor College
· Mzuzu, Katoto Freedom Park.
Activities will include poetry recitals, traditional dances and songs.
THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW OR NEVER. SAY NO TO ECONOMIC FAILURE
YOURS
CONCERNED CITIZENS
EMAIL: malawicitizens@yahoo.com
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 JANUARY 2012
TIME FOR ACTION AGAINST ECONOMIC FAILURE
My Fellow Malawians.
I greet you in the name of the Lord our God.
97 years after Rt Rev John Chilembwe sacrificed his precious life to fight colonialism, Malawi is at the Crossroads again. Our leadership has failed us big time.
With their own hands, our leaders have created gargantuan problems for the ordinary people. With their own hands, our leaders have depleted all our forex reserves on luxuries such as the presidential jet, Mercedes Benz vehicles for members of the Cabinet and grand high level corruption.
With their own hands, our leaders have left the country’s health delivery system in a shambles. With their own hands, our leaders have facilitated the deaths of thousands of ordinary poor Malawians through failure to supply hospitals with basic essential drugs.
With their own hands, our leaders have rendered the public ambulance system which serves the medical emergency needs of 90% of Malawians ineffective leading to massive deaths.
With their own hands, our leaders are failing to support private sector growth, denying companies the much needed foreign exchange needed to import raw materials. With their own hands, our leaders are forcing companies to cut jobs, rendering thousands of Malawian jobless.
With their own hands, our leaders are forcing people to spend long unproductive hours and sleepless nights queuing for fuel at pump stations without any hope.
Yet, when the suffering public raises their voices to complain about the deteriorating life standards, with their own mouth, our leaders are happy to call its people chickens.
Are you really chickens Fellow Malawians? This is the question that we, as Concerned Malawian Citizens (CMC), would like every Malawian to reflect on as we commemorate the Rt Rev John Chilembwe’s uprising of 1915.
Let there be no doubt, my Fellow Malawians. Malawians succeeded to remove colonialism and one-party dictatorship despite immense resistance. There is absolutely nothing that can stop Malawians today from removing the current dictator and save the nation from further economic deterioration. We must remain united and focused on rescuing our poor people.
WAYFORWARD
The commemoration of the 1915 Chilembwe uprising gives us a window of hope. As Concerned Malawian Citizens, we would like to reject in the strongest terms possible, that Malawians are not Chickens. In view of that, we would like to appeal to all Malawians to unite and take the following peaceful actions in protest:
Effective today, 11 January 2012, all Malawian motorists are asked to blow their vehicle horns three times a day at the following times: 0830am, 1230pm and 1630pm. This must be done continuously for some 30 seconds. This also applies to motorists camping at a fuel stations.
Every Friday, all Malawians are requested to put on red attire or a red scarf in protest to continued suffering of the people.
All Malawians are requested to get a small red flag or red card. This red flag or red card should be waved in the air, everything you see any member of the Cabinet or other senior government officials. This must be done in the same way as Football Referees do when sending off a player who has breached football rules. Where possible, when raising the flag, you must shout: “I am not a Chicken”.
On Chilembwe Day, which falls on 15 January, all Malawians are asked to put on red attire and peacefully converge at the following places for a three-hour vigil. The vigil will start at 0900 am.
· In Blantyre, Kamuzu Upper Stadium
· Lilongwe, Area 18 Tower
· Zomba, Academic Freedom Park at Chancellor College
· Mzuzu, Katoto Freedom Park.
Activities will include poetry recitals, traditional dances and songs.
THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW OR NEVER. SAY NO TO ECONOMIC FAILURE
YOURS
CONCERNED CITIZENS
EMAIL: malawicitizens@yahoo.com
Rural Financing in Malawi
Agriculture remains, to Malawi, a silent dictator-a cruel and
demanding one at that.
It has been like this since the infamous ‘Scramble for Africa’ in the
late 1880s; a trend that continued after Malawi received independence
from Britain in 1964. Indeed, history has it that Malawi was meant to
be a farm-yard for the Federation of Nyasaland and Rhodesia.
While the other two members of the Federation (Northern Rhodesia, now
Zambia; and Southern Rhodesia, the new Zimbabwe) had vast reserves of
proven mineral resources, Nyasaland (Malawi) was thought to have none.
The only option, so the colonisers thought, was to turn this
land-rocked country into a garden of the three-tier union.
Both the Federation and colonialism later collapsed under the weight
of immense resistance and nationalism, but the mentality of Malawi as
an agricultural nation did not die with them. That is how Malawi has
continued to pay annual tributes to the silent ruler called
agriculture.
Indeed, our tribute to agriculture now runs at around K38 billion a
year. In the 2011/12 National Budget, the K38 billion allocation to
agriculture ranks forth on the list of priorities as education, as
usual, leads the pack with K54 billion, the health sector with K43
billion, K40 billion for development activities, and agriculture,
carting home K38 billion of the K303.7 billion financial blue-print.
“The role of agriculture in national development cannot be
over-emphasized. In fact, food security is the basis of good health,
and this is why government has invested in the Farm Inputs Subsidy
Programme (Fisp), apart from promoting agriculture through initiatives
such as the Green-belt Initiative,” says Agriculture, Food Security
and Water Development Principal Secretary, Erica Maganga.
So, the tribute to agriculture comes in many forms, and not only
through financial allocations approved by the National Assembly. As
Maganga says, there is the irrigation-inspired Greenbelt Initiative,
the Fisp, the metal silos’ construction programme, continuous research
at Bunda College of Agriculture, Makoka, Chitedze and other research
stations, plus a horde of agricultural extensive programmes.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the International Fund for
Agriculture Development (Ifad)- which has no country office in Malawi,
but has been contributing towards the country’s agriculture sector
since 1982, contributing a whopping US$122 million (about K20.7
billion) to date- indicates that the agriculture sector employs 85
percent of the population.
Ifad, which on November 3 this year signed an agreement to open a
Malawi office at a ceremony held in Italy, further indicates that the
sector contributes 45 percent of Gross Domestic Product- further
confirming the influence of the silent dictator.
Maganga notes that Malawi has one of the most successful agriculture
programmes in Africa, hence, Africa’s adoption of the Africa Food
Basket programme- an initiative inspired by, as it has come to be
known worldwide, the ‘Malawian Story’.
This is a story of bumper maize harvests for six consecutive years.
Not only on maize production, though. Cassava, sweet potatoes, rice
have registered increased production levels as well, concluding the
story of more tributes to the silent dictator, agriculture.
It is a good story, acknowledges Charles Henry Nyekanyeka, manager for
Bvumbwe Community Savings and Credit Cooperative (Sacco). Only that
something is amiss, he says, because agriculture officials seem to
have forgotten that mentality, too, has to move with the times.
Nyekanyeka says, while the goal posts have been shifting- in terms of
prioritization and resource mobilization- nothing seems to have
happened to mentality.
“Agriculture has the potential to change our fortunes. However, it is
often neglected by policymakers. This is because these policymakers
still have the mentality that the people who produce our food live in
the backwaters of society,” says Nyekanyeka.
He suggests, among others strategies, that budgetary allocations
should not be made to fulfill long-time traditions but, rather, to
change the platform and people’s lives.
But the situation on the ground shows no signs of these, adds Nyekanyeka.
For one, the Malawian farmer is long-used to selling such unfinished
agricultural products as cotton, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, soya beans,
pigeon peas, among other strategic crops, as the top farm-produce
buyers busy themselves with logistical plans on how to export more raw
materials abroad.
Secondly, Malawi’s best brains continue to regard agriculture as the
wasteland of human capital, preferring, instead, such disciplines as
financial accounting, statistics, marketing, economics, logistics,
among the high-paying jobs.
This, says Nyekanyeka, is bad for Malawi’s agriculture industry.
“But there is something worse than these, and this is the issue of
poor access to financial services, especially for the rural masses.
This has ensured that Malawi gets stuck in terms of agriculture
development. It is all because the rural farmer has been neglected, in
terms of financial empowerment,” says Nyekanyeka.
As a result, Malawi continues to underutilize her productive
agriculture land, and frustrate her dedicated and hardworking farmers-
farmers who know nothing but agriculture.
This has contributed to low investment in agriculture by small scale
farmers, unattractive prices at produce markets, poor extension
services, food insecurity at household level, and information gaps,
according to Nyekanyeka, who prefers Saccos to commercial banks.
“Experience shows that, commercial banks and other financial
institutions show less interest in, and are cautious of, financing
agriculture due to the impact of climate (change) and uncertainty, and
the cynical character of agricultural markets.
“In addition, some of the challenges to rural financial intermediation
include information asymmetry (irregularities and gaps), lack of
suitable collateral, high transaction costs, and other risks related
to agriculture. What this has done is to deepen the vicious circle of
capital formation for both sustenance and development,” says
Nyekanyeka.
But, as with all problems, there is a solution to such rural
challenges as low per capita income, small size of rural markets, low
agricultural productivity, low investment rate, and lack of incentives
to rural investors. The solution comes in the name of cooperative
societies!
The truth is out in the world that cooperatives have the ability to
ably carter for the financial needs of the rural poor – in this case,
the 6,885, 526 people Ifad classifies in its 2009 report as Malawi’s
rural poor- as part of their contribution to the two rural-financing
strategic goals of rural development, and rural poverty reduction.
These needs are met by increasing access to finance for rural small
scale farmers to improve crop productivity, promoting principles of
financial inclusion by promoting affordable payment mechanisms and
depository facilities to communities outside the banking ambit, as
well as reducing economic vulnerabilities.
“Savings and access to credit helps rural farmers and rural households
manage seasonal liquidity shortages, and meet planned and unplanned
life events. In addition, cooperatives have a special relevance to
rural areas because their model differs from that of other financial
institutions in so many ways,” he adds.
Some of these ways include the fact that the majority of cooperatives’
clients are largely outside the ambit of most formal banking services;
they are member-owned service organisations based on the principles of
mutual self-help, self-governance, proximity, and local knowledge;
their business model is driven by demand, as they are set up on the
realization that their members need financial services, and; are
lauded world over for their quest for financial self-reliance, as
characterized by a ‘savings first’ approach.
To achieve these goals, says Nyekanyeka, cooperatives use approaches
such as value-chain financing and study circle.
Value chain is premised on the realization that provision of the right
finance at the right time can mean greater efficiency, improved
product quality and increased incomes by expanding access to
affordable and convenient loans.
Study circle, on the other hand, is a method that allows people from
all spheres of life to express their opinions democratically and
without fear of intimidation- giving participants a platform to
broaden their knowledge of issues by appreciating experiences and
viewpoints of others in their community.
Studies have shown that these approaches reduce costs associated with
extension services as community members are able to identify and solve
their own problems. They also increase the level of farmers’
knowledge on current and probable produce prices, post-harvest
management (storage and pest control) skills, HIV and AIDS and
business management information.
“Loan processing costs are reduced, too. And, so, are monitoring and
debt collection costs. In short, chances of default are reduced, “says
Nyekanyeka, adding:
“It is so simple to start addressing challenges in Agriculture. But
the National Budget is not enough. That is why agriculture has, in
more ways than one, been neglected. We need to increase rural people’s
access to financing,” says Nyekanyeka.
Nyekanyeka ties his point on Bvumbwe Sacco statistics that 80 percent
of its members are farmers.
And it sounds sweet, really, heard through the prism of ordinary ears.
Not to Dr. David Mkwambisi, the Bunda College of Agriculture-based
Environment and Development expert. Mkwambisi argues that, “despite
the proliferation of farmer-owned organisations and farmer (dominated)
cooperatives, the poverty index among smallholder farmers is
alarming”.
Dr. Mkwambisi notes that “this clearly shows that designing,
implementing, monitoring of agricultural interventions is not
coordinated, thereby duplicating efforts, confusing the farmer,
disturbing ecosystems and landscapes, while increasing administrative
ecological footprints”.
In other words, Dr. Mkwambisi’s prescribes policy misfiring as the
weevil in our agricultural stem.
It is encouraging, however, to note that the Bankers Association of
Malawi (Bam) has stated that its members are trying hard to bring the
cash that changes lives to the rural areas.
Bam executive director, Fanuel Kumdana, notes, however that rural
banking goes with extra-costs in terms of security and operational
needs.
He says, for example, that automated machines require electricity and
security. In the absence of electricity, Diesel-run generators take
the place, making it more expensive to run rural operations.
demanding one at that.
It has been like this since the infamous ‘Scramble for Africa’ in the
late 1880s; a trend that continued after Malawi received independence
from Britain in 1964. Indeed, history has it that Malawi was meant to
be a farm-yard for the Federation of Nyasaland and Rhodesia.
While the other two members of the Federation (Northern Rhodesia, now
Zambia; and Southern Rhodesia, the new Zimbabwe) had vast reserves of
proven mineral resources, Nyasaland (Malawi) was thought to have none.
The only option, so the colonisers thought, was to turn this
land-rocked country into a garden of the three-tier union.
Both the Federation and colonialism later collapsed under the weight
of immense resistance and nationalism, but the mentality of Malawi as
an agricultural nation did not die with them. That is how Malawi has
continued to pay annual tributes to the silent ruler called
agriculture.
Indeed, our tribute to agriculture now runs at around K38 billion a
year. In the 2011/12 National Budget, the K38 billion allocation to
agriculture ranks forth on the list of priorities as education, as
usual, leads the pack with K54 billion, the health sector with K43
billion, K40 billion for development activities, and agriculture,
carting home K38 billion of the K303.7 billion financial blue-print.
“The role of agriculture in national development cannot be
over-emphasized. In fact, food security is the basis of good health,
and this is why government has invested in the Farm Inputs Subsidy
Programme (Fisp), apart from promoting agriculture through initiatives
such as the Green-belt Initiative,” says Agriculture, Food Security
and Water Development Principal Secretary, Erica Maganga.
So, the tribute to agriculture comes in many forms, and not only
through financial allocations approved by the National Assembly. As
Maganga says, there is the irrigation-inspired Greenbelt Initiative,
the Fisp, the metal silos’ construction programme, continuous research
at Bunda College of Agriculture, Makoka, Chitedze and other research
stations, plus a horde of agricultural extensive programmes.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the International Fund for
Agriculture Development (Ifad)- which has no country office in Malawi,
but has been contributing towards the country’s agriculture sector
since 1982, contributing a whopping US$122 million (about K20.7
billion) to date- indicates that the agriculture sector employs 85
percent of the population.
Ifad, which on November 3 this year signed an agreement to open a
Malawi office at a ceremony held in Italy, further indicates that the
sector contributes 45 percent of Gross Domestic Product- further
confirming the influence of the silent dictator.
Maganga notes that Malawi has one of the most successful agriculture
programmes in Africa, hence, Africa’s adoption of the Africa Food
Basket programme- an initiative inspired by, as it has come to be
known worldwide, the ‘Malawian Story’.
This is a story of bumper maize harvests for six consecutive years.
Not only on maize production, though. Cassava, sweet potatoes, rice
have registered increased production levels as well, concluding the
story of more tributes to the silent dictator, agriculture.
It is a good story, acknowledges Charles Henry Nyekanyeka, manager for
Bvumbwe Community Savings and Credit Cooperative (Sacco). Only that
something is amiss, he says, because agriculture officials seem to
have forgotten that mentality, too, has to move with the times.
Nyekanyeka says, while the goal posts have been shifting- in terms of
prioritization and resource mobilization- nothing seems to have
happened to mentality.
“Agriculture has the potential to change our fortunes. However, it is
often neglected by policymakers. This is because these policymakers
still have the mentality that the people who produce our food live in
the backwaters of society,” says Nyekanyeka.
He suggests, among others strategies, that budgetary allocations
should not be made to fulfill long-time traditions but, rather, to
change the platform and people’s lives.
But the situation on the ground shows no signs of these, adds Nyekanyeka.
For one, the Malawian farmer is long-used to selling such unfinished
agricultural products as cotton, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, soya beans,
pigeon peas, among other strategic crops, as the top farm-produce
buyers busy themselves with logistical plans on how to export more raw
materials abroad.
Secondly, Malawi’s best brains continue to regard agriculture as the
wasteland of human capital, preferring, instead, such disciplines as
financial accounting, statistics, marketing, economics, logistics,
among the high-paying jobs.
This, says Nyekanyeka, is bad for Malawi’s agriculture industry.
“But there is something worse than these, and this is the issue of
poor access to financial services, especially for the rural masses.
This has ensured that Malawi gets stuck in terms of agriculture
development. It is all because the rural farmer has been neglected, in
terms of financial empowerment,” says Nyekanyeka.
As a result, Malawi continues to underutilize her productive
agriculture land, and frustrate her dedicated and hardworking farmers-
farmers who know nothing but agriculture.
This has contributed to low investment in agriculture by small scale
farmers, unattractive prices at produce markets, poor extension
services, food insecurity at household level, and information gaps,
according to Nyekanyeka, who prefers Saccos to commercial banks.
“Experience shows that, commercial banks and other financial
institutions show less interest in, and are cautious of, financing
agriculture due to the impact of climate (change) and uncertainty, and
the cynical character of agricultural markets.
“In addition, some of the challenges to rural financial intermediation
include information asymmetry (irregularities and gaps), lack of
suitable collateral, high transaction costs, and other risks related
to agriculture. What this has done is to deepen the vicious circle of
capital formation for both sustenance and development,” says
Nyekanyeka.
But, as with all problems, there is a solution to such rural
challenges as low per capita income, small size of rural markets, low
agricultural productivity, low investment rate, and lack of incentives
to rural investors. The solution comes in the name of cooperative
societies!
The truth is out in the world that cooperatives have the ability to
ably carter for the financial needs of the rural poor – in this case,
the 6,885, 526 people Ifad classifies in its 2009 report as Malawi’s
rural poor- as part of their contribution to the two rural-financing
strategic goals of rural development, and rural poverty reduction.
These needs are met by increasing access to finance for rural small
scale farmers to improve crop productivity, promoting principles of
financial inclusion by promoting affordable payment mechanisms and
depository facilities to communities outside the banking ambit, as
well as reducing economic vulnerabilities.
“Savings and access to credit helps rural farmers and rural households
manage seasonal liquidity shortages, and meet planned and unplanned
life events. In addition, cooperatives have a special relevance to
rural areas because their model differs from that of other financial
institutions in so many ways,” he adds.
Some of these ways include the fact that the majority of cooperatives’
clients are largely outside the ambit of most formal banking services;
they are member-owned service organisations based on the principles of
mutual self-help, self-governance, proximity, and local knowledge;
their business model is driven by demand, as they are set up on the
realization that their members need financial services, and; are
lauded world over for their quest for financial self-reliance, as
characterized by a ‘savings first’ approach.
To achieve these goals, says Nyekanyeka, cooperatives use approaches
such as value-chain financing and study circle.
Value chain is premised on the realization that provision of the right
finance at the right time can mean greater efficiency, improved
product quality and increased incomes by expanding access to
affordable and convenient loans.
Study circle, on the other hand, is a method that allows people from
all spheres of life to express their opinions democratically and
without fear of intimidation- giving participants a platform to
broaden their knowledge of issues by appreciating experiences and
viewpoints of others in their community.
Studies have shown that these approaches reduce costs associated with
extension services as community members are able to identify and solve
their own problems. They also increase the level of farmers’
knowledge on current and probable produce prices, post-harvest
management (storage and pest control) skills, HIV and AIDS and
business management information.
“Loan processing costs are reduced, too. And, so, are monitoring and
debt collection costs. In short, chances of default are reduced, “says
Nyekanyeka, adding:
“It is so simple to start addressing challenges in Agriculture. But
the National Budget is not enough. That is why agriculture has, in
more ways than one, been neglected. We need to increase rural people’s
access to financing,” says Nyekanyeka.
Nyekanyeka ties his point on Bvumbwe Sacco statistics that 80 percent
of its members are farmers.
And it sounds sweet, really, heard through the prism of ordinary ears.
Not to Dr. David Mkwambisi, the Bunda College of Agriculture-based
Environment and Development expert. Mkwambisi argues that, “despite
the proliferation of farmer-owned organisations and farmer (dominated)
cooperatives, the poverty index among smallholder farmers is
alarming”.
Dr. Mkwambisi notes that “this clearly shows that designing,
implementing, monitoring of agricultural interventions is not
coordinated, thereby duplicating efforts, confusing the farmer,
disturbing ecosystems and landscapes, while increasing administrative
ecological footprints”.
In other words, Dr. Mkwambisi’s prescribes policy misfiring as the
weevil in our agricultural stem.
It is encouraging, however, to note that the Bankers Association of
Malawi (Bam) has stated that its members are trying hard to bring the
cash that changes lives to the rural areas.
Bam executive director, Fanuel Kumdana, notes, however that rural
banking goes with extra-costs in terms of security and operational
needs.
He says, for example, that automated machines require electricity and
security. In the absence of electricity, Diesel-run generators take
the place, making it more expensive to run rural operations.
Malawi and Shortage of Doctors
By Richard Chirombo
For Malawi to meet the growing demand for skilled healthcare personnel
in both public and private hospitals, the country has to graduate at
least 120 doctors each year. The country’s sole medical school intends
has plans to achieve this by 2015.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, on the sidelines of an Open Day
organized by the College of Medicine (CoM) in Blantyre, Dean of
Faculty, Mwapatsa Mipando, said the country currently graduates 90
doctors a year, a figure he described as being ‘on the lower side’ to
meet current health challenges.
“For us to fully improve the health situation, we need to increase the
number of doctors we train to, at least, 120. Fortunately, this is
contained in CoM’s 2010 to 2020 Strategic Plan. Our plan is to achieve
this by 2015,” said Mipando.
CoM, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima),
currently accommodates 90 doctors, 40 pharmacists, 40 medical
laboratory science, 40 physiotherapy, and 50 health management
students. Mipando said, however, that the target is to increase the
number to 120 for doctors, and 50 for each of the allied health
sciences.
The college’s plans come at a time when Unima has increased the number
of students gaining access to its constituent colleges, a development
that has led to an increase in the number of people sitting for
University Entrance Examinations (UEE).
For example, out of the 7791 candidates who wrote UEE for the 2011/12
academic year, 6,615 passed, representing an 85 percent pass rate.
However, only 2,379 (36 percent) of these have been selected to pursue
studies in Unima’s various programmes.
Students admitted to CoM pay only K25, 000 of the K1.6 million
required to train each doctor annually, with government footing the
remaining bill through a National Aids Commission Bursaries’
programme.
“Such efforts have helped us produce over 400 doctors since CoM’s
establishment in 1991. But we still need to introduce more disciplines
because doctors do not work in isolation,” said Mipando.
Apart from training local personnel, Malawi is under Southern African
Development Community (SADC) obligation to reserve 5 percent space at
CoM for training medical personnel from other SADC member-states. This
is part of a SADC Health protocol that aims at filling the gap of
skilled health personnel in countries without doctors’ training
institutions.
“Apart from people from SADC countries, we have also trained personnel
from West Africa. Just last year, we graduated a doctor who came all
the way from Ireland,” said Mipando.
For Malawi to meet the growing demand for skilled healthcare personnel
in both public and private hospitals, the country has to graduate at
least 120 doctors each year. The country’s sole medical school intends
has plans to achieve this by 2015.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, on the sidelines of an Open Day
organized by the College of Medicine (CoM) in Blantyre, Dean of
Faculty, Mwapatsa Mipando, said the country currently graduates 90
doctors a year, a figure he described as being ‘on the lower side’ to
meet current health challenges.
“For us to fully improve the health situation, we need to increase the
number of doctors we train to, at least, 120. Fortunately, this is
contained in CoM’s 2010 to 2020 Strategic Plan. Our plan is to achieve
this by 2015,” said Mipando.
CoM, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima),
currently accommodates 90 doctors, 40 pharmacists, 40 medical
laboratory science, 40 physiotherapy, and 50 health management
students. Mipando said, however, that the target is to increase the
number to 120 for doctors, and 50 for each of the allied health
sciences.
The college’s plans come at a time when Unima has increased the number
of students gaining access to its constituent colleges, a development
that has led to an increase in the number of people sitting for
University Entrance Examinations (UEE).
For example, out of the 7791 candidates who wrote UEE for the 2011/12
academic year, 6,615 passed, representing an 85 percent pass rate.
However, only 2,379 (36 percent) of these have been selected to pursue
studies in Unima’s various programmes.
Students admitted to CoM pay only K25, 000 of the K1.6 million
required to train each doctor annually, with government footing the
remaining bill through a National Aids Commission Bursaries’
programme.
“Such efforts have helped us produce over 400 doctors since CoM’s
establishment in 1991. But we still need to introduce more disciplines
because doctors do not work in isolation,” said Mipando.
Apart from training local personnel, Malawi is under Southern African
Development Community (SADC) obligation to reserve 5 percent space at
CoM for training medical personnel from other SADC member-states. This
is part of a SADC Health protocol that aims at filling the gap of
skilled health personnel in countries without doctors’ training
institutions.
“Apart from people from SADC countries, we have also trained personnel
from West Africa. Just last year, we graduated a doctor who came all
the way from Ireland,” said Mipando.
HIV and AIDS in Malawian Businesses
By Richard Chirombo
Unexplained deaths. Increased cases of illness. High absenteeism rates.
It did not take the Malawi Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS (MBCA)
long to identify the suspect.
“We knew it was HIV and AIDS, one of the biggest challenges facing the
business community in this century,” says Veronica Chikafa, MBCA’s
Capacity Coordinator.
To many, it was felt that it would be difficult for the business
community to catch up with the grown-up strain of HIV, a strain that,
at 24 years of age, was no longer a baby by youth. That was in 2005,
the birth-year for MBCA, long after HIV and AIDS visited the earth and
decided to stay put in 1981.
“But, I would say, so far so good. We are happy with the response we
have received from the business community. Cases of stigma and
discrimination have drastically reduced.
“The most encouraging thing is that all our members- 90 in total- have
Workplace HIV and AIDS policies. We seem to be making tremendous
progress in our efforts,” says Chikafa.
Chikafa says the story of MBCA has come out of a marriage of sorts,
not human marriage but that of effective policies and strategies: that
is, the unique blend of profit-maximization goals and respect for
human dignity in the private sector.
But things have not always been like this. For ages, the adage ‘the
customer always wins’ has been part of the common sense in business.
However, it was always the ‘customer’ who was the ‘winner’; but never
the employee who made such customers smile. And, at the height of
this belief, the-common-sense-of-business, HIV and AIDS came.
The results were disastrous as confusion, other than common sense,
prevailed. No wonder, it took 24 years for the business community to
‘wake’ up and realize that something was to be done.
It was realized that, “not only clients were affected; workers, too,
were not spared from the negative impact of HIV and AIDS”, thereby
disrupting national development affairs.
“That is how we, MBCA, came to be. As the coordinator of the business
community’s response to HIV and AIDS, we have managed to convince our
members to develop and implement HIV and AIDS policies and programmes.
“These are not just ordinary programmes; these are programmes that
ensure sustenance of businesses and lives of employees and their
families in Malawi,” adds Chikafa.
She says, in the attempt to get to Ground-Zero on new HIV infections,
AIDS related deaths, and discrimination, MBCA is promoting the
integration of moral standing, responsiveness, concern, deep
seriousness, condour and inclusiveness in company policies and
strategies.
Through this, MBCA hopes, companies may begin to place equal valuation
upon business returns as well as employees’ wellness thereby
contributing towards the country’s socio-economic development.
It is so easy to understand why MBCA is doing this. It is upon the
realization that the essence of success in business lies in faith in
the wisdom of the people who deliver the goods (workforce).
Businesses employ people because they have confidence in their
professional competence and judgment- especially their ability to
exercise that judgment from a position where they would determine the
value of things in the context of their own (individual) best
interests, and the company’s interests.
“The question is: Do people lose value simply because they are HIV
positive? No. Unfortunately, we could still have some cases of
discrimination because, while some people can say there is none, the
right people to say whether there is discrimination or not are those
who are living positively with HIV,” says Chikafa.
Chikafa offers some solutions to current challenges, some of which,
she says, are being pursued.
“We need to strengthen the capacity of private sector players to
effectively mainstream HIV and AIDS in the workplace,” she says.
This task started a long time ago, when HIV and AIDS mainstreaming was
the in-thing between 2005 and 2010. Everyone was talking about HIV and
AIDS mainstreaming then, with ‘HIV and AIDS Mainstreaming’ as the
‘father’, and peer education training, steering committees’ training,
leadership training and policy development training as the sons.
Adds Chikafa: “We also need the strengthen the capacity of private
sector health workers to provide high quality prevention, treatment,
care and support services.”
Achieving this has not been difficult for MBCA, which was entrusted
with the responsibility of coordinating government’s scale-up
programme for ARVs therapy with the aim of reducing morbidity and
mortality arising from HIV and AIDS infections among adults and
children.
Through this, it has been possible to manage Sexually Transmitted
Infections, prevent mother to child transmission of HIV, offer HIV
testing and counseling, and conduct ART training among private sector
players.
“We have also carried out programmes on the promotion of HIV and AIDS
information and behaviour change interventions, and ensuring the
maintenance of high standards in programming and sharing of best
practices in the private sector,” she says.
All these efforts are, put simply, a clearing-out campaign; the real
aim has been to take private sector players to ground zero, in terms
of stigma, deaths, and infections.
What can we say, in the end: Is the path to Ground-Zero paved or thorny?
“I would say, with all these efforts, that we are getting there. It
will not be difficult to get there, so long as there is commitment on
part of all of us. Already, we have companies that have robust
programmers, some of these- including The Privatization Commission,
Malawi Telecommunications Limited- will be having indoor activities
this December 1,” says Chikafa.
All these efforts have been like small paths; paths that lead nowhere
but to Ground-Zero.
Unexplained deaths. Increased cases of illness. High absenteeism rates.
It did not take the Malawi Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS (MBCA)
long to identify the suspect.
“We knew it was HIV and AIDS, one of the biggest challenges facing the
business community in this century,” says Veronica Chikafa, MBCA’s
Capacity Coordinator.
To many, it was felt that it would be difficult for the business
community to catch up with the grown-up strain of HIV, a strain that,
at 24 years of age, was no longer a baby by youth. That was in 2005,
the birth-year for MBCA, long after HIV and AIDS visited the earth and
decided to stay put in 1981.
“But, I would say, so far so good. We are happy with the response we
have received from the business community. Cases of stigma and
discrimination have drastically reduced.
“The most encouraging thing is that all our members- 90 in total- have
Workplace HIV and AIDS policies. We seem to be making tremendous
progress in our efforts,” says Chikafa.
Chikafa says the story of MBCA has come out of a marriage of sorts,
not human marriage but that of effective policies and strategies: that
is, the unique blend of profit-maximization goals and respect for
human dignity in the private sector.
But things have not always been like this. For ages, the adage ‘the
customer always wins’ has been part of the common sense in business.
However, it was always the ‘customer’ who was the ‘winner’; but never
the employee who made such customers smile. And, at the height of
this belief, the-common-sense-of-business, HIV and AIDS came.
The results were disastrous as confusion, other than common sense,
prevailed. No wonder, it took 24 years for the business community to
‘wake’ up and realize that something was to be done.
It was realized that, “not only clients were affected; workers, too,
were not spared from the negative impact of HIV and AIDS”, thereby
disrupting national development affairs.
“That is how we, MBCA, came to be. As the coordinator of the business
community’s response to HIV and AIDS, we have managed to convince our
members to develop and implement HIV and AIDS policies and programmes.
“These are not just ordinary programmes; these are programmes that
ensure sustenance of businesses and lives of employees and their
families in Malawi,” adds Chikafa.
She says, in the attempt to get to Ground-Zero on new HIV infections,
AIDS related deaths, and discrimination, MBCA is promoting the
integration of moral standing, responsiveness, concern, deep
seriousness, condour and inclusiveness in company policies and
strategies.
Through this, MBCA hopes, companies may begin to place equal valuation
upon business returns as well as employees’ wellness thereby
contributing towards the country’s socio-economic development.
It is so easy to understand why MBCA is doing this. It is upon the
realization that the essence of success in business lies in faith in
the wisdom of the people who deliver the goods (workforce).
Businesses employ people because they have confidence in their
professional competence and judgment- especially their ability to
exercise that judgment from a position where they would determine the
value of things in the context of their own (individual) best
interests, and the company’s interests.
“The question is: Do people lose value simply because they are HIV
positive? No. Unfortunately, we could still have some cases of
discrimination because, while some people can say there is none, the
right people to say whether there is discrimination or not are those
who are living positively with HIV,” says Chikafa.
Chikafa offers some solutions to current challenges, some of which,
she says, are being pursued.
“We need to strengthen the capacity of private sector players to
effectively mainstream HIV and AIDS in the workplace,” she says.
This task started a long time ago, when HIV and AIDS mainstreaming was
the in-thing between 2005 and 2010. Everyone was talking about HIV and
AIDS mainstreaming then, with ‘HIV and AIDS Mainstreaming’ as the
‘father’, and peer education training, steering committees’ training,
leadership training and policy development training as the sons.
Adds Chikafa: “We also need the strengthen the capacity of private
sector health workers to provide high quality prevention, treatment,
care and support services.”
Achieving this has not been difficult for MBCA, which was entrusted
with the responsibility of coordinating government’s scale-up
programme for ARVs therapy with the aim of reducing morbidity and
mortality arising from HIV and AIDS infections among adults and
children.
Through this, it has been possible to manage Sexually Transmitted
Infections, prevent mother to child transmission of HIV, offer HIV
testing and counseling, and conduct ART training among private sector
players.
“We have also carried out programmes on the promotion of HIV and AIDS
information and behaviour change interventions, and ensuring the
maintenance of high standards in programming and sharing of best
practices in the private sector,” she says.
All these efforts are, put simply, a clearing-out campaign; the real
aim has been to take private sector players to ground zero, in terms
of stigma, deaths, and infections.
What can we say, in the end: Is the path to Ground-Zero paved or thorny?
“I would say, with all these efforts, that we are getting there. It
will not be difficult to get there, so long as there is commitment on
part of all of us. Already, we have companies that have robust
programmers, some of these- including The Privatization Commission,
Malawi Telecommunications Limited- will be having indoor activities
this December 1,” says Chikafa.
All these efforts have been like small paths; paths that lead nowhere
but to Ground-Zero.
Malawi and Forex Shortages
By Richard Chirombo
Kenwilliams Mhango: Where do we go without forex
As the problem of foreign exchange shortage continues to bite,
Authorized Dealer Banks (ADBs) have set different limits on the
quantity of foreign exchange individuals can draw from personal and
business
accounts.
A snap survey conducted between Wednesday and Thursday revealed that
banks remain the preferred sources of forex, although forex-counter
personnel from all the ADBs visited said their forex reserves were
dry.
These include Inde Bank, Standard Bank, NBS Bank, Malawi Savings
Bank, National Bank, and FDX Forex Bureau. Forex buying rates in these
financial institutions ranged from K161.19 to K161.98 while forex
selling rates ranged from K165.28 to K168.115.
However, the ADBs differed on the issue of forex purchase-limits, with
different players charging differently, depending on whether it is a
business of personal account.
For example, while the forex-withdrawal limit for United States
Dollars was 3000 at FDX Forex Bureau, at Nico complex in Blantyre,
workers at Top Mandala Inde Bank said the bank has set no limits on
the amount of foreign currency one can purchase.
However, customers using business accounts at National Bank Victoria
Avenue Branch could purchase as much as 5000, in stark contrast to
Standard Bank Blantyre Branch, where a counter official said the
purchase limit on business accounts was US$3800, and those with
personal accounts could not withdraw more than US$2,200.
One of the people who have been to different banks in search of forex,
Kenwilliams Mhango, suspected that ADBs have set different limits on
forex as one way of maintaining control over the little they have in
forex reserves.
“However, I think this is not working because the forex is not there
at all. Some people have been waiting for forex for six months now,”
said Mhango.
Mhango said he knows of people who have been on the waiting list for
eight months, noting that the situation was creating opportunities for
parallel market trading.
The Bankers Association of Malawi (Bam) says it has equally been
affected by the forex shortage problem, with its president, John
Biziwick, shifting part of the blame on Reserve Bank of Malawi’s (RBM)
decision to route money generated through tobacco sales through its
own system, as opposed to ADBs.
Biziwick maintains that ADBs’ core line of business remains forex
trading, and that the Central Bank’s decision has hurt the banking
sector.
In addition to this, Bam chief executive officer, Lyness Nkungula,
says failure by local companies to import materials was making it
difficult for banks to operate.
“On forex shortage, I will answer this by giving an example. You have
heard that companies are failing to import materials because of forex
shortage. These are bank customers and they process the payment
through banks. So, if bank customers are affected; obviously the banks
are, too,” says Nkungula in a written response.
Asked to comment on who was responsible for setting forex purchase
limits, RBM spokesperson Ralph Tseka said on Thursday he could not
immediately respond since “I am cruising, on my way to Lilongwe”. He
promised to respond to questions Friday morning.
However, when called on Friday, Tseka said he was consulting and would
e-mail and call later. He never did.
But one of RBM’s officials said the central bank is responsible for
fixing forex purchase limits, and that ADBs take the cue from RBM.
The official added, however, that the amount of foreign currency
customers could buy depended on the nature of activity the money is
spent on.
He said it was not uncommon for business enterprises to negotiate and
purchase more forex than RBM’s stipulated limits.
However, said the official, customers purchasing forex for personal
use were not allowed to exceed their limits since the effects of their
purchases on national development could not be validated.
Nevertheless, it was clear from the snap survey that ADBs have devised
means of coming over the problem. Almost all the ADBs visited said
they were giving their customers cash purchase passports (cards),
giving them the opportunity to spend money abroad.
The ADBs credit the money to the customers’ accounts.
Kenwilliams Mhango: Where do we go without forex
As the problem of foreign exchange shortage continues to bite,
Authorized Dealer Banks (ADBs) have set different limits on the
quantity of foreign exchange individuals can draw from personal and
business
accounts.
A snap survey conducted between Wednesday and Thursday revealed that
banks remain the preferred sources of forex, although forex-counter
personnel from all the ADBs visited said their forex reserves were
dry.
These include Inde Bank, Standard Bank, NBS Bank, Malawi Savings
Bank, National Bank, and FDX Forex Bureau. Forex buying rates in these
financial institutions ranged from K161.19 to K161.98 while forex
selling rates ranged from K165.28 to K168.115.
However, the ADBs differed on the issue of forex purchase-limits, with
different players charging differently, depending on whether it is a
business of personal account.
For example, while the forex-withdrawal limit for United States
Dollars was 3000 at FDX Forex Bureau, at Nico complex in Blantyre,
workers at Top Mandala Inde Bank said the bank has set no limits on
the amount of foreign currency one can purchase.
However, customers using business accounts at National Bank Victoria
Avenue Branch could purchase as much as 5000, in stark contrast to
Standard Bank Blantyre Branch, where a counter official said the
purchase limit on business accounts was US$3800, and those with
personal accounts could not withdraw more than US$2,200.
One of the people who have been to different banks in search of forex,
Kenwilliams Mhango, suspected that ADBs have set different limits on
forex as one way of maintaining control over the little they have in
forex reserves.
“However, I think this is not working because the forex is not there
at all. Some people have been waiting for forex for six months now,”
said Mhango.
Mhango said he knows of people who have been on the waiting list for
eight months, noting that the situation was creating opportunities for
parallel market trading.
The Bankers Association of Malawi (Bam) says it has equally been
affected by the forex shortage problem, with its president, John
Biziwick, shifting part of the blame on Reserve Bank of Malawi’s (RBM)
decision to route money generated through tobacco sales through its
own system, as opposed to ADBs.
Biziwick maintains that ADBs’ core line of business remains forex
trading, and that the Central Bank’s decision has hurt the banking
sector.
In addition to this, Bam chief executive officer, Lyness Nkungula,
says failure by local companies to import materials was making it
difficult for banks to operate.
“On forex shortage, I will answer this by giving an example. You have
heard that companies are failing to import materials because of forex
shortage. These are bank customers and they process the payment
through banks. So, if bank customers are affected; obviously the banks
are, too,” says Nkungula in a written response.
Asked to comment on who was responsible for setting forex purchase
limits, RBM spokesperson Ralph Tseka said on Thursday he could not
immediately respond since “I am cruising, on my way to Lilongwe”. He
promised to respond to questions Friday morning.
However, when called on Friday, Tseka said he was consulting and would
e-mail and call later. He never did.
But one of RBM’s officials said the central bank is responsible for
fixing forex purchase limits, and that ADBs take the cue from RBM.
The official added, however, that the amount of foreign currency
customers could buy depended on the nature of activity the money is
spent on.
He said it was not uncommon for business enterprises to negotiate and
purchase more forex than RBM’s stipulated limits.
However, said the official, customers purchasing forex for personal
use were not allowed to exceed their limits since the effects of their
purchases on national development could not be validated.
Nevertheless, it was clear from the snap survey that ADBs have devised
means of coming over the problem. Almost all the ADBs visited said
they were giving their customers cash purchase passports (cards),
giving them the opportunity to spend money abroad.
The ADBs credit the money to the customers’ accounts.
Fertiliser Manufacturing in Malawi
By Richard Chirombo
Optichem Malawi, the only local company with a fertilizer granulation
plant, has contributed 5, 500 metric tonnes towards the 2011/12 Farm
Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) in what Productions Manager, Samuel
Synoden, says is a sign that the local industry can meet local demand
if well- supported.
Government introduced Fisp in 2004/05 agriculture season to improve
the national food security situation and uplift production levels
among smallholder farmers following years of poor harvests.
According to Agriculture and Food Security Principal Secretary, Erica
Maganga, 1.6 million farmers received coupons to buy subsidized
fertilizer during the 2010/11 season, as compared to the 2011/12
growing season following government’s decision to slash the number of
beneficiaries to 1.4 million. This has led to a 30,000 reduction in
procured tonnage this year, with only 140,000 metric tonnes of inputs
procured, as opposed to 170,000 metric tonnes for last season.
Speaking in an interview Tuesday, Synoden said changes in the
programme have not affected Optichem as the company has still
contributed “significantly” towards the 2011/12 inputs programme.
“We are happy that, as a local company, we have been given a chance to
contribute towards Malawi’s food security programme again. In fact,
Optichem started operating in Malawi in 1969 because we wanted to be
part of the country’s efforts to attain food security,” said Synoden.
Synoden said, however, that the company has the capacity to contribute
more, citing the capacity of Optichem’s granulation and blending
plants.
“We have the capacity to supply all types of fertilizer because our
plants give us the capacity to cater for all types of fertilizer. For
example, our granulation plant has the capacity to produce 50,000
metric tonnes per annum, while our blending machine produces 60, 000
metric tonnes a year. In total, we are producing 110, 000 metric
tonnes a year,” said Synoden.
Granulation is a system where raw materials for fertilizer are melted
(turned into liquid form) and, then, used to make free-flowing
granules. Blending, on the other hand, involves the mixing of various
raw materials to make one product. These raw materials, which may
include Urea, D.A.P. and filler, are then used to meet any
specification of fertilizer.
He added that the fact that the company produces a total of 110, 000
metric tonnes of fertilizer a year shows that Optichem can contribute
even more fertilizer towards Fisp. Optichem has, during this year’s
programme, supplied 23:10:5:+4s+1zn. This is fertilizer used for plant
growth (basal).
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security inputs’ statistics indicate
that Malawi needs 300, 000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to satisfy
demand in the agriculture sector. Malawi fills the demand by importing
fertilizer, a development Consumers Association of Malawi executive
director John Kapito blamed in a separate interview for escalating
fertilizer commodity prices.
Optichem is the only local company engaged in fertilizer granulation,
with such other manufacturers as MFC engaged in blending of various
fertilizer products. However, the capacity of Malawian companies
remains low, prompting government to punch the gap up with foreign
fertilizers.
Apart from chemical fertilizers, Optichem also manufactures organic manure.
“We manufacture manure because we want to be part of government’s
efforts to mitigate climate change. The good thing about manure is
that it retains soil fertility,” said Synoden.
Asked why the prices of locally-manufactured fertilizers were almost
the same as those for imported fertilizer, Synoden said “this is not
true because the price of locally-manufactured fertilizers is cheaper
than that of imports”.
Said Synoden: “Prices for locally-manufactured fertilizers are much
lower than those of foreign fertilizers. That is why we are saying
that, if well-supported, local fertilizer manufacturing companies can
help reduce fertilizer prices in the country. In fact, you will find
that local-fertilizer prices are within the ranges of K7000 to K7,900
while some foreign fertilizers sell at as high as K10,000 .”
He said the other advantage is that locally-manufactured fertilizers
are tailor-made to suit local climatic conditions. Synoden, therefore,
asked Malawians to support local industries because they employ local
people, do not externalize forex, and manufacture products that suit
the local environment.
Speaking in a separate interview on progress in this year’s Fisp,
Maganga said distribution work continues, and that most areas have
since received farm inputs.
“Work is still going on. We want to make sure that all target
beneficiaries receive the inputs in good time,” said Maganga.
Optichem Malawi, the only local company with a fertilizer granulation
plant, has contributed 5, 500 metric tonnes towards the 2011/12 Farm
Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) in what Productions Manager, Samuel
Synoden, says is a sign that the local industry can meet local demand
if well- supported.
Government introduced Fisp in 2004/05 agriculture season to improve
the national food security situation and uplift production levels
among smallholder farmers following years of poor harvests.
According to Agriculture and Food Security Principal Secretary, Erica
Maganga, 1.6 million farmers received coupons to buy subsidized
fertilizer during the 2010/11 season, as compared to the 2011/12
growing season following government’s decision to slash the number of
beneficiaries to 1.4 million. This has led to a 30,000 reduction in
procured tonnage this year, with only 140,000 metric tonnes of inputs
procured, as opposed to 170,000 metric tonnes for last season.
Speaking in an interview Tuesday, Synoden said changes in the
programme have not affected Optichem as the company has still
contributed “significantly” towards the 2011/12 inputs programme.
“We are happy that, as a local company, we have been given a chance to
contribute towards Malawi’s food security programme again. In fact,
Optichem started operating in Malawi in 1969 because we wanted to be
part of the country’s efforts to attain food security,” said Synoden.
Synoden said, however, that the company has the capacity to contribute
more, citing the capacity of Optichem’s granulation and blending
plants.
“We have the capacity to supply all types of fertilizer because our
plants give us the capacity to cater for all types of fertilizer. For
example, our granulation plant has the capacity to produce 50,000
metric tonnes per annum, while our blending machine produces 60, 000
metric tonnes a year. In total, we are producing 110, 000 metric
tonnes a year,” said Synoden.
Granulation is a system where raw materials for fertilizer are melted
(turned into liquid form) and, then, used to make free-flowing
granules. Blending, on the other hand, involves the mixing of various
raw materials to make one product. These raw materials, which may
include Urea, D.A.P. and filler, are then used to meet any
specification of fertilizer.
He added that the fact that the company produces a total of 110, 000
metric tonnes of fertilizer a year shows that Optichem can contribute
even more fertilizer towards Fisp. Optichem has, during this year’s
programme, supplied 23:10:5:+4s+1zn. This is fertilizer used for plant
growth (basal).
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security inputs’ statistics indicate
that Malawi needs 300, 000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to satisfy
demand in the agriculture sector. Malawi fills the demand by importing
fertilizer, a development Consumers Association of Malawi executive
director John Kapito blamed in a separate interview for escalating
fertilizer commodity prices.
Optichem is the only local company engaged in fertilizer granulation,
with such other manufacturers as MFC engaged in blending of various
fertilizer products. However, the capacity of Malawian companies
remains low, prompting government to punch the gap up with foreign
fertilizers.
Apart from chemical fertilizers, Optichem also manufactures organic manure.
“We manufacture manure because we want to be part of government’s
efforts to mitigate climate change. The good thing about manure is
that it retains soil fertility,” said Synoden.
Asked why the prices of locally-manufactured fertilizers were almost
the same as those for imported fertilizer, Synoden said “this is not
true because the price of locally-manufactured fertilizers is cheaper
than that of imports”.
Said Synoden: “Prices for locally-manufactured fertilizers are much
lower than those of foreign fertilizers. That is why we are saying
that, if well-supported, local fertilizer manufacturing companies can
help reduce fertilizer prices in the country. In fact, you will find
that local-fertilizer prices are within the ranges of K7000 to K7,900
while some foreign fertilizers sell at as high as K10,000 .”
He said the other advantage is that locally-manufactured fertilizers
are tailor-made to suit local climatic conditions. Synoden, therefore,
asked Malawians to support local industries because they employ local
people, do not externalize forex, and manufacture products that suit
the local environment.
Speaking in a separate interview on progress in this year’s Fisp,
Maganga said distribution work continues, and that most areas have
since received farm inputs.
“Work is still going on. We want to make sure that all target
beneficiaries receive the inputs in good time,” said Maganga.
Appproved Men are Not Ashamed, Awana, in Malawi
By Richard Chirombo
Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed (Awana), an international
inter-denominational ministry, on Saturday donated assorted items to
Tithandizane Club of Chikhwawa.
Tithandizane Club, run by Makhwira Association of the Baptist Church
in the district, looks after 11 physically-challenged people, 19
elderly persons, and 106 orphans and vulnerable children using money
generated from cotton and maize farming.
Awana Ministry programme director, McNovance Potani, hailed
Tithandizane members for their self-help initiative in aid of orphans.
He said the donated items- which included bales of sugar, Kamba puffs,
clothes, shoes, toys- were contributions from Blantyre Baptist Church
members and Awana child members.
“We can all help alleviate the suffering of the less-privileged
members in society,” Potani said.
On his part, Makhwira Association chairperson, Pastor Mashonga Eliot
Kadyoli, said the donations would help alleviate part of the suffering
experienced by beneficiaries.
He asked other well-wishers to emulate Awana’s example.
Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed (Awana), an international
inter-denominational ministry, on Saturday donated assorted items to
Tithandizane Club of Chikhwawa.
Tithandizane Club, run by Makhwira Association of the Baptist Church
in the district, looks after 11 physically-challenged people, 19
elderly persons, and 106 orphans and vulnerable children using money
generated from cotton and maize farming.
Awana Ministry programme director, McNovance Potani, hailed
Tithandizane members for their self-help initiative in aid of orphans.
He said the donated items- which included bales of sugar, Kamba puffs,
clothes, shoes, toys- were contributions from Blantyre Baptist Church
members and Awana child members.
“We can all help alleviate the suffering of the less-privileged
members in society,” Potani said.
On his part, Makhwira Association chairperson, Pastor Mashonga Eliot
Kadyoli, said the donations would help alleviate part of the suffering
experienced by beneficiaries.
He asked other well-wishers to emulate Awana’s example.
Malawi and Poor Perks/Workers Exploitation
By Richard Chirombo
As the cost of living continues to escalate, some workers are living
on a K4, 700 monthly basic salary, raising questions about the
survival mechanisms they employ to see their budget through the month.
Investigations carried out between Wednesday and Thursday revealed
that workers at G4S, a multi-national security firm, are among those
earning a monthly basic salary of K4, 700 a month.
The workers are also among the least paid in the Southern African
Development Community region, cutting home less than the regional
average of US$150 (K24, 300) applicable to people in similar jobs in
such countries as Zambia.
Two workers who spoke to The Sunday Times in Blantyre Central Business
District (CBD) confirmed receiving K4, 700.
One of the workers revealed how he survives on such a basic salary,
and meet his daily needs.
“Of course, the money is too little. However, because I have no
choice, I have become meticulous in the way I budget for whole month,”
said one of the guards manning a commercial bank’s ATM machine in
Blantyre CBD.
He explained how he has manages to do that: “Because I cannot manage
to pay rentals, due to the high cost of housing in Blantyre, I decided
to be staying with two workmates. We contribute equally towards
rentals.”
The guard, who stays in Mbayani Township, added that he supplements
his salary by working part-time during the day, a development he said
leads to fatigue.
“I often sleep while on duty. I think it is better to be tired while
knowing that you have a bag of maize, relish, and a pair on new
trousers. I just feel sad when assigned on the day-shift because it
means losing out on piece works, “he said, revealing that he started
working for G4S four months ago.
Another worker said he struggled to pay K2, 500 rental fees for the
month of July, the time he started work this year, but has solved the
problem by inviting a former classmate who mends shoes in Zingwangwa
Township.
He also said he supplements his income by working in people’s gardens,
washing cars, and carpets.
“I need, at least, between K15, 000 and K16, 000 to meet my monthly
needs. I, therefore, depend on other unofficial duties to meet food,
housing and transport needs. In addition, I am skilled at repairing
electrical appliances to make up for the gap in my salary,” he said.
One of the guards who has been with the company for 20 years revealed
that he currently receives K12, 000 as basic salary, while another
worker- who started working for the company in April 2009- said his
basic salary is pegged at K5,580.
Two of the guards interviewed further revealed that union leaders have
been agitating for an industrial action, saying, if current conditions
do not improve, G4S workers could be forced to go on strike come
February 1, 2012.
When contacted to comment on the workers’ concerns, G4S Human
Resources Director, Nargis Khan, could neither confirm nor deny that
some of the company’s workers receive K4, 700 as basic salary.
However, Khan decried the tendency by some workers to only “dwell on
the basic salary, instead of talking about gross salary”, saying this
was creating a negative impression that K4, 700 is the whole take-home
package.
“When it comes to salaries, people often talk of only one thing (basic
salary), instead of talking about the gross salary. Let me say,
however, that it is difficult for me to tell you how much, in gross
salary, workers take home because people in different categories
receive different packages,” Khan said.
Malawi’s current minimum wage is K178.25, which translates into K4,
633 when multiplied by 26 working days that constitute a local guard’s
month. This means G4S adds an extra K67 on top of its least-paid
workers’ wage bill, and is not breaking any law under the country’s
labour laws.
Khan also responded to reports that local G4S workers are among the
least paid in the region. She said workers’ salaries are
country-based, and depend on the economic conditions prevailing in
different countries.
“As a journalist in Malawi, do you think your average salary can match
the average salary being received by a journalist in South Africa? Do
you think that South African journalists receive salaries similar to
those applicable to their counterparts in the United Kingdom?
“Salaries correspond to the economies of scale. May be our economists
should carry out a comprehensive comparative economic analysis of the
region and come up with a clear picture on what should be applied in
our economy,” Khan said.
However, a top official in the union that represents security workers,
including G4S guards, in the country confirmed being approached by
some guards over plans to stage a sit–in.
Textile, Garments, Leather and Security Services Workers Union
(TGLSSWU) deputy general secretary, Macdonald Chuma, said, while he
sympathized with the workers, he has advised them to “keep their
patience” because TGLSSWU is already negotiating with G4S. His
sentiments were corroborated by Khan, who confirmed that discussions
with the union over improved working conditions were in progress.
“In fact, it is not only guards who are receiving K4, 700 that have
approached us; we also have people who have been working for years and
feel that, looking at the escalating cost of basic commodities, pay
rises are in order. Our stand is that, ‘No’, such action is not
necessary at the moment. Perhaps people can do that if current
negotiation effort fail,” Chuma said, adding:
“In fact, some G4S workers have told us that, if the negotiations drag
to February, then, they will go on a sit-in. But, as a union, we are
trying our best to conclude the negotiations without any labour,
unrest, or industrial action. Should every tactic in the book fail,
then, we will definitely know what to do.”
According to Chuma, a guard who receives K4, 700 as basic salary is
entitled to a 50 percent (of basic salary) overtime and 10 percent (of
the basic salary) as house allowance.
“This means that a worker receiving K4, 700 gets K470 as house
allowance,” Chuma said, describing the figure as “very much on the
lower side”.
In total, basic salary plus house allowance and over time comes to a
gross monthly salary of K7, 520.
Reports of poor perks come at a time when the country’s economy is
going through a bad patch. Finance and Development Planning Minister,
Ken Lipenga, told Parliament in November that the economy would slow
down by 0.9 percent, from 6.9 percent to 6 percent, in the 2011/2012
fiscal year.
In addition, International Monetary Fund’s 2011 estimates hint that
the local economy will grow by a meagre 2 percent, sharply contrasting
the 6 percent growth rates that characterized Malawi’s economic
performance for the past five years.
Also coming into the gloomy picture is the 2011 United Nations
Development Programme Index Report. The report, which evaluates
people’s freedoms and capabilities to lead lives that they value and
have reason to value, ranks Malawi poorly, as evidenced by the
country’s decline from position 153 in 2010 to 171 this year.
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), in its November Food Basket
Report, described the situation as a tell-tale sign of economic
malaise. CfSC programme officer for social conditions, Alex Nkosi,
said this meant “…that the economic gains that Malawi has garnered in
the recent past are not making a real dent in the pervasive poverty to
enable significant improvements in social conditions”.
According to CfSC, this is characterized by upward movements in the
cost of living as espoused in CfSC’s Urban Basic Needs Basket for
November. The basket pointed to increased prices on products such as
Maize, Beans, Usipa, Utaka, Kapenta and Bread.
Said the report: “For instance, the price of maize has surged upwards
tremendously. Mzuzu, the hardest hit, has witnessed an average maize
price rise by 28.2% (K2, 200 per 50kg bag) in November as compared to
average price in October which was at K1580.
“On average, the same trend has been observed in all the major cities:
in Lilongwe it went up by 11%, Zomba 13% and in Blantyre maize
registered an increase of 10%. Most sellers in the market attribute
the increase to scarcity of the commodity and an increase in the cost
of transportation.”
As the cost of living continues to escalate, some workers are living
on a K4, 700 monthly basic salary, raising questions about the
survival mechanisms they employ to see their budget through the month.
Investigations carried out between Wednesday and Thursday revealed
that workers at G4S, a multi-national security firm, are among those
earning a monthly basic salary of K4, 700 a month.
The workers are also among the least paid in the Southern African
Development Community region, cutting home less than the regional
average of US$150 (K24, 300) applicable to people in similar jobs in
such countries as Zambia.
Two workers who spoke to The Sunday Times in Blantyre Central Business
District (CBD) confirmed receiving K4, 700.
One of the workers revealed how he survives on such a basic salary,
and meet his daily needs.
“Of course, the money is too little. However, because I have no
choice, I have become meticulous in the way I budget for whole month,”
said one of the guards manning a commercial bank’s ATM machine in
Blantyre CBD.
He explained how he has manages to do that: “Because I cannot manage
to pay rentals, due to the high cost of housing in Blantyre, I decided
to be staying with two workmates. We contribute equally towards
rentals.”
The guard, who stays in Mbayani Township, added that he supplements
his salary by working part-time during the day, a development he said
leads to fatigue.
“I often sleep while on duty. I think it is better to be tired while
knowing that you have a bag of maize, relish, and a pair on new
trousers. I just feel sad when assigned on the day-shift because it
means losing out on piece works, “he said, revealing that he started
working for G4S four months ago.
Another worker said he struggled to pay K2, 500 rental fees for the
month of July, the time he started work this year, but has solved the
problem by inviting a former classmate who mends shoes in Zingwangwa
Township.
He also said he supplements his income by working in people’s gardens,
washing cars, and carpets.
“I need, at least, between K15, 000 and K16, 000 to meet my monthly
needs. I, therefore, depend on other unofficial duties to meet food,
housing and transport needs. In addition, I am skilled at repairing
electrical appliances to make up for the gap in my salary,” he said.
One of the guards who has been with the company for 20 years revealed
that he currently receives K12, 000 as basic salary, while another
worker- who started working for the company in April 2009- said his
basic salary is pegged at K5,580.
Two of the guards interviewed further revealed that union leaders have
been agitating for an industrial action, saying, if current conditions
do not improve, G4S workers could be forced to go on strike come
February 1, 2012.
When contacted to comment on the workers’ concerns, G4S Human
Resources Director, Nargis Khan, could neither confirm nor deny that
some of the company’s workers receive K4, 700 as basic salary.
However, Khan decried the tendency by some workers to only “dwell on
the basic salary, instead of talking about gross salary”, saying this
was creating a negative impression that K4, 700 is the whole take-home
package.
“When it comes to salaries, people often talk of only one thing (basic
salary), instead of talking about the gross salary. Let me say,
however, that it is difficult for me to tell you how much, in gross
salary, workers take home because people in different categories
receive different packages,” Khan said.
Malawi’s current minimum wage is K178.25, which translates into K4,
633 when multiplied by 26 working days that constitute a local guard’s
month. This means G4S adds an extra K67 on top of its least-paid
workers’ wage bill, and is not breaking any law under the country’s
labour laws.
Khan also responded to reports that local G4S workers are among the
least paid in the region. She said workers’ salaries are
country-based, and depend on the economic conditions prevailing in
different countries.
“As a journalist in Malawi, do you think your average salary can match
the average salary being received by a journalist in South Africa? Do
you think that South African journalists receive salaries similar to
those applicable to their counterparts in the United Kingdom?
“Salaries correspond to the economies of scale. May be our economists
should carry out a comprehensive comparative economic analysis of the
region and come up with a clear picture on what should be applied in
our economy,” Khan said.
However, a top official in the union that represents security workers,
including G4S guards, in the country confirmed being approached by
some guards over plans to stage a sit–in.
Textile, Garments, Leather and Security Services Workers Union
(TGLSSWU) deputy general secretary, Macdonald Chuma, said, while he
sympathized with the workers, he has advised them to “keep their
patience” because TGLSSWU is already negotiating with G4S. His
sentiments were corroborated by Khan, who confirmed that discussions
with the union over improved working conditions were in progress.
“In fact, it is not only guards who are receiving K4, 700 that have
approached us; we also have people who have been working for years and
feel that, looking at the escalating cost of basic commodities, pay
rises are in order. Our stand is that, ‘No’, such action is not
necessary at the moment. Perhaps people can do that if current
negotiation effort fail,” Chuma said, adding:
“In fact, some G4S workers have told us that, if the negotiations drag
to February, then, they will go on a sit-in. But, as a union, we are
trying our best to conclude the negotiations without any labour,
unrest, or industrial action. Should every tactic in the book fail,
then, we will definitely know what to do.”
According to Chuma, a guard who receives K4, 700 as basic salary is
entitled to a 50 percent (of basic salary) overtime and 10 percent (of
the basic salary) as house allowance.
“This means that a worker receiving K4, 700 gets K470 as house
allowance,” Chuma said, describing the figure as “very much on the
lower side”.
In total, basic salary plus house allowance and over time comes to a
gross monthly salary of K7, 520.
Reports of poor perks come at a time when the country’s economy is
going through a bad patch. Finance and Development Planning Minister,
Ken Lipenga, told Parliament in November that the economy would slow
down by 0.9 percent, from 6.9 percent to 6 percent, in the 2011/2012
fiscal year.
In addition, International Monetary Fund’s 2011 estimates hint that
the local economy will grow by a meagre 2 percent, sharply contrasting
the 6 percent growth rates that characterized Malawi’s economic
performance for the past five years.
Also coming into the gloomy picture is the 2011 United Nations
Development Programme Index Report. The report, which evaluates
people’s freedoms and capabilities to lead lives that they value and
have reason to value, ranks Malawi poorly, as evidenced by the
country’s decline from position 153 in 2010 to 171 this year.
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), in its November Food Basket
Report, described the situation as a tell-tale sign of economic
malaise. CfSC programme officer for social conditions, Alex Nkosi,
said this meant “…that the economic gains that Malawi has garnered in
the recent past are not making a real dent in the pervasive poverty to
enable significant improvements in social conditions”.
According to CfSC, this is characterized by upward movements in the
cost of living as espoused in CfSC’s Urban Basic Needs Basket for
November. The basket pointed to increased prices on products such as
Maize, Beans, Usipa, Utaka, Kapenta and Bread.
Said the report: “For instance, the price of maize has surged upwards
tremendously. Mzuzu, the hardest hit, has witnessed an average maize
price rise by 28.2% (K2, 200 per 50kg bag) in November as compared to
average price in October which was at K1580.
“On average, the same trend has been observed in all the major cities:
in Lilongwe it went up by 11%, Zomba 13% and in Blantyre maize
registered an increase of 10%. Most sellers in the market attribute
the increase to scarcity of the commodity and an increase in the cost
of transportation.”
Malawi and World Bank-funded Business Growth Scheme
By Richard Chirombo
Funding uncertainties have marred implementation of the Business
Growth Scheme (Bugs), a component in the Business Environment
Strengthening Technical Assistance Project (Bestap) being implemented
by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, raising fears over its
sustainability.
The project, approved in 2007 and co-financed by the World Bank and
European Union, seeks to support capacity development and investment
climate reforms in order to accelerate economic growth.
According to ‘African Tax Administration Forum’, Malawi is ranked 133
out of 183 economies, with Singapore leading the pack as the
top-ranked country in the ease of doing business.
One of the entrepreneurs, who claimed that his application was
approved nine months ago, said in an interview on Wednesday that Bugs
officials have been tossing him left and right whenever he inquires
about the where-abouts of his money.
“All I am told is that funding disbursement stopped because of donors’
reluctance to release funding,” said Ndirande-based Saulosi
Mtambalika-Kapwepwe, one of the would-be beneficiaries.
He said this disturbed his business plans, and forced him to keep on
waiting since he depends on entrepreneurship and is currently
unemployed.
However, belated delays in carrying out some aspects of the project
are not new. For example, soon after project approval by the World
Bank Board, administrative hiccups affected project implementation in
the wake of delays in finalizing administrative arrangements needed to
operationalise the use of European Union (EU) co-financing for
activities that WB and EU agreed to jointly finance in the project.
Kapwepwe said it was unfair to subject beneficiaries to pro-longed delays.
“Bugs is our only hope because other government initiatives, including
the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, have been politicized while
Bugs is managed by professionals who follow donors’ guidelines,”
Kapwepwe said.
He added that the uncertainties surrounding the scheme had left him
without other economic options since he, and his brother, Kingsley-
who work as business partners- are not formally employed.
But, when contacted for comment, one of the officials at Bugs in
Blantyre, Jones Mauluka, referred this reporter to the Principal
Secretary (PS) for Industry and Trade, Newby Kumwembe. He said the PS
was the one mandated to speak about the scheme.
Project officer for Bestap, Shadrick Ulemu, also declined to comment.
He said Kumwembe was the only one who could comment.
However, when contacted to comment on the delays and reports that
government has started looking for potential donors, Kumwembe pushed
the matter back to Bestap, saying the project officer was
better-placed and mandated to respond to all issues pertaining to
funding disbursement.
“Talk to Mr. Ulemu who, as Bestap project officer, is well-positioned
to answer that. I am just the coordinator, by virtue of chairing the
steering committee,” Kumwembe said.
Added Kumwembe: “These (Bestap officials) are the technical people and
well-versed with project implementation. Definitely, they will give
you the information. If these technical people are not able to give
you the information; then, I don’t know what they are supposed to be
doing.”
Further efforts to talk to Ulemu did not yield any results as he
preferred to communicate with this reporter through his secretary.
Even when told that the P.S. was the one who instructed this reporter
to talk to the project officer, she maintained that Ulemu could not
speak unless he got authorization from Kumwembe.
Meanwhile, a member of the steering committee told The Sunday Times
that a meeting held six months ago resolved that all matters
pertaining to Bestap and Bugs be referred to the PS for Industry and
Trade.
The source also said Bugs was still spending K1 monthly on rentals and
operational costs, and that at least 137 people whose applications
were approved are yet to get their disbursements.
In Africa, Bestap supports industry and trade initiatives, public
administration, finance, regulation and competition, micro, small and
medium enterprise, export development and competitiveness, among
others.
Funding uncertainties have marred implementation of the Business
Growth Scheme (Bugs), a component in the Business Environment
Strengthening Technical Assistance Project (Bestap) being implemented
by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, raising fears over its
sustainability.
The project, approved in 2007 and co-financed by the World Bank and
European Union, seeks to support capacity development and investment
climate reforms in order to accelerate economic growth.
According to ‘African Tax Administration Forum’, Malawi is ranked 133
out of 183 economies, with Singapore leading the pack as the
top-ranked country in the ease of doing business.
One of the entrepreneurs, who claimed that his application was
approved nine months ago, said in an interview on Wednesday that Bugs
officials have been tossing him left and right whenever he inquires
about the where-abouts of his money.
“All I am told is that funding disbursement stopped because of donors’
reluctance to release funding,” said Ndirande-based Saulosi
Mtambalika-Kapwepwe, one of the would-be beneficiaries.
He said this disturbed his business plans, and forced him to keep on
waiting since he depends on entrepreneurship and is currently
unemployed.
However, belated delays in carrying out some aspects of the project
are not new. For example, soon after project approval by the World
Bank Board, administrative hiccups affected project implementation in
the wake of delays in finalizing administrative arrangements needed to
operationalise the use of European Union (EU) co-financing for
activities that WB and EU agreed to jointly finance in the project.
Kapwepwe said it was unfair to subject beneficiaries to pro-longed delays.
“Bugs is our only hope because other government initiatives, including
the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, have been politicized while
Bugs is managed by professionals who follow donors’ guidelines,”
Kapwepwe said.
He added that the uncertainties surrounding the scheme had left him
without other economic options since he, and his brother, Kingsley-
who work as business partners- are not formally employed.
But, when contacted for comment, one of the officials at Bugs in
Blantyre, Jones Mauluka, referred this reporter to the Principal
Secretary (PS) for Industry and Trade, Newby Kumwembe. He said the PS
was the one mandated to speak about the scheme.
Project officer for Bestap, Shadrick Ulemu, also declined to comment.
He said Kumwembe was the only one who could comment.
However, when contacted to comment on the delays and reports that
government has started looking for potential donors, Kumwembe pushed
the matter back to Bestap, saying the project officer was
better-placed and mandated to respond to all issues pertaining to
funding disbursement.
“Talk to Mr. Ulemu who, as Bestap project officer, is well-positioned
to answer that. I am just the coordinator, by virtue of chairing the
steering committee,” Kumwembe said.
Added Kumwembe: “These (Bestap officials) are the technical people and
well-versed with project implementation. Definitely, they will give
you the information. If these technical people are not able to give
you the information; then, I don’t know what they are supposed to be
doing.”
Further efforts to talk to Ulemu did not yield any results as he
preferred to communicate with this reporter through his secretary.
Even when told that the P.S. was the one who instructed this reporter
to talk to the project officer, she maintained that Ulemu could not
speak unless he got authorization from Kumwembe.
Meanwhile, a member of the steering committee told The Sunday Times
that a meeting held six months ago resolved that all matters
pertaining to Bestap and Bugs be referred to the PS for Industry and
Trade.
The source also said Bugs was still spending K1 monthly on rentals and
operational costs, and that at least 137 people whose applications
were approved are yet to get their disbursements.
In Africa, Bestap supports industry and trade initiatives, public
administration, finance, regulation and competition, micro, small and
medium enterprise, export development and competitiveness, among
others.
Malawi and Foreign Exchange
By Richard Chirombo
The Malawi economy could create a niche among top African countries
that benefit significantly from service exports, but unfriendly
foreign remittance instruments have translated into a negligible Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from the country’s human resource
capital abroad.
Malawi is grappling with a forex shortage problem that has paralysed
its ability to import essential goods and services. But the Economics
Association of Malawi (Ecam) says foreign remittances have the
potential to help heal the battered economy and lift the market gloom.
Statistics from the National Statistical Office (NSO) imply that
financial contributions from Malawians abroad could make less than 4
percent of GDP. This is shown in an April 2011 report released by
NSO’s Economics Division, and published in its GDPflash publication,
which conspicuously fails to mention remittances’ actual contribution
to GDP.
Instead, foreign remittances are included under the ‘Other services’
slot, rendering impossible efforts to establish its real value
contribution.
Among others, NSO’s 2007-2010 ‘GDP by Activity Report’ only mentions
accommodation and food service; information and communication; human
health and social work; transport and storage; real estate; financial
and insurance; mining and quarrying; professional, scientific and
technical, administrative and support activities; agriculture, forests
and fishing; wholesale and retail trade; manufacturing; and, other
services.
Of these, agriculture, forestry and fishing contribute more to GDP, at
30 percent, followed by the wholesale and retail sector at 20 percent,
financial and insurance activities at 6 percent, transport and storage
4 percent, human health and social work 4 percent, other services 4
percent, information and communication 3 percent, among others.
The situation forced former Finance Minister, Ken Kandodo, to urge
Malawians in Diaspora to start remitting foreign currency back home as
one way of pumping up depleted forex banks back home.
Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Ken Lipenga, was not picking
up his mobile phone between Tuesday and Thursday when we wanted to
know if Malawians have taken heed of the ministry’s call.
Ecam president, Naomi Ngwira, said this week research on the financial
contribution of Malawians in Diaspora was attempted in 2005 by Alimon
Mwase under the aegis of the Malawi Government and United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and, in a nutshell,
pointed at the potential benefits of forex remittances to the local
economy. The report has not been distributed.
UNCTAD, established in 1964 to provide a forum where developing
countries could discuss economic development challenges, grew from
widely-held conceptions that the World Trade Organisation, World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund and World Bank cannot effectively
handle development challenges prevalent in developing countries like
Malawi.
“Of course, they (foreign remittances) do (have an economic impact).
The Malawi economy could be among those that benefit much from
remittances. One way to facilitate transfer of forex through offering
financial instruments and also investment opportunities in PPPs.
Improving the legal and service environment for remitting forex for
those who are employed is the other policy area,” Ngwira said.
She, however, said this depended on reforms in development planning,
logistics, and improved engagement mechanisms with those in Diaspora.
Ngwira suggested that development planning include mechanisms on how
to prepare for export of services. She also asked for the need to
revisit the logistical and legal framework for making and remitting
payments back home.
Malawi could also benefit significantly “if there was enhanced
involvement of the Diaspora in financial markets’ instruments, Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI), Public Private Partnerships and venture
capital investments”.
She said the country could take advantage of the demand for human
capital to prop up its foreign currency reserves.
“Services like teaching - high school and university- medicine,
aviation pilots, nursing, housekeeping and chauffeurs are in much
demand in Europe, Asia and the Arabian peninsula, where incomes have
risen significantly such that middle income consumers want good
quality services but find that local labour is expensive. Some
countries like Sri Lanka, the Philippines, or those in the Caribbean,
depend a lot on export of services.
“So, Malawi could expand the export of services by entering into
proper agreements with partner countries, partly to protect their
rights, and training more people in those services required. This
requires doing periodic environmental scanning to know the skills
demanded for the moment.
“For example, English teachers are in great demand in non-English
speaking Asia and Arabian peninsula. Malawi should be able to offer
crash courses for specialized kinds of teachers needed in these
countries, as well as nurses, and chauffeurs,” Ngwira said.
For this to happen, however, there is need to encourage people to
channel their money through the official financial system, which
Ngwira said was “presently not the case”.
“Remittances can aid various forms of development- construction of
houses, education and as venture capital. They add to forex reserves
which are critical for importation of raw materials and general
imports and hence economic growth. Remittances boost rural economic
activities and soci0-economic change and, therefore, have development
impact, ”Ngwira said.
All these benefits are being hampered by institutionalised bottlenecks.
“There has been much done but, perhaps, not enough to persuade huge
inflows into the formal forex and financial system given the lucrative
black market rates and limitations on forex/capital inflows in banks.
“The legal framework needs to be revised to allow for a fully
liberalised capital account that allows for ease of in and outflows.
The use of the informal system further means inflows are not captured
in the official accounts (Balance of Payment statistics),” Ngwira
said.
Ngwira said the situation could be improved by minimising the
discrepancy between black and official market forex rates, a
development that calls for liberalisation of the Kwacha.
The second option is to remove restrictions on forex and capital
account outflows so that individuals and institutions running Foreign
Currency Denominated Accounts (FCDA) are able to withdraw as much as
they want “any time or, at least, given priority unless there are huge
forex shortfalls”.
She said further liberalisation of the market would promote FCDA
accounts’ opening, as “remitting forex becomes more conducive with
improved access to formal remittance transfer channels and with
increased transparency of the flows and the (low) cost structure”.
“Otherwise, for those in the Diaspora, one is better off keeping the
forex outside and changing at the black market back home when need
arises,” Ngwira said.
Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) spokesperson, Ralph Tseka, acknowledged
on Tuesday that forex remittances make a contribution to a nation’s
economy.
“In fact, foreign currency remittances are included in our Gross
National Disposable Income calculations, along with goods transfers
and incomes,” Tseka said.
Tseka said, however, that NSO was the right authority to speak on
foreign currency remittances’ contribution to the country’s GDP.
The Malawi economy could create a niche among top African countries
that benefit significantly from service exports, but unfriendly
foreign remittance instruments have translated into a negligible Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from the country’s human resource
capital abroad.
Malawi is grappling with a forex shortage problem that has paralysed
its ability to import essential goods and services. But the Economics
Association of Malawi (Ecam) says foreign remittances have the
potential to help heal the battered economy and lift the market gloom.
Statistics from the National Statistical Office (NSO) imply that
financial contributions from Malawians abroad could make less than 4
percent of GDP. This is shown in an April 2011 report released by
NSO’s Economics Division, and published in its GDPflash publication,
which conspicuously fails to mention remittances’ actual contribution
to GDP.
Instead, foreign remittances are included under the ‘Other services’
slot, rendering impossible efforts to establish its real value
contribution.
Among others, NSO’s 2007-2010 ‘GDP by Activity Report’ only mentions
accommodation and food service; information and communication; human
health and social work; transport and storage; real estate; financial
and insurance; mining and quarrying; professional, scientific and
technical, administrative and support activities; agriculture, forests
and fishing; wholesale and retail trade; manufacturing; and, other
services.
Of these, agriculture, forestry and fishing contribute more to GDP, at
30 percent, followed by the wholesale and retail sector at 20 percent,
financial and insurance activities at 6 percent, transport and storage
4 percent, human health and social work 4 percent, other services 4
percent, information and communication 3 percent, among others.
The situation forced former Finance Minister, Ken Kandodo, to urge
Malawians in Diaspora to start remitting foreign currency back home as
one way of pumping up depleted forex banks back home.
Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Ken Lipenga, was not picking
up his mobile phone between Tuesday and Thursday when we wanted to
know if Malawians have taken heed of the ministry’s call.
Ecam president, Naomi Ngwira, said this week research on the financial
contribution of Malawians in Diaspora was attempted in 2005 by Alimon
Mwase under the aegis of the Malawi Government and United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and, in a nutshell,
pointed at the potential benefits of forex remittances to the local
economy. The report has not been distributed.
UNCTAD, established in 1964 to provide a forum where developing
countries could discuss economic development challenges, grew from
widely-held conceptions that the World Trade Organisation, World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund and World Bank cannot effectively
handle development challenges prevalent in developing countries like
Malawi.
“Of course, they (foreign remittances) do (have an economic impact).
The Malawi economy could be among those that benefit much from
remittances. One way to facilitate transfer of forex through offering
financial instruments and also investment opportunities in PPPs.
Improving the legal and service environment for remitting forex for
those who are employed is the other policy area,” Ngwira said.
She, however, said this depended on reforms in development planning,
logistics, and improved engagement mechanisms with those in Diaspora.
Ngwira suggested that development planning include mechanisms on how
to prepare for export of services. She also asked for the need to
revisit the logistical and legal framework for making and remitting
payments back home.
Malawi could also benefit significantly “if there was enhanced
involvement of the Diaspora in financial markets’ instruments, Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI), Public Private Partnerships and venture
capital investments”.
She said the country could take advantage of the demand for human
capital to prop up its foreign currency reserves.
“Services like teaching - high school and university- medicine,
aviation pilots, nursing, housekeeping and chauffeurs are in much
demand in Europe, Asia and the Arabian peninsula, where incomes have
risen significantly such that middle income consumers want good
quality services but find that local labour is expensive. Some
countries like Sri Lanka, the Philippines, or those in the Caribbean,
depend a lot on export of services.
“So, Malawi could expand the export of services by entering into
proper agreements with partner countries, partly to protect their
rights, and training more people in those services required. This
requires doing periodic environmental scanning to know the skills
demanded for the moment.
“For example, English teachers are in great demand in non-English
speaking Asia and Arabian peninsula. Malawi should be able to offer
crash courses for specialized kinds of teachers needed in these
countries, as well as nurses, and chauffeurs,” Ngwira said.
For this to happen, however, there is need to encourage people to
channel their money through the official financial system, which
Ngwira said was “presently not the case”.
“Remittances can aid various forms of development- construction of
houses, education and as venture capital. They add to forex reserves
which are critical for importation of raw materials and general
imports and hence economic growth. Remittances boost rural economic
activities and soci0-economic change and, therefore, have development
impact, ”Ngwira said.
All these benefits are being hampered by institutionalised bottlenecks.
“There has been much done but, perhaps, not enough to persuade huge
inflows into the formal forex and financial system given the lucrative
black market rates and limitations on forex/capital inflows in banks.
“The legal framework needs to be revised to allow for a fully
liberalised capital account that allows for ease of in and outflows.
The use of the informal system further means inflows are not captured
in the official accounts (Balance of Payment statistics),” Ngwira
said.
Ngwira said the situation could be improved by minimising the
discrepancy between black and official market forex rates, a
development that calls for liberalisation of the Kwacha.
The second option is to remove restrictions on forex and capital
account outflows so that individuals and institutions running Foreign
Currency Denominated Accounts (FCDA) are able to withdraw as much as
they want “any time or, at least, given priority unless there are huge
forex shortfalls”.
She said further liberalisation of the market would promote FCDA
accounts’ opening, as “remitting forex becomes more conducive with
improved access to formal remittance transfer channels and with
increased transparency of the flows and the (low) cost structure”.
“Otherwise, for those in the Diaspora, one is better off keeping the
forex outside and changing at the black market back home when need
arises,” Ngwira said.
Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) spokesperson, Ralph Tseka, acknowledged
on Tuesday that forex remittances make a contribution to a nation’s
economy.
“In fact, foreign currency remittances are included in our Gross
National Disposable Income calculations, along with goods transfers
and incomes,” Tseka said.
Tseka said, however, that NSO was the right authority to speak on
foreign currency remittances’ contribution to the country’s GDP.
Malawi Culture
By Richard Chirombo
There is a battle going on, started- like many before- by the machinations of Western governments. It all started as an unofficial report, over 13 years ago, to the effect that Western governments wanted to depose one of Africa’s market ‘leaders’: ‘Sir’ tobacco.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) then confirmed the reports, saying the ‘culprit’ was a dictator out to kill ‘his’ own subjects with a barrage of health complications that were causing preventable deaths among people who called his name from the shelves willingly, and inhaled him leisurely.
It has turned into a battle because WHO and most Western governments have stood their ground. Canada has, for instance, become the lead soldier in throwing a dagger at Africa’s, and therefore Malawi’s, economy by declaring a ban on barley imports. Tobacco is Malawi’s top forex earner.
This battle is truly on because affected countries such as Malawi and Zimbabwe have stood their ground by not relenting on ‘Sir’ Tobacco’s production levels. Every year, more tones of tobacco continue to grace the Auction Flours.
However, nobody doubts that, when all this confusion comes to an end, Malawi’s Africa will lose. This sense of imminent defeat is sufficient to send tongues wagging, with experts talking in different tongues- a day of Pentecost for crop strategists.
Their new language in face of defeat has no verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, or pronouns; it is comprised of nouns: cotton, tea, coffee, sugar, soya beans, macadamia nuts, ground nuts, pigeon peas, paprika, and cassava.
The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mzuzu Coffee Planters Association, Thyolo/Mulanje Smallholder Tea Growers Association and Farmers Union of Malawi will always pick their favourite noun from the list. Each of them chooses a different noun from the other. Only one point draws them into a unity of convenience, though: none mentions culture!
Is culture so difficult a commodity to sell?
Symon Vuwa-Kaunda, Minister responsible for Youth Development, Sports and Culture says culture can be tooled to contribute towards Malawi’s socio-economic development.
Kaunda adds that other African countries have invested in promoting their culture that, today, tourists travel across the vast oceans just to appreciate some African cultures.
“I don’t think that culture is not marketable. We already have countries that have capitalized on their unique cultures to influence the world. Culture, if well marketed, can help generate income for a country,” says Kaunda.
The minister adds that Malawi is more advantaged because every human activity seems to have some attachment to one or two traditional practices.
“We are one people with a diversity of cultures. You talk of dances, practices, events, and countless other interesting features. The potential is great,” says Kaunda.
Kaunda added that even the State President, Bingu wa Mutharika, realizes the effect of culture in shaping lives, hence his continued support towards the Ministry of Youth Development, Sports and Culture.
“You can appreciate this when you attend any international conference held here in Malawi. Delegates are always mesmerized by our colourful dances,” Vuwa-Kaunda adds.
His sentiments are echoed by Mike Gondwe, Education Coordinator for the Museums of Malawi.
Gondwe says culture- as expressed through dances, cooking, dressing, eating and pottery methods- has the potential to put Malawi on the map, and even generate foreign exchange.
“But the problem is that we do not take advantage of existing opportunities. A good example is that of the Five-Star International Hotel in Lilongwe. Are we going to have a section where local artwork, traditional implements, dances, and our history will be displayed for tourists’ sampling and appreciation? Very often, we miss opportunities like these,” observes Gondwe.
Gondwe says Malawi’s culture is marketable, adding, however, that the country has missed out on this goldmine because of too much obsession with foreign concepts.
“I find it sad that our places of tourists’ attraction have no sections where our cultural endowments are displayed. In countries like Kenya, you will find hotels running cultural sections. Tourists patronize these places and pay United States Dollars, Euros and British Pounds. Tourism destinations are making millions in foreign exchange, thereby fostering socio-economic development,” notes Gondwe.
Financial constraints, he says, should not be the excuse sold by tourism industry players.
Francis Mbilizi, executive director for the National Lotteries Board (NLB) - the body mandated to licence lottery operators in the country- says culture plays a crucial role in the development of any nation.
Mbilizi says this is the reason NLB has, through the National Lottery Distribution Fund (found in Section 34 of the Lotteries Act) disbursed part of generated funds towards sports, environment and culture, among other areas.
“We have supported cultural activities a number of times, and we continue to support culture. This is why NLB has in the past channeled part of its revenue to cultural efforts,” says Mbilizi.
NLB falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Tourism.
The section in question (34) reads:”The Minister, in consultation with the Board, shall prescribe the amount of money and the manner in which the money in the Fund shall be allocated to different sectors, and other good causes for the welfare of the general public and contribution to the national economy.”
Tourism Minister, Daniel Liwimbi, says Malawi is exploring all possible ways of raising the contribution of tourism towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and that culture could be one of these.
“At the moment, tourism is only contributing between 10 percent and 11 percent of GDP. We can do better than this,” says Liwimbi.
But Traditional Authority Chekucheku of Mwanza warns that “careless commercialization” of culture could lead to a decay of cultural values.
“What will happen when these (foreign) tourists demand that we change this, or that, practice? We should be careful and avoid what happened to Gule wamkulu. Missionaries said it was evil, and most of our people abandoned it,” says Chekucheku.
It is an inevitable question.
There is a battle going on, started- like many before- by the machinations of Western governments. It all started as an unofficial report, over 13 years ago, to the effect that Western governments wanted to depose one of Africa’s market ‘leaders’: ‘Sir’ tobacco.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) then confirmed the reports, saying the ‘culprit’ was a dictator out to kill ‘his’ own subjects with a barrage of health complications that were causing preventable deaths among people who called his name from the shelves willingly, and inhaled him leisurely.
It has turned into a battle because WHO and most Western governments have stood their ground. Canada has, for instance, become the lead soldier in throwing a dagger at Africa’s, and therefore Malawi’s, economy by declaring a ban on barley imports. Tobacco is Malawi’s top forex earner.
This battle is truly on because affected countries such as Malawi and Zimbabwe have stood their ground by not relenting on ‘Sir’ Tobacco’s production levels. Every year, more tones of tobacco continue to grace the Auction Flours.
However, nobody doubts that, when all this confusion comes to an end, Malawi’s Africa will lose. This sense of imminent defeat is sufficient to send tongues wagging, with experts talking in different tongues- a day of Pentecost for crop strategists.
Their new language in face of defeat has no verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, or pronouns; it is comprised of nouns: cotton, tea, coffee, sugar, soya beans, macadamia nuts, ground nuts, pigeon peas, paprika, and cassava.
The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mzuzu Coffee Planters Association, Thyolo/Mulanje Smallholder Tea Growers Association and Farmers Union of Malawi will always pick their favourite noun from the list. Each of them chooses a different noun from the other. Only one point draws them into a unity of convenience, though: none mentions culture!
Is culture so difficult a commodity to sell?
Symon Vuwa-Kaunda, Minister responsible for Youth Development, Sports and Culture says culture can be tooled to contribute towards Malawi’s socio-economic development.
Kaunda adds that other African countries have invested in promoting their culture that, today, tourists travel across the vast oceans just to appreciate some African cultures.
“I don’t think that culture is not marketable. We already have countries that have capitalized on their unique cultures to influence the world. Culture, if well marketed, can help generate income for a country,” says Kaunda.
The minister adds that Malawi is more advantaged because every human activity seems to have some attachment to one or two traditional practices.
“We are one people with a diversity of cultures. You talk of dances, practices, events, and countless other interesting features. The potential is great,” says Kaunda.
Kaunda added that even the State President, Bingu wa Mutharika, realizes the effect of culture in shaping lives, hence his continued support towards the Ministry of Youth Development, Sports and Culture.
“You can appreciate this when you attend any international conference held here in Malawi. Delegates are always mesmerized by our colourful dances,” Vuwa-Kaunda adds.
His sentiments are echoed by Mike Gondwe, Education Coordinator for the Museums of Malawi.
Gondwe says culture- as expressed through dances, cooking, dressing, eating and pottery methods- has the potential to put Malawi on the map, and even generate foreign exchange.
“But the problem is that we do not take advantage of existing opportunities. A good example is that of the Five-Star International Hotel in Lilongwe. Are we going to have a section where local artwork, traditional implements, dances, and our history will be displayed for tourists’ sampling and appreciation? Very often, we miss opportunities like these,” observes Gondwe.
Gondwe says Malawi’s culture is marketable, adding, however, that the country has missed out on this goldmine because of too much obsession with foreign concepts.
“I find it sad that our places of tourists’ attraction have no sections where our cultural endowments are displayed. In countries like Kenya, you will find hotels running cultural sections. Tourists patronize these places and pay United States Dollars, Euros and British Pounds. Tourism destinations are making millions in foreign exchange, thereby fostering socio-economic development,” notes Gondwe.
Financial constraints, he says, should not be the excuse sold by tourism industry players.
Francis Mbilizi, executive director for the National Lotteries Board (NLB) - the body mandated to licence lottery operators in the country- says culture plays a crucial role in the development of any nation.
Mbilizi says this is the reason NLB has, through the National Lottery Distribution Fund (found in Section 34 of the Lotteries Act) disbursed part of generated funds towards sports, environment and culture, among other areas.
“We have supported cultural activities a number of times, and we continue to support culture. This is why NLB has in the past channeled part of its revenue to cultural efforts,” says Mbilizi.
NLB falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Tourism.
The section in question (34) reads:”The Minister, in consultation with the Board, shall prescribe the amount of money and the manner in which the money in the Fund shall be allocated to different sectors, and other good causes for the welfare of the general public and contribution to the national economy.”
Tourism Minister, Daniel Liwimbi, says Malawi is exploring all possible ways of raising the contribution of tourism towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and that culture could be one of these.
“At the moment, tourism is only contributing between 10 percent and 11 percent of GDP. We can do better than this,” says Liwimbi.
But Traditional Authority Chekucheku of Mwanza warns that “careless commercialization” of culture could lead to a decay of cultural values.
“What will happen when these (foreign) tourists demand that we change this, or that, practice? We should be careful and avoid what happened to Gule wamkulu. Missionaries said it was evil, and most of our people abandoned it,” says Chekucheku.
It is an inevitable question.
Museums of Malawi
By Richard Chirombo
He is old enough to understand that both culture and dead matter, having no living cells, are stripped of the ability to reproduce. Yet, despite the great weight of evidence in favour of this reality, he still wants them to attain the status of immortality.
“This is achievable,” says Mike Gondwe.
He is Education Co-ordinator for the Museums of Malawi, one of the rarest local places where human beings live and intermingle freely with the dead. All this happens in a plain building strategically located next to Blantyre Civic Centre offices along the Masauko-Chipembere Highway.
Welcome to Chichiri Museum, but do not be tempted to conclude that the seemingly tranquil environment that prevails in this place is a tell-tale sign of peace. Chichiri Museum is a battleground, a place where people like Gondwe wedge a daily war against the possible loss of citizens’ memory about the things that make Malawians unique when drawn against the rest of the world.
“Preservation of all things that have helped create our belief system and way of life is the only way to achieve immortality. That is what we do at the museum,” says Gondwe.
Those who visit the museum at Chichiri, and appreciate the many preserved exhibits in stock, go back home full of admiration for his fortitude, his faith, courage and dedication towards artifacts.
But Gondwe reveals that, these days, the territorial scope (of the battle ground) is uncharacteristically changing. He says the museum no longer fights against one enemy (loss of memory and appreciation for our cultural heritage); it now has to fight against “wrong perceptions” in the minds of those who have not yet fallen into the pit of forgetfulness.
“These are people who understand the concept of establishing museums but (still) fail to pay visits because of misperceptions that we only keep old, lifeless materials that offer modern society little value. The truth is that there is more to a museum than static exhibits. The museum offers vast opportunities for recreation activities and can be used as an educational and tourism tool,” says Gondwe.
Adds Gondwe: “In countries such as Kenya, governments are generating significant income in terms of foreign exchange because they have discovered ways of making money out of their cultural heritage. Places of tourist attraction work with museums to promote local cultures. They literally have the whole calendar filled up with activities.”
He describes museums as multi-faceted places that mean so many things to so many people. They are places bustling with recreational, tourism and educational facilities. What matters is the way these opportunities are communicated to all parts of the world,” he points out.
Gondwe describes museums as vehicles through which cultural values are passed from one generation to another, one nation to another; and that one of the many benefits to patrons is the chance to appreciate a multiplicity of cultures gathered together in an exhibition room. These cultures, he says, are portrayed by cultural exhibits different districts in Malawi.
“As an institution, we try our best to promote local cultural practices. We have different cultures portrayed through exhibits. But we also realise that exhibits are static; and, so, we have cultural troupes that perform live at the museum. These groups have undergone special training on how to promote Malawian cultural dances,” said Gondwe.
The only challenge facing the museum is that of lack of space.
“We don’t have enough space to showcase everything we have. This means we have not done as much as we want. We have not even reached half our potential and more needs to be done,” bemoans Gondwe.
Malawi has one of the oldest museums in Africa, following establishment of the National Museum in June 1960. Malawi’s first President, Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, opened the museum long before he became the country’s president in 1964.
However, the institution has gone through a metamorphosis process since its establishment.
It forms part of the museum’s on-going effort to adapt to scientific and technological advancements. A visit to Chichiri, for instance, reveals a plethora of science and technological exhibits. But these, too, are just a drop of the downpour the museum can offer; the rest remain under lock somewhere, prevented from making it to the exhibition room due to space constraints.
Among the few exhibits are Blantyre’s first fire-fighting brigade machines, traditional clay ovens, a pond of slow-swimming fish, among the limited offers on display.
But, at least, the museum is more than a dead place. For one, there are many fascinating objects, among them absorption spectrophotometers, motorized wheel chairs, gas coolers, cookers and cultural relics. The museum also plays host to a variety of masks and Liguria used in such traditional dances as Ingoma, Gule wamkulu, and Tchopa.
There is also an array of bows, arrows and spears- remnants of the stone and middle ages, when our ancestors counted on hunting to meet their daily needs. Not that all the arrows on display were used during the stone and middle ages, though, as some were used as lately as between the late 1890s and early 1900s during tribal wars- long before guns and bombs took all the fun out of warfare.
Chichiri is also home to other important exhibits, including traditional salt containers (zigulu), Malawi’s maiden decimal coinage, a picture completed by exhibition of the first banknote of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Also on display are some common insect families and fauna species found in Malawi, and a cross-section of game found in some of the country’s National Parks and Game Reserves.
“We receive people from different places. Some visit to learn about science, technology, animals, plants and culture. On average, we receive 5,000 visitors every month. They come to appreciate our wide range of cultural and scientific objects. It is interesting to note that some people visit the museum just to see the Bible Dr. Hasting Kamuzu Banda used during his swearing-in ceremony in 1964,” said Gondwe.
This confirms that the museum has become more of a baking machine than dead place. This machine needs the raw materials of culture, tourism, education, science, technology and curiosity to produce human food called unity. The unity of all cultures.
He is old enough to understand that both culture and dead matter, having no living cells, are stripped of the ability to reproduce. Yet, despite the great weight of evidence in favour of this reality, he still wants them to attain the status of immortality.
“This is achievable,” says Mike Gondwe.
He is Education Co-ordinator for the Museums of Malawi, one of the rarest local places where human beings live and intermingle freely with the dead. All this happens in a plain building strategically located next to Blantyre Civic Centre offices along the Masauko-Chipembere Highway.
Welcome to Chichiri Museum, but do not be tempted to conclude that the seemingly tranquil environment that prevails in this place is a tell-tale sign of peace. Chichiri Museum is a battleground, a place where people like Gondwe wedge a daily war against the possible loss of citizens’ memory about the things that make Malawians unique when drawn against the rest of the world.
“Preservation of all things that have helped create our belief system and way of life is the only way to achieve immortality. That is what we do at the museum,” says Gondwe.
Those who visit the museum at Chichiri, and appreciate the many preserved exhibits in stock, go back home full of admiration for his fortitude, his faith, courage and dedication towards artifacts.
But Gondwe reveals that, these days, the territorial scope (of the battle ground) is uncharacteristically changing. He says the museum no longer fights against one enemy (loss of memory and appreciation for our cultural heritage); it now has to fight against “wrong perceptions” in the minds of those who have not yet fallen into the pit of forgetfulness.
“These are people who understand the concept of establishing museums but (still) fail to pay visits because of misperceptions that we only keep old, lifeless materials that offer modern society little value. The truth is that there is more to a museum than static exhibits. The museum offers vast opportunities for recreation activities and can be used as an educational and tourism tool,” says Gondwe.
Adds Gondwe: “In countries such as Kenya, governments are generating significant income in terms of foreign exchange because they have discovered ways of making money out of their cultural heritage. Places of tourist attraction work with museums to promote local cultures. They literally have the whole calendar filled up with activities.”
He describes museums as multi-faceted places that mean so many things to so many people. They are places bustling with recreational, tourism and educational facilities. What matters is the way these opportunities are communicated to all parts of the world,” he points out.
Gondwe describes museums as vehicles through which cultural values are passed from one generation to another, one nation to another; and that one of the many benefits to patrons is the chance to appreciate a multiplicity of cultures gathered together in an exhibition room. These cultures, he says, are portrayed by cultural exhibits different districts in Malawi.
“As an institution, we try our best to promote local cultural practices. We have different cultures portrayed through exhibits. But we also realise that exhibits are static; and, so, we have cultural troupes that perform live at the museum. These groups have undergone special training on how to promote Malawian cultural dances,” said Gondwe.
The only challenge facing the museum is that of lack of space.
“We don’t have enough space to showcase everything we have. This means we have not done as much as we want. We have not even reached half our potential and more needs to be done,” bemoans Gondwe.
Malawi has one of the oldest museums in Africa, following establishment of the National Museum in June 1960. Malawi’s first President, Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, opened the museum long before he became the country’s president in 1964.
However, the institution has gone through a metamorphosis process since its establishment.
It forms part of the museum’s on-going effort to adapt to scientific and technological advancements. A visit to Chichiri, for instance, reveals a plethora of science and technological exhibits. But these, too, are just a drop of the downpour the museum can offer; the rest remain under lock somewhere, prevented from making it to the exhibition room due to space constraints.
Among the few exhibits are Blantyre’s first fire-fighting brigade machines, traditional clay ovens, a pond of slow-swimming fish, among the limited offers on display.
But, at least, the museum is more than a dead place. For one, there are many fascinating objects, among them absorption spectrophotometers, motorized wheel chairs, gas coolers, cookers and cultural relics. The museum also plays host to a variety of masks and Liguria used in such traditional dances as Ingoma, Gule wamkulu, and Tchopa.
There is also an array of bows, arrows and spears- remnants of the stone and middle ages, when our ancestors counted on hunting to meet their daily needs. Not that all the arrows on display were used during the stone and middle ages, though, as some were used as lately as between the late 1890s and early 1900s during tribal wars- long before guns and bombs took all the fun out of warfare.
Chichiri is also home to other important exhibits, including traditional salt containers (zigulu), Malawi’s maiden decimal coinage, a picture completed by exhibition of the first banknote of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Also on display are some common insect families and fauna species found in Malawi, and a cross-section of game found in some of the country’s National Parks and Game Reserves.
“We receive people from different places. Some visit to learn about science, technology, animals, plants and culture. On average, we receive 5,000 visitors every month. They come to appreciate our wide range of cultural and scientific objects. It is interesting to note that some people visit the museum just to see the Bible Dr. Hasting Kamuzu Banda used during his swearing-in ceremony in 1964,” said Gondwe.
This confirms that the museum has become more of a baking machine than dead place. This machine needs the raw materials of culture, tourism, education, science, technology and curiosity to produce human food called unity. The unity of all cultures.
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MALAWI
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 JANUARY 2012
TIME FOR ACTION AGAINST ECONOMIC FAILURE
My Fellow Malawians.
I greet you in the name of the Lord our God.
97 years after Rt Rev John Chilembwe sacrificed his precious life to fight colonialism, Malawi is at the Crossroads again. Our leadership has failed us big time.
With their own hands, our leaders have created gargantuan problems for the ordinary people. With their own hands, our leaders have depleted all our forex reserves on luxuries such as the presidential jet, Mercedes Benz vehicles for members of the Cabinet and grand high level corruption.
With their own hands, our leaders have left the country’s health delivery system in a shambles. With their own hands, our leaders have facilitated the deaths of thousands of ordinary poor Malawians through failure to supply hospitals with basic essential drugs.
With their own hands, our leaders have rendered the public ambulance system which serves the medical emergency needs of 90% of Malawians ineffective leading to massive deaths.
With their own hands, our leaders are failing to support private sector growth, denying companies the much needed foreign exchange needed to import raw materials. With their own hands, our leaders are forcing companies to cut jobs, rendering thousands of Malawian jobless.
With their own hands, our leaders are forcing people to spend long unproductive hours and sleepless nights queuing for fuel at pump stations without any hope.
Yet, when the suffering public raises their voices to complain about the deteriorating life standards, with their own mouth, our leaders are happy to call its people chickens.
Are you really chickens Fellow Malawians? This is the question that we, as Concerned Malawian Citizens (CMC), would like every Malawian to reflect on as we commemorate the Rt Rev John Chilembwe’s uprising of 1915.
Let there be no doubt, my Fellow Malawians. Malawians succeeded to remove colonialism and one-party dictatorship despite immense resistance. There is absolutely nothing that can stop Malawians today from removing the current dictator and save the nation from further economic deterioration. We must remain united and focused on rescuing our poor people.
WAY FORWARD
The commemoration of the 1915 Chilembwe uprising gives us a window of hope. As Concerned Malawian Citizens, we would like to reject in the strongest terms possible, that Malawians are not Chickens. In view of that, we would like to appeal to all Malawians to unite and take the following peaceful actions in protest:
Effective today, 11 January 2012, all Malawian motorists are asked to blow their vehicle horns three times a day at the following times: 0830am, 1230pm and 1630pm. This must be done continuously for some 30 seconds. This also applies to motorists camping at a fuel stations.
Every Friday, all Malawians are requested to put on red attire or a red scarf in protest to continued suffering of the people.
All Malawians are requested to get a small red flag or red card. This red flag or red card should be waved in the air, everything you see any member of the Cabinet or other senior government officials. This must be done in the same way as Football Referees do when sending off a player who has breached football rules. Where possible, when raising the flag, you must shout: “I am not a Chicken”.
On Chilembwe Day, which falls on 15 January, all Malawians are asked to put on red attire and peacefully converge at the following places for a three-hour vigil. The vigil will start at 0900 am.
· In Blantyre, Kamuzu Upper Stadium
· Lilongwe, Area 18 Tower
· Zomba, Academic Freedom Park at Chancellor College
· Mzuzu, Katoto Freedom Park.
Activities will include poetry recitals, traditional dances and songs.
THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW OR NEVER. SAY NO TO ECONOMIC FAILURE
YOURS
CONCERNED CITIZENS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 JANUARY 2012
TIME FOR ACTION AGAINST ECONOMIC FAILURE
My Fellow Malawians.
I greet you in the name of the Lord our God.
97 years after Rt Rev John Chilembwe sacrificed his precious life to fight colonialism, Malawi is at the Crossroads again. Our leadership has failed us big time.
With their own hands, our leaders have created gargantuan problems for the ordinary people. With their own hands, our leaders have depleted all our forex reserves on luxuries such as the presidential jet, Mercedes Benz vehicles for members of the Cabinet and grand high level corruption.
With their own hands, our leaders have left the country’s health delivery system in a shambles. With their own hands, our leaders have facilitated the deaths of thousands of ordinary poor Malawians through failure to supply hospitals with basic essential drugs.
With their own hands, our leaders have rendered the public ambulance system which serves the medical emergency needs of 90% of Malawians ineffective leading to massive deaths.
With their own hands, our leaders are failing to support private sector growth, denying companies the much needed foreign exchange needed to import raw materials. With their own hands, our leaders are forcing companies to cut jobs, rendering thousands of Malawian jobless.
With their own hands, our leaders are forcing people to spend long unproductive hours and sleepless nights queuing for fuel at pump stations without any hope.
Yet, when the suffering public raises their voices to complain about the deteriorating life standards, with their own mouth, our leaders are happy to call its people chickens.
Are you really chickens Fellow Malawians? This is the question that we, as Concerned Malawian Citizens (CMC), would like every Malawian to reflect on as we commemorate the Rt Rev John Chilembwe’s uprising of 1915.
Let there be no doubt, my Fellow Malawians. Malawians succeeded to remove colonialism and one-party dictatorship despite immense resistance. There is absolutely nothing that can stop Malawians today from removing the current dictator and save the nation from further economic deterioration. We must remain united and focused on rescuing our poor people.
WAY FORWARD
The commemoration of the 1915 Chilembwe uprising gives us a window of hope. As Concerned Malawian Citizens, we would like to reject in the strongest terms possible, that Malawians are not Chickens. In view of that, we would like to appeal to all Malawians to unite and take the following peaceful actions in protest:
Effective today, 11 January 2012, all Malawian motorists are asked to blow their vehicle horns three times a day at the following times: 0830am, 1230pm and 1630pm. This must be done continuously for some 30 seconds. This also applies to motorists camping at a fuel stations.
Every Friday, all Malawians are requested to put on red attire or a red scarf in protest to continued suffering of the people.
All Malawians are requested to get a small red flag or red card. This red flag or red card should be waved in the air, everything you see any member of the Cabinet or other senior government officials. This must be done in the same way as Football Referees do when sending off a player who has breached football rules. Where possible, when raising the flag, you must shout: “I am not a Chicken”.
On Chilembwe Day, which falls on 15 January, all Malawians are asked to put on red attire and peacefully converge at the following places for a three-hour vigil. The vigil will start at 0900 am.
· In Blantyre, Kamuzu Upper Stadium
· Lilongwe, Area 18 Tower
· Zomba, Academic Freedom Park at Chancellor College
· Mzuzu, Katoto Freedom Park.
Activities will include poetry recitals, traditional dances and songs.
THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW OR NEVER. SAY NO TO ECONOMIC FAILURE
YOURS
CONCERNED CITIZENS
10 Years of Human Rights Violations at Guantánamo Bay
Today, 11 January 2012, marks the 10th anniversary of the first detainees being transferred to the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay.
The detention facility has, since, been associated with the most shocking human rights abuses- including arbitrary detention, secret detention, torture and unfair trials.
This has gone on far too long now!
Today, there are still more than 150 detainees being held at Guantánamo Bay, the majority of which are in indefinite detention without charge or trial.
Those who have been charged face unfair trial by military commission and some can face the death penalty if convicted.
The government claims that even those found not guilty can be returned to indefinite detention.
There has, essentially, been no accountability, or redress, for the human rights violations to which they, and other detainees, have been subjected.
The Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is surely a curse for the world.
It is high time this 'nonsense' stopped at Guantánamo Bay.
As US President, Barack Obama, prepares his State of the Union address on 24 January, he must not forget to include something about the emancipation of the people at Guantánamo Bay.
The detention facility has, since, been associated with the most shocking human rights abuses- including arbitrary detention, secret detention, torture and unfair trials.
This has gone on far too long now!
Today, there are still more than 150 detainees being held at Guantánamo Bay, the majority of which are in indefinite detention without charge or trial.
Those who have been charged face unfair trial by military commission and some can face the death penalty if convicted.
The government claims that even those found not guilty can be returned to indefinite detention.
There has, essentially, been no accountability, or redress, for the human rights violations to which they, and other detainees, have been subjected.
The Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is surely a curse for the world.
It is high time this 'nonsense' stopped at Guantánamo Bay.
As US President, Barack Obama, prepares his State of the Union address on 24 January, he must not forget to include something about the emancipation of the people at Guantánamo Bay.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Knowing US Ambassador to Malawi, Jeanine Jackson
Name: Jeanine Jackson
U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, Jeanine Jackson
Position: Ambassador
Country: Malawi
Term of Appointment: 08/01/2011 to present
Ambassador Jackson was nominated by President Obama on May 9, 2011 and confirmed by the Senate on June 30, 2011 to become the next ambassador to Malawi.
Ambassador Jeanine Jackson, a native of Wyoming, recently completed a two-year assignment as Minister Counselor for management at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. As such, she provided in a war zone, the support platform for the world’s largest embassy.
She simultaneously led the planning and implementation processes required to expand the number of diplomatic establishments throughout Iraq and to take over myriad support functions currently provided by the U.S. military. Ambassador Jackson received the Secretary’s Distinguished Honor Award for leading the Iraq military to civilian transition effort.
She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and a retired colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve. She has served as a diplomat in Switzerland, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Afghanistan. She was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso where her focus from 2006-2009 was improved military cooperation and increased infrastructure and development assistance for that West African Country.
Ms. Jackson has been a key player in activities related to creating, adapting, rebuilding, and reopening different U.S. Embassies: As post management officer for the Soviet Union at the time of its dissolution, she managed from Washington the establishment of U.S. Embassies in the 14 new countries left in its wake.
In Hong Kong she established programs to protect the interests of all U.S. Government civilian, military, and local employees at the time of the British Colony’s reversion to Chinese sovereignty.
In Kenya, following the Al Qaeda bombing, she served as supervisory general services officer of the largest embassy in Africa and was key to reestablishing its operations and infrastructure.
In Afghanistan in 2001, she led the team that reopened the U.S. Embassy and then returned to Kabul in 2002 and served as the Embassy’s management counselor until 2003.
From Kabul she went to Washington where she was the Department of State’s Management Coordinator responsible for the Inter-Agency effort to reestablish the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
In Burkina Faso she achieved a bilateral agreement which enabled U.S. Special Operations Command to regularize and accelerate its counter-terrorism work against Al Qaeda in the Maghreb and a five hundred million dollar Millennium Challenge Corporation grant for infrastructure, education and agricultural projects.
Concurrently, she orchestrated a greatly improved, bilateral development relationship, cementing strong and mutually supportive ties between the governments and peoples of Burkina Faso and the United States.
Prior to entering the Foreign Service, Ms. Jackson worked in Saigon as a civil service employee in the Office of the U.S. Defense Attaché and then served 10 years as an active duty Army officer, primarily in Germany and Korea. She continued her military service for another 20 years as a reservist while pursuing her Foreign Service career.
Ambassador Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in art education followed by a master’s degree in business administration. She is an accomplished pianist. She met her husband when they were both Army lieutenants serving in Germany. Enamored of Africa’s cultures, they have independently traveled more than 20,000 miles on the African continent.
U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, Jeanine Jackson
Position: Ambassador
Country: Malawi
Term of Appointment: 08/01/2011 to present
Ambassador Jackson was nominated by President Obama on May 9, 2011 and confirmed by the Senate on June 30, 2011 to become the next ambassador to Malawi.
Ambassador Jeanine Jackson, a native of Wyoming, recently completed a two-year assignment as Minister Counselor for management at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. As such, she provided in a war zone, the support platform for the world’s largest embassy.
She simultaneously led the planning and implementation processes required to expand the number of diplomatic establishments throughout Iraq and to take over myriad support functions currently provided by the U.S. military. Ambassador Jackson received the Secretary’s Distinguished Honor Award for leading the Iraq military to civilian transition effort.
She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and a retired colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve. She has served as a diplomat in Switzerland, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Afghanistan. She was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso where her focus from 2006-2009 was improved military cooperation and increased infrastructure and development assistance for that West African Country.
Ms. Jackson has been a key player in activities related to creating, adapting, rebuilding, and reopening different U.S. Embassies: As post management officer for the Soviet Union at the time of its dissolution, she managed from Washington the establishment of U.S. Embassies in the 14 new countries left in its wake.
In Hong Kong she established programs to protect the interests of all U.S. Government civilian, military, and local employees at the time of the British Colony’s reversion to Chinese sovereignty.
In Kenya, following the Al Qaeda bombing, she served as supervisory general services officer of the largest embassy in Africa and was key to reestablishing its operations and infrastructure.
In Afghanistan in 2001, she led the team that reopened the U.S. Embassy and then returned to Kabul in 2002 and served as the Embassy’s management counselor until 2003.
From Kabul she went to Washington where she was the Department of State’s Management Coordinator responsible for the Inter-Agency effort to reestablish the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
In Burkina Faso she achieved a bilateral agreement which enabled U.S. Special Operations Command to regularize and accelerate its counter-terrorism work against Al Qaeda in the Maghreb and a five hundred million dollar Millennium Challenge Corporation grant for infrastructure, education and agricultural projects.
Concurrently, she orchestrated a greatly improved, bilateral development relationship, cementing strong and mutually supportive ties between the governments and peoples of Burkina Faso and the United States.
Prior to entering the Foreign Service, Ms. Jackson worked in Saigon as a civil service employee in the Office of the U.S. Defense Attaché and then served 10 years as an active duty Army officer, primarily in Germany and Korea. She continued her military service for another 20 years as a reservist while pursuing her Foreign Service career.
Ambassador Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in art education followed by a master’s degree in business administration. She is an accomplished pianist. She met her husband when they were both Army lieutenants serving in Germany. Enamored of Africa’s cultures, they have independently traveled more than 20,000 miles on the African continent.
Rev. John Chilembwe
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Elapsed Time Since Chilembwe's Death: 97 years
...Rev. John Chilembwe Was: Tall, married, Mang'anja and Yao by tribe, Asthmatic, and reserved
...Occupation: Baptist preacher, trained in America
...John Chilembwe's Inspiration: John Brown
...Hated:Racism, blacks' oppression
...Wanted: Fairness, equality
...Chilembwe is Pronounced: chil-EMB-way
...Chilembwe Lived in: Nyasaland
...Nyasaland is Now Called: Malawi
...Nyasaland was, then, under: British Rule
...Chilembwe Preached Against: Murder, Robbery, Theft, Carnibalism, Carnality
...He Set Up The Church Called: Providence Industrial Mission (PIM)
...PIM is Found In: Chiradzulu District
...Chiradzulu is Located: In the Southern Region of Malawi
...Chilembwe's Father Was: Yao
...His mother was: Mang'anja
...He Rose Through the Education Ladder Because of: Joseph Booth
...Joseph Booth Was:, an eccentric, apocalyptic British fundamentalist missionary
...Relation Between Rev. John Chilembwe and Joseph Booth: House servant and boss, respectively
...John Chilembwe joined Joseph Booth's Staff In: 1982
...Booth Established: The Zambesi Industrial Mission
...Joseph Booth Promoted: egalitarian ideas
...Chilembwe traveled with Joseph Booth to Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.A In: 1897
...In Virginia, He: Attended a small African-American seminary
...Among Other Things, He: Learned about John Brown and other abolitionists and emancipators.
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Wife Was: Ida
...His Daughter's Name Was: Emma
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Face Appears: On the obverse of Malawian banknotes
...All Banknotes, Including Those Printed in 1980?: No, only those printed between 1994 and 2000
...Which White Person Got Rev. John Chilembwe's Picture From George Booth?: George Shepperson
...Which Plantation Manager Treated Indigenous People Harshly?:William Jervis Livingstone
...Indigenous People Called William Jervis Livingstone: Lisitoni
...Chilembwe's Anger Became Intense After: the outbreak of World War I in Europe
...The War Led To The: Recruitment of locals to fight the battle against Germans in neighboring Tanzania
...He decided to Strike a Blow In: January, 1915
...About His Plans, He Shared With: 200 followers
...Among Other Things, He Told Them About: The inspiration of John Brown
...Rev. John Chilembwe Warned His 200 Followers Against: Looting and Molesting white women
...His Action Reached a Crisis on: January 23, 1915
...When: In different sporadic attacks, his men beheaded Livingstone (Lisitoni)
...Apart from Livingstone (Lisitoni), They: killed two other white men and several Africans
...The Rebels: Looted ammunition
...But They: Spared White women and children
...The Next Thing Rev. John Chilembwe Did After Beheading the Whites Is: Pray
...When The Uprising Failed, Rev. John Chilembwe: Fled to Mozambique
...Rev. John Chilembwe Was Killed On: February 3
...February 3 Is, Among Others, The Birthday for: Zimbabwean President, Comrade Robert Mugabe, and Richard Leviano Simon Chirombo
...After Chilembwe's Death, How Long Did It Take Malawi To Become Independent: 49 years
...Today, Rev. John Chilembwe is: Regarded as a martyr in Malawi
...His Commemoration Day Is: January 15
...The Day Is Called: John Chilembwe Day
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Descendants Still Live In: Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia
...Some of Those Who Live in Zambia Are: Children of his sister Kumphita
...Kumphita Was: The daughter of Nyangu
...Nyangu Was: The Mother of Rev. John Chilembwe
...Kumphita is: Che Ebulo Kwali's mother
...Che Ebulo Kwali Was The Father: John Kwali
...In Mozambique, Rev. John Chilembwe's Niece Is: Erica Sapuna
...Who Introduced John Chilembwe Day: Malawi's Founding President, Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda
...Chilembwe Day Has Always Been: A public holiday in Malawi
...On Rev. John Chilembwe's Day: Malawian newspapers run special supplements
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Church, Providence Industrial Mission: Is Still There
...Zachimalawi: Respects Rev. John Chilembwe
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Elapsed Time Since Chilembwe's Death: 97 years
...Rev. John Chilembwe Was: Tall, married, Mang'anja and Yao by tribe, Asthmatic, and reserved
...Occupation: Baptist preacher, trained in America
...John Chilembwe's Inspiration: John Brown
...Hated:Racism, blacks' oppression
...Wanted: Fairness, equality
...Chilembwe is Pronounced: chil-EMB-way
...Chilembwe Lived in: Nyasaland
...Nyasaland is Now Called: Malawi
...Nyasaland was, then, under: British Rule
...Chilembwe Preached Against: Murder, Robbery, Theft, Carnibalism, Carnality
...He Set Up The Church Called: Providence Industrial Mission (PIM)
...PIM is Found In: Chiradzulu District
...Chiradzulu is Located: In the Southern Region of Malawi
...Chilembwe's Father Was: Yao
...His mother was: Mang'anja
...He Rose Through the Education Ladder Because of: Joseph Booth
...Joseph Booth Was:, an eccentric, apocalyptic British fundamentalist missionary
...Relation Between Rev. John Chilembwe and Joseph Booth: House servant and boss, respectively
...John Chilembwe joined Joseph Booth's Staff In: 1982
...Booth Established: The Zambesi Industrial Mission
...Joseph Booth Promoted: egalitarian ideas
...Chilembwe traveled with Joseph Booth to Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.A In: 1897
...In Virginia, He: Attended a small African-American seminary
...Among Other Things, He: Learned about John Brown and other abolitionists and emancipators.
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Wife Was: Ida
...His Daughter's Name Was: Emma
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Face Appears: On the obverse of Malawian banknotes
...All Banknotes, Including Those Printed in 1980?: No, only those printed between 1994 and 2000
...Which White Person Got Rev. John Chilembwe's Picture From George Booth?: George Shepperson
...Which Plantation Manager Treated Indigenous People Harshly?:William Jervis Livingstone
...Indigenous People Called William Jervis Livingstone: Lisitoni
...Chilembwe's Anger Became Intense After: the outbreak of World War I in Europe
...The War Led To The: Recruitment of locals to fight the battle against Germans in neighboring Tanzania
...He decided to Strike a Blow In: January, 1915
...About His Plans, He Shared With: 200 followers
...Among Other Things, He Told Them About: The inspiration of John Brown
...Rev. John Chilembwe Warned His 200 Followers Against: Looting and Molesting white women
...His Action Reached a Crisis on: January 23, 1915
...When: In different sporadic attacks, his men beheaded Livingstone (Lisitoni)
...Apart from Livingstone (Lisitoni), They: killed two other white men and several Africans
...The Rebels: Looted ammunition
...But They: Spared White women and children
...The Next Thing Rev. John Chilembwe Did After Beheading the Whites Is: Pray
...When The Uprising Failed, Rev. John Chilembwe: Fled to Mozambique
...Rev. John Chilembwe Was Killed On: February 3
...February 3 Is, Among Others, The Birthday for: Zimbabwean President, Comrade Robert Mugabe, and Richard Leviano Simon Chirombo
...After Chilembwe's Death, How Long Did It Take Malawi To Become Independent: 49 years
...Today, Rev. John Chilembwe is: Regarded as a martyr in Malawi
...His Commemoration Day Is: January 15
...The Day Is Called: John Chilembwe Day
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Descendants Still Live In: Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia
...Some of Those Who Live in Zambia Are: Children of his sister Kumphita
...Kumphita Was: The daughter of Nyangu
...Nyangu Was: The Mother of Rev. John Chilembwe
...Kumphita is: Che Ebulo Kwali's mother
...Che Ebulo Kwali Was The Father: John Kwali
...In Mozambique, Rev. John Chilembwe's Niece Is: Erica Sapuna
...Who Introduced John Chilembwe Day: Malawi's Founding President, Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda
...Chilembwe Day Has Always Been: A public holiday in Malawi
...On Rev. John Chilembwe's Day: Malawian newspapers run special supplements
...Rev. John Chilembwe's Church, Providence Industrial Mission: Is Still There
...Zachimalawi: Respects Rev. John Chilembwe
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
...Kunali John Chilembwe!!!
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