Commission for Rural Communities - 25 Nov 2009 11:03
CRC launches ‘Insights from users and providers of Children’s Centres in rural communities’
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For many children and young people, the idyll of living in the countryside is far from the reality. Their remoteness from essential services is often made worse because of limited access to transport and the hidden disadvantages which affect poorer families.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EYP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Office - 25 Nov 2009 11:06
Review of rape victims' experiences welcomed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A review of rape victims' experience of the criminal justice
system, published today, has been welcomed by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408952
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metropolitan Police Authority - 25 Nov 2009 11:14
Metropolitan Police Authority Victoria Borwick tells APA conference ‘the buck stops here’.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metropolitan Police Authority
25/11/09
75/09
Metropolitan Police Authority member Victoria Borwick, speaking at
the Association of Police Authorities conference in Nottingham today
(Wednesday 25 November), addressed the debate on police accountability
and public redress.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408953
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:48
People and culture in Scotland, 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland's Chief Statistician recently published a range of statistics relating to cultural attendance and participation by adults in Scotland.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EP3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:56
Supporting children and young people
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new Scottish approach to supporting children and young people, tested in Highland and supported by the Scottish Government, is delivering real results for local youngsters.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EU9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welsh Assembly Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:58
Funding for primary care developments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new primary care centre in Mold, announced by Health Minister Edwina Hart, is one of the new developments underway as part of improvements to healthcare facilities in Wales.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EVL
- Show quoted text -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wired-GOV Plus Newsletter
Our weekly round-ups of key government announcements, analysis and researched links to additional documents, consultations, white papers, reports and more
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfWGPlusLanding?ReadForm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry News
UK government and public sector case studies, white papers, success stories and contract awards
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfIndustryNewsView?ReadForm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Reports
An in-depth look at current topics that goes beneath the headlines to provide a detailed review of public sector issues & solutions
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfSpecialReports?ReadForm=1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Events
Forthcoming public sector events, conferences and seminars
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-events-1.nsf/wfCalendar?ReadForm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to end your subscription to Wired-GOV, please use the following link:
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-users-1.nsf/wfUnsubscribeAck?ReadForm&uid=DNWA-7XXKGX
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - 25 Nov 2009 12:03
Hilary benn welcomes professor read’s report ‘a national assessment of forestry and climate change’`
------------------------------------------------------------------------
272/09 Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, today welcomed Professor
Read’s report ‘A National Assessment of Forestry and Climate Change’.
Professor Read’s report gives advice and recommendations on how
providing extra tree cover in the UK can help reduce carbon emissions
preventing damaging climate change.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408958
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Energy and Climate Change - 25 Nov 2009 12:15
Call for health professionals to act on climate change
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent on behalf of the Department of Health
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408938
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Health - 25 Nov 2009 12:15
Call for health professionals to act on climate change
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health should be at the centre of our fight against climate change,
Health Secretary, Andy Burnham will say today (Wednesday) at the
launch of a new report on Health and Climate Change.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408842
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - 25 Nov 2009 11:49
NICE to publish final guidance on topotecan for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer and preliminary recommendations for bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NICE will be making two announcements on cancer treatments this week. Final guidance will be published today that recommends the use of topotecan as a second line treatment for relapsed lung cancer, and preliminary recommendations published for consultation yesterday (24 November) state that the use of bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer does not represent a cost-effective use of NHS resources.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5FVR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) - 25 Nov 2009 12:17
The Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2008/09
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A picture of overall improvement in care, education and skills in England is revealed in Ofsted’s Annual Report, launched yesterday by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5GER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
QCDA (Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency) - 25 Nov 2009 11:57
From QCA to QCDA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bill establishing QCDA has received royal assent
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5G2G
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 12:01
Waiting times targets
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statistics published recently by ISD Scotland show that 99.9 per cent of patients referred by a GP or dentist for an outpatient appointment are waiting less than 12 weeks.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5G4S
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 12:38
More powers would benefit Scottish economy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop recently published the National Conversation paper on Employability and Skills which promotes the idea of a single system of support for those in training and those looking for a job.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5GTT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welsh Assembly Government - 25 Nov 2009 12:08
Statement from the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Assembly Government once again reaffirms its commitment to the One Wales agreement in relation to a referendum on Part Four powers.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5G9L
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wired-GOV Newswire (news from other departments) - 25 Nov 2009 12:32
House of Commons Reform Committee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5GQ9
- Show quoted text -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wired-GOV Plus Newsletter
Our weekly round-ups of key government announcements, analysis and researched links to additional documents, consultations, white papers, reports and more
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfWGPlusLanding?ReadForm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry News
UK government and public sector case studies, white papers, success stories and contract awards
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfIndustryNewsView?ReadForm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Reports
An in-depth look at current topics that goes beneath the headlines to provide a detailed review of public sector issues & solutions
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfSpecialReports?ReadForm=1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Events
Forthcoming public sector events, conferences and seminars
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-events-1.nsf/wfCalendar?ReadForm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to end your subscription to Wired-GOV, please use the following link:
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-users-1.nsf/wfUnsubscribeAck?ReadForm&uid=DNWA-7XXKGX
Highways Agency - 25 Nov 2009 12:45
Hairy Biker chefs become reporters for Traffic Radio
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celebrity chefs The Hairy Bikers will enjoy fifteen minutes of fame
as presenters of national traffic news on a unique digital radio service.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408965
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Office - 25 Nov 2009 13:44
Changes give British workers more opportunities to apply for jobs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From 14 December 2009, the resident labour market test for Tier 2 of the points-based system will be extended to four weeks for all jobs, the Government announced yesterday. This will replace the current requirement to advertise jobs for two weeks, or one week for jobs where the salary is £40,000 or more.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5J52
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ministry of Defence - 25 Nov 2009 12:21
Former High Court Judge Appointed to Chair Al Sweady Inquiry
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir Thayne Forbes will chair the inquiry into allegations that Iraqi
nationals were ill-treated and unlawfully killed by British troops in
May 2004 in southern Iraq, the MOD announced today.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408963
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 13:31
Home Care, Scotland, 2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland's Chief Statistician yesterday published Home Care, Scotland, 2009. This statistics release presents the latest national figures for home care services provided or purchased by local authorities in Scotland.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5HV7
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Kips Restaurant assures customers on food quality
The New Director for Kips Restaurant in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre, Yassen Giga said he would strive to continue providing best services to its customers.
In an interview Thursday Giga said 70 percent of local Malawians in the city of Blantyre eat at his restaurant because of its quality and that customers could afford to buy.
“A lot of people in the city take food at Kips because of the cheap prices we offer and we provide traditional Malawi foods such as Nsima, Rice, Zitheba, chicken, chambo and beans,” said.
He said they provide best food because they trained their staff, waiters and waitress to provide quality food and good reception to attract more customers.
He said Kips feed over 500-600 customers per day, these include vendors, middle class and managers.
The restaurant started in 1991 and has there branches, two in Blantyre and one in Lilongwe.
In an interview Thursday Giga said 70 percent of local Malawians in the city of Blantyre eat at his restaurant because of its quality and that customers could afford to buy.
“A lot of people in the city take food at Kips because of the cheap prices we offer and we provide traditional Malawi foods such as Nsima, Rice, Zitheba, chicken, chambo and beans,” said.
He said they provide best food because they trained their staff, waiters and waitress to provide quality food and good reception to attract more customers.
He said Kips feed over 500-600 customers per day, these include vendors, middle class and managers.
The restaurant started in 1991 and has there branches, two in Blantyre and one in Lilongwe.
Varied information from various UK sources
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - 25 Nov 2009 10:30
Small Business Minister Calls on Business to Follow Government Lead and Pay on Time
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public sector prompt payment is making a real difference to business
cash flow, Lord Davies said today. But the Minister for Trade,
Investment and Small Business challenged both big business and
suppliers to play their role to ensure prompt payment. Better
invoicing, customer relationship management and prompt payment build
confidence throughout supply chains.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408948
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department for Communities and Local Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:12
Planning Portal Launches Visual Guides for Three Common Home Improvement Projects
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Planning Portal has yesterday launched a series of visual guides for the most common home improvement projects - extensions, loft conversions and porches.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5DYW
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Health - 25 Nov 2009 10:08
Life Changing Discoveries in Regenerative Medicine and Diagnostics unveiled at Chief Scientific Officer's Conference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exciting new developments by scientists including those working in the NHS field of regenerative medicine and diagnostics which have the potential to bring life-changing benefits to patients will be considered at , the Chief Scientific Officer’s officer annual conference.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5DW9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Research Council - 25 Nov 2009 10:18
WORKPLACE LITERACY SCHEMES ARE TOO SHORT TO IMPROVE SKILLS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Government’s Skills for Life initiative has not significantly improved literacy or the economic performance of participating companies, despite what policymakers believe. These are the findings of the UK’s first study of basic skills learning in the workplace, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5E4J
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Research Council - 25 Nov 2009 10:39
MAJOR CONFERENCE TO EXAMINE CHINA’S PLACE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The British Inter-university China Centre (BICC), collaboration between Oxford, Manchester, and Bristol Universities funded by a £5million grant under the government’s “Language-Based Area Studies” scheme, is to hold a major international conference in London and Manchester on 27-29 November looking at China’s changing role in the political world.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EHR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:43
Standing up to domestic abuse
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National statistics published recently - based on information from police forces across Scotland for 2008-09 - show a five percentage point increase in incidents of domestic abuse being recorded as crimes or offences.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5ELA
Small Business Minister Calls on Business to Follow Government Lead and Pay on Time
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public sector prompt payment is making a real difference to business
cash flow, Lord Davies said today. But the Minister for Trade,
Investment and Small Business challenged both big business and
suppliers to play their role to ensure prompt payment. Better
invoicing, customer relationship management and prompt payment build
confidence throughout supply chains.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408948
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department for Communities and Local Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:12
Planning Portal Launches Visual Guides for Three Common Home Improvement Projects
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Planning Portal has yesterday launched a series of visual guides for the most common home improvement projects - extensions, loft conversions and porches.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5DYW
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Health - 25 Nov 2009 10:08
Life Changing Discoveries in Regenerative Medicine and Diagnostics unveiled at Chief Scientific Officer's Conference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exciting new developments by scientists including those working in the NHS field of regenerative medicine and diagnostics which have the potential to bring life-changing benefits to patients will be considered at , the Chief Scientific Officer’s officer annual conference.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5DW9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Research Council - 25 Nov 2009 10:18
WORKPLACE LITERACY SCHEMES ARE TOO SHORT TO IMPROVE SKILLS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Government’s Skills for Life initiative has not significantly improved literacy or the economic performance of participating companies, despite what policymakers believe. These are the findings of the UK’s first study of basic skills learning in the workplace, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5E4J
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Research Council - 25 Nov 2009 10:39
MAJOR CONFERENCE TO EXAMINE CHINA’S PLACE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The British Inter-university China Centre (BICC), collaboration between Oxford, Manchester, and Bristol Universities funded by a £5million grant under the government’s “Language-Based Area Studies” scheme, is to hold a major international conference in London and Manchester on 27-29 November looking at China’s changing role in the political world.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EHR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:43
Standing up to domestic abuse
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National statistics published recently - based on information from police forces across Scotland for 2008-09 - show a five percentage point increase in incidents of domestic abuse being recorded as crimes or offences.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5ELA
From the UK Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Justice Minister Michael Wills has made a statement on the government's vision for the future of publicly funded archive services.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5CYT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council - 25 Nov 2009 09:26
Archives for the 21st Century
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and The National Archives are committed to taking forward the Government's new vision for publicly funded archive services, ensuring they are as relevant in a digital age as they have been in the past. The policy, Archives for the 21st Century, re-asserts the vital importance of archives as the gateway to the nation’s common legacy, whilst reflecting the technological transition society is going through.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5D4C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wired-GOV Newswire (news from other departments) - 25 Nov 2009 09:12
HCA on target to deliver homes in this financial year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) says it is well on course to meet its end of year housing targets, despite the economic downturn and difficult operating conditions.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5CT2
Justice Minister Michael Wills has made a statement on the government's vision for the future of publicly funded archive services.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5CYT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council - 25 Nov 2009 09:26
Archives for the 21st Century
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and The National Archives are committed to taking forward the Government's new vision for publicly funded archive services, ensuring they are as relevant in a digital age as they have been in the past. The policy, Archives for the 21st Century, re-asserts the vital importance of archives as the gateway to the nation’s common legacy, whilst reflecting the technological transition society is going through.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5D4C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wired-GOV Newswire (news from other departments) - 25 Nov 2009 09:12
HCA on target to deliver homes in this financial year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) says it is well on course to meet its end of year housing targets, despite the economic downturn and difficult operating conditions.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5CT2
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
Events
Forthcoming public sector events, conferences and seminars
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-events-1.nsf/wfCalendar?ReadForm
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-events-1.nsf/wfCalendar?ReadForm
Special Reports
An in-depth look at current topics that goes beneath the headlines to provide a detailed review of public sector issues & solutions
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfSpecialReports?ReadForm=1
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfSpecialReports?ReadForm=1
Industry News
UK government and public sector case studies, white papers, success stories and contract awards
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfIndustryNewsView?ReadForm
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfIndustryNewsView?ReadForm
Wired-GOV (UK) Plus Newsletter
Our weekly round-ups of key government announcements, analysis and researched links to additional documents, consultations, white papers, reports and more
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfWGPlusLanding?ReadForm
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfWGPlusLanding?ReadForm
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
Topics covered at the Summit:-
* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting
With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!
Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX
UK Ministry of Justice - Judicial Appointments
Appointment of a Senior Immigration Judge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Jack Straw MP, has
appointed Designated Immigration Judge Hugh Macleman to be a Senior
Immigration Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, based in
London, with effect from 1 December 2009.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408876
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Jack Straw MP, has
appointed Designated Immigration Judge Hugh Macleman to be a Senior
Immigration Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, based in
London, with effect from 1 December 2009.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408876
Young people at heart of strategy to bring an end to violence against women and girls
An ambitious strategy aiming to bring an end to violence against
women and girls was set out by the Government today.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408929
women and girls was set out by the Government today.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408929
Madalitso Kateta writes on Journalists with HIV, media role in fighting the pandemic
Journalists living with HIV in Malawi have formed the first network of people living with the virus to fight against stigma and discrimination in that country. This was the media's response to HIV/AIDS through the effective participation of journalists living with the disease, the coordinator said.
The Malawi Journalists Living with HIV (MJLHIV) national coordinator, David Kamkwamba, said the initiative will empower the media in the response to the pandemic through experiences of journalists living with the virus.
“In this drive the initiative shall advocate for the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS through the advocating of development of HIV and AIDS work place policies, implementation and strategies against stigma and discrimination,” he said.
Malawi is one of the countries that still have a high rate of HIV and AIDS based stigma and discrimination.
Although many people in the country have become open to declare their HIV status, the Malawian media has been very mute on the matter with only one journalist, the late Kaulanda Nkosi coming in the open with his HIV status.
However Kamkwamba said the formation of MJLWHIV will foster a change of people’s attitudes towards persons living with the virus. “Specifically MJLWHIV aims at advocating for the rights of people living with HIV that also includes journalists,” he said.
According to Kamkwamba, membership to the organization is open to all practicing Malawian journalists in the print and electronic media.
The media has to lead by example
By Madalitso Kateta
As a journalist reporting HIV and AIDS I have covered many stories of other people that are positively living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
As an inquisitive journalist, questions like. How did you catch the virus?How did it feel like when you were told that you are HIV positive? Andpresently how do you cope up with life now that you are positively living with the virus? These were part of the routine as I interviewed my news sources.
With time, I have now come to understand that we live in a world that may create sorrow when you believe you are enjoying the warm summer of your life.
A world where everybody is supposed to regret somehow. But is it worth regretting when you know the reality of your status?
So, how should I begin this story as it involves my own experiences with HIV and AIDS. Should I start by recounting how I have socialized with a number of members of the opposite sex?
Let me just tell you my story. I recently had the courage to go for an HIV Testing and Counselling session.
I have been on and off quiterecently and it never really occurred to me that the reoccurring illnesseshad been the result of HIV/Aids.
I did not think that I, a person that had so much knowledge on how HIV was transmitted and had written so much on how other people were coping up with life after testing HIV positive, would one day sit down writing a story about how it feels like to live with the virus.
In fact, it now astounds me that I, a person who felt that at first, could noteasily come into terms with the reality of living positively with HIV, have come to accept my present status: I am HIV positive.
Sometimes I laugh at myself when I recall how I used to make fun of how others were suffering from the virus. Yes, I remember that with some of my friends we could laugh at people positively living with the virus.
But the situation changed when I realised that I was a carrier of the virus. I realized that while we as the media have been vocal demanding that our politicians should come into the open declaring their HIV status, we have not lead by example.
Ironically, while it may be true that our friends in the political circles, I am sure,might be highly infected by the virus, the media it self would have been one of the professions that would register more cases if the testing process was to be made mandatory.
I now know how it is heartless to reduce persons living with HIV to their sexuality as they still remain productive citizens needing the same rights to health care and protection as everybody else.
For me, it now sounds illogical for the media to start lobbying that members of the legislator should go for tests and disclose their HIV status while the media itself has been entwined in a cushion of confidentiality.
I am HIV positive myself and, having been one of the journalists that have for a while been reporting on HIV and AIDS, find it absurd that we keep on reporting on ending HIV and AIDS-based stigma and discrimination, while we may have are to blame for some of the stereo typing that have created the problem. Imagine, during my last visit to Blantyre I told one of my close friends in the media, Richard Chirombo that I wanted to come into the open about my HIV status.
It astounded me that Richard, while accepting that declaring one’s HIV status was the only way of ending the problem of HIV and AIDS-based stigma and discrimination, did not support the idea, arguing that as soon as
I did that all my colleagues would segregate me.
I liked Richard's straight forward advice. It actually reflected that asmedia practitioners, we have been doing HIV and AIDS stories to make our bread and butter. We have been in the forefront telling the nation the importance of going for an HIV test and, possibly, disclosing our sero status, yet we have not been ready to do so ourselves.
But why is the media not leading by example, by disclosing the HIV sero status of members within the profession?
Is it that there are no HIV cases within the profession?
Honestly, may be there are many HIV and AIDS cases in the media but we have chosen to remain in the cocoon.
I was surprised myself to see that when the advertisement for membership into the Network of Journalists Living with HIV was floated less than 10 journalists registered.
As a Person Living With HIV, I have discovered how normal life can still go on if you accept your status. You can love (I have a lover) and do your ‘duties’ as you used to do before.
To explicitly end this article, I would urge my fellow media practitioners that are paid up NAMISA members to seriously discuss and emphasize on HIV and AIDS matters on world press freedom day. Remember, we are all vulnerable.
The Malawi Journalists Living with HIV (MJLHIV) national coordinator, David Kamkwamba, said the initiative will empower the media in the response to the pandemic through experiences of journalists living with the virus.
“In this drive the initiative shall advocate for the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS through the advocating of development of HIV and AIDS work place policies, implementation and strategies against stigma and discrimination,” he said.
Malawi is one of the countries that still have a high rate of HIV and AIDS based stigma and discrimination.
Although many people in the country have become open to declare their HIV status, the Malawian media has been very mute on the matter with only one journalist, the late Kaulanda Nkosi coming in the open with his HIV status.
However Kamkwamba said the formation of MJLWHIV will foster a change of people’s attitudes towards persons living with the virus. “Specifically MJLWHIV aims at advocating for the rights of people living with HIV that also includes journalists,” he said.
According to Kamkwamba, membership to the organization is open to all practicing Malawian journalists in the print and electronic media.
The media has to lead by example
By Madalitso Kateta
As a journalist reporting HIV and AIDS I have covered many stories of other people that are positively living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
As an inquisitive journalist, questions like. How did you catch the virus?How did it feel like when you were told that you are HIV positive? Andpresently how do you cope up with life now that you are positively living with the virus? These were part of the routine as I interviewed my news sources.
With time, I have now come to understand that we live in a world that may create sorrow when you believe you are enjoying the warm summer of your life.
A world where everybody is supposed to regret somehow. But is it worth regretting when you know the reality of your status?
So, how should I begin this story as it involves my own experiences with HIV and AIDS. Should I start by recounting how I have socialized with a number of members of the opposite sex?
Let me just tell you my story. I recently had the courage to go for an HIV Testing and Counselling session.
I have been on and off quiterecently and it never really occurred to me that the reoccurring illnesseshad been the result of HIV/Aids.
I did not think that I, a person that had so much knowledge on how HIV was transmitted and had written so much on how other people were coping up with life after testing HIV positive, would one day sit down writing a story about how it feels like to live with the virus.
In fact, it now astounds me that I, a person who felt that at first, could noteasily come into terms with the reality of living positively with HIV, have come to accept my present status: I am HIV positive.
Sometimes I laugh at myself when I recall how I used to make fun of how others were suffering from the virus. Yes, I remember that with some of my friends we could laugh at people positively living with the virus.
But the situation changed when I realised that I was a carrier of the virus. I realized that while we as the media have been vocal demanding that our politicians should come into the open declaring their HIV status, we have not lead by example.
Ironically, while it may be true that our friends in the political circles, I am sure,might be highly infected by the virus, the media it self would have been one of the professions that would register more cases if the testing process was to be made mandatory.
I now know how it is heartless to reduce persons living with HIV to their sexuality as they still remain productive citizens needing the same rights to health care and protection as everybody else.
For me, it now sounds illogical for the media to start lobbying that members of the legislator should go for tests and disclose their HIV status while the media itself has been entwined in a cushion of confidentiality.
I am HIV positive myself and, having been one of the journalists that have for a while been reporting on HIV and AIDS, find it absurd that we keep on reporting on ending HIV and AIDS-based stigma and discrimination, while we may have are to blame for some of the stereo typing that have created the problem. Imagine, during my last visit to Blantyre I told one of my close friends in the media, Richard Chirombo that I wanted to come into the open about my HIV status.
It astounded me that Richard, while accepting that declaring one’s HIV status was the only way of ending the problem of HIV and AIDS-based stigma and discrimination, did not support the idea, arguing that as soon as
I did that all my colleagues would segregate me.
I liked Richard's straight forward advice. It actually reflected that asmedia practitioners, we have been doing HIV and AIDS stories to make our bread and butter. We have been in the forefront telling the nation the importance of going for an HIV test and, possibly, disclosing our sero status, yet we have not been ready to do so ourselves.
But why is the media not leading by example, by disclosing the HIV sero status of members within the profession?
Is it that there are no HIV cases within the profession?
Honestly, may be there are many HIV and AIDS cases in the media but we have chosen to remain in the cocoon.
I was surprised myself to see that when the advertisement for membership into the Network of Journalists Living with HIV was floated less than 10 journalists registered.
As a Person Living With HIV, I have discovered how normal life can still go on if you accept your status. You can love (I have a lover) and do your ‘duties’ as you used to do before.
To explicitly end this article, I would urge my fellow media practitioners that are paid up NAMISA members to seriously discuss and emphasize on HIV and AIDS matters on world press freedom day. Remember, we are all vulnerable.
Is Malawi experimenting with democracy?
Patrick Makina 50, a n economist and PhD holder, a long time public servant was the ideal candidate for Zomba-Ntonya.
“He has the education , and so many good qualities that we need in a leader if this area is to develop” enthusiased village headman Mbwana one of the hundreds of traditional leaders who urged their followers to choose Makina as their candidate prior to the Maya19 polls.
Zomba Ntonya had over 400000 registerd voters , making it the largest constituency in the district but in the district and arguably the least developed .
“We have two secondary schools, very few health centres, most of the rivers have no bridges, most families go without food most of the year, illiteracy is very high “ Makina noted at the beginning ofhis campaign last year.He had just returned from France where he went to do his PhD.
The under development in the area is attributed to lack of initiative by previous leaders.
“The first multiparty MP made so many promises which he never fulfilled .For the entire two terms he chose to stay in Blantyre running his businesses. People were excited with change and anything UDF produced was acceptable.” says village headman Mbwana
In the third multiparty polls of 2004, university graduate Berson Lijenda despite having scanty resources won the seat as independent candidate and later joined the then popular UDF.Like his predecessor he hardly appeared on the scene, and was accused of gross arrogance .The were then ready for another change.
Makina campaigned initially for the UDF candidacy and it was later learnt that the party was not going to hold primary elections. He opted to stand as an independent..
The ruling party DPP has a staunch supporter in the recently crownwd Paramount Chief Chief Chikowi.Though Makina had support among lower traditional chiefs he could not stand a chance against the DPP chosen candidate Ted Msangwi.Chief Chikowi went literary around the area to sell Masangwi, a former Malawi Telecommunications employee, HARDLY KNOWN IN THE AREA.
Makina runs a farm closer to his village near Thondwe .His late father was a well-known police officer but Masangwi can not trace his village in the area.
“I remember one of the Masangwi’s as a schoolmate in the 1970s .They temporarily settled in our village before they moved to Balaka.The man is simply not from this area.He is renting a house a Six miles trading centre” said John Kabichi from Makanjira village , a place Masangwi claimed to come from.
Lower traditional chiefs were threatened with removal if they continued to refuse Msangwi.Several were summoned at the paramount chiefs court to explain their support for Makina, and indeed others weer suspended.
There were seven candidates but none could raise thei issue with electoral authorites for fear of repercussions. The chief had his way and Masangwi narrowly defeated the hugely popular Makina.
“The results have shown me that we are still experimenting with democracy.The party that I supported let the people down , our chief was partisan and the results are not fair” said Makina.he had then trouble restraining his supporters who vowed to march to the District Commissioner and denounce the chief.
“It is okay when you lose in a fair contest but so bad when undemocratic tendencies contribute to such a loss” Says Makina who has vowed to continue to offer assistance to people in need.He had set up a scholarship fund for poor students, a small loan scheme for women and had also initiated a number of development projects such as fish v and irrigation arming.
“I will stay here do my farming and work with the people. The difference is that I will not be their representative in the national assembly.
Rafik Hajat a political commentator argues that all political parties in the country lack intra-party democracy and this he says will continue to haunt Malawi’s stride to grow democracy.Most parties impose candidates on the people and the results have been disastrous for the big parties which failed miserably in the general elections.UDF and MCP chosen candidates lost to independents.
The recent by-elections have again shown that no matter how big a party maybe it needs to go for the people’s choice.The big loser in the recent by-elections is the DPP which had a landslide victory only three months ago only to have independents snatch the seats.
While the shift towards more independent candidates may hold hope for for those earning for a true democratic Malawi, doubts have been raised about the growing tendency by these independents to join a ruling party says village headman Edward Kwisongole , a retired civil servant of Zomba Ntonya.
He says he sees betrayal when voted as independents join ruling party with flimsy excuses of helping the government bring development.
“This is simply a symptom of something fundamentally wrong with our understanding of democracy particularly the role of MPs. MPs are there are to make laws not just bring development as they often argue. I guess most of them join government because they want opportunities. Some of them quickly joined DPP because they though they would get cabinet posts but Bingu did not consider them.That was great .This is why most of us feel the president is a principled man and may not work to erode our democratic gains. These independent MPs joining government are nothing but gold diggers”
Perhaps a classical example desire by an independent MP to join government was that of former vice president Cassim Chilumpha. Despite clear signs that his presence was not desired on government side , the former number two citizen insisted his constituents would get much-needed development if only he can work with government. The enlightened village headman Edward Kwisongole believes Chilumpha’s move is calculating at hitting UDF a party that rejected him. The anti-democratic tendencies in UDF led to Bingu’s departure followed by so many others senior fellows and if this does not change UDF will face certain death.
But a senior UDF member opting anynomity blames Chilumpha for lack of political skills.
“There were many times when a chair left the party in his hands but he did nothing.he even failed to aknowledge the supporters who came to cheer him at the courts as he battled his trason charges.He lost a an opportunity of taking over from the ageing Muluzi.His atttempt to unseat the populist Muluzi at a convention was foolish and misguided. He surrounded himself with light weights , illiterates as advisers and thought he could confront Muluzi.” He says.
But Edmund Chilo Blantyre based businessman believes Chilumpha can redeem himself by goping back to UDF and contest at a convention.
“The Politics of Atcheya are gone. The party needs all intellectuals who were messed up like Makina, Chawawa, and many others .the party needs rebranding .Unless the party recognizes that the old brand of politics is no more it will be tossed into the dustbin of history kutha ngati makatani..Chilumpha should overate himself , he needs people and he must start now by going back to UDF and prepare for the next elections.
Chilo says the recent seating of new parliament has also shown that most of our MPS despite colourful CVS are yet to embrace democracy. the debate on major issues was good spiced with intellectual rigour but when to voting most of them were fearful. Save for the lawyer Edwin Banda nobody opposed the bill on marriage age.
“We always complained that most of our MPS were school dropouts but here we were house full of intellectuals endorsing a bill which would destroy al the gains we have made as a nation in 45 years .If that law got enacted it would affect education, health and social status of our women, what would we have achieved?”
It is too early to judge this parliament but the inclination towards blind loyalty , in itself a bloat on the march towards democracy , says Chilo.
“He has the education , and so many good qualities that we need in a leader if this area is to develop” enthusiased village headman Mbwana one of the hundreds of traditional leaders who urged their followers to choose Makina as their candidate prior to the Maya19 polls.
Zomba Ntonya had over 400000 registerd voters , making it the largest constituency in the district but in the district and arguably the least developed .
“We have two secondary schools, very few health centres, most of the rivers have no bridges, most families go without food most of the year, illiteracy is very high “ Makina noted at the beginning ofhis campaign last year.He had just returned from France where he went to do his PhD.
The under development in the area is attributed to lack of initiative by previous leaders.
“The first multiparty MP made so many promises which he never fulfilled .For the entire two terms he chose to stay in Blantyre running his businesses. People were excited with change and anything UDF produced was acceptable.” says village headman Mbwana
In the third multiparty polls of 2004, university graduate Berson Lijenda despite having scanty resources won the seat as independent candidate and later joined the then popular UDF.Like his predecessor he hardly appeared on the scene, and was accused of gross arrogance .The were then ready for another change.
Makina campaigned initially for the UDF candidacy and it was later learnt that the party was not going to hold primary elections. He opted to stand as an independent..
The ruling party DPP has a staunch supporter in the recently crownwd Paramount Chief Chief Chikowi.Though Makina had support among lower traditional chiefs he could not stand a chance against the DPP chosen candidate Ted Msangwi.Chief Chikowi went literary around the area to sell Masangwi, a former Malawi Telecommunications employee, HARDLY KNOWN IN THE AREA.
Makina runs a farm closer to his village near Thondwe .His late father was a well-known police officer but Masangwi can not trace his village in the area.
“I remember one of the Masangwi’s as a schoolmate in the 1970s .They temporarily settled in our village before they moved to Balaka.The man is simply not from this area.He is renting a house a Six miles trading centre” said John Kabichi from Makanjira village , a place Masangwi claimed to come from.
Lower traditional chiefs were threatened with removal if they continued to refuse Msangwi.Several were summoned at the paramount chiefs court to explain their support for Makina, and indeed others weer suspended.
There were seven candidates but none could raise thei issue with electoral authorites for fear of repercussions. The chief had his way and Masangwi narrowly defeated the hugely popular Makina.
“The results have shown me that we are still experimenting with democracy.The party that I supported let the people down , our chief was partisan and the results are not fair” said Makina.he had then trouble restraining his supporters who vowed to march to the District Commissioner and denounce the chief.
“It is okay when you lose in a fair contest but so bad when undemocratic tendencies contribute to such a loss” Says Makina who has vowed to continue to offer assistance to people in need.He had set up a scholarship fund for poor students, a small loan scheme for women and had also initiated a number of development projects such as fish v and irrigation arming.
“I will stay here do my farming and work with the people. The difference is that I will not be their representative in the national assembly.
Rafik Hajat a political commentator argues that all political parties in the country lack intra-party democracy and this he says will continue to haunt Malawi’s stride to grow democracy.Most parties impose candidates on the people and the results have been disastrous for the big parties which failed miserably in the general elections.UDF and MCP chosen candidates lost to independents.
The recent by-elections have again shown that no matter how big a party maybe it needs to go for the people’s choice.The big loser in the recent by-elections is the DPP which had a landslide victory only three months ago only to have independents snatch the seats.
While the shift towards more independent candidates may hold hope for for those earning for a true democratic Malawi, doubts have been raised about the growing tendency by these independents to join a ruling party says village headman Edward Kwisongole , a retired civil servant of Zomba Ntonya.
He says he sees betrayal when voted as independents join ruling party with flimsy excuses of helping the government bring development.
“This is simply a symptom of something fundamentally wrong with our understanding of democracy particularly the role of MPs. MPs are there are to make laws not just bring development as they often argue. I guess most of them join government because they want opportunities. Some of them quickly joined DPP because they though they would get cabinet posts but Bingu did not consider them.That was great .This is why most of us feel the president is a principled man and may not work to erode our democratic gains. These independent MPs joining government are nothing but gold diggers”
Perhaps a classical example desire by an independent MP to join government was that of former vice president Cassim Chilumpha. Despite clear signs that his presence was not desired on government side , the former number two citizen insisted his constituents would get much-needed development if only he can work with government. The enlightened village headman Edward Kwisongole believes Chilumpha’s move is calculating at hitting UDF a party that rejected him. The anti-democratic tendencies in UDF led to Bingu’s departure followed by so many others senior fellows and if this does not change UDF will face certain death.
But a senior UDF member opting anynomity blames Chilumpha for lack of political skills.
“There were many times when a chair left the party in his hands but he did nothing.he even failed to aknowledge the supporters who came to cheer him at the courts as he battled his trason charges.He lost a an opportunity of taking over from the ageing Muluzi.His atttempt to unseat the populist Muluzi at a convention was foolish and misguided. He surrounded himself with light weights , illiterates as advisers and thought he could confront Muluzi.” He says.
But Edmund Chilo Blantyre based businessman believes Chilumpha can redeem himself by goping back to UDF and contest at a convention.
“The Politics of Atcheya are gone. The party needs all intellectuals who were messed up like Makina, Chawawa, and many others .the party needs rebranding .Unless the party recognizes that the old brand of politics is no more it will be tossed into the dustbin of history kutha ngati makatani..Chilumpha should overate himself , he needs people and he must start now by going back to UDF and prepare for the next elections.
Chilo says the recent seating of new parliament has also shown that most of our MPS despite colourful CVS are yet to embrace democracy. the debate on major issues was good spiced with intellectual rigour but when to voting most of them were fearful. Save for the lawyer Edwin Banda nobody opposed the bill on marriage age.
“We always complained that most of our MPS were school dropouts but here we were house full of intellectuals endorsing a bill which would destroy al the gains we have made as a nation in 45 years .If that law got enacted it would affect education, health and social status of our women, what would we have achieved?”
It is too early to judge this parliament but the inclination towards blind loyalty , in itself a bloat on the march towards democracy , says Chilo.
Hazel Warren invites Zachimalawi to cookery book launch
Hazel Warren has lived to her Kitchen reputation in last year's Big Brother Africa House and has invited Zachimalawi to the launch.
We will furnish you with more details about the launch and where it will take place shortly.
Zachimalawi wishes her well.
Woza Hazel Warren; woza Hazel wishes!
We will furnish you with more details about the launch and where it will take place shortly.
Zachimalawi wishes her well.
Woza Hazel Warren; woza Hazel wishes!
Remembering Hazel Warren: the day she came home
In less than two weeks from now, On December 6, 2009, the curtain closes for this year's Big Brother Africa Revolution. Our Mzamose Chibambo, Peace be Upon Her, is still in the House and is poised to reach the final. Before she comes, let us take a dive back to last year, when our representative Hazel Warren was cheated to the US$100, 000 prize money by a cheating Big Brother and his auditors- wherever they schooled- and get a re-feeling of what it was like before her arrival and press briefing.
Malawi’s representative to the Big Brother Africa III reality show, Hazel Warren returned to the country on Wednesday after an impressive performance for the whole 91 day period that the show run. Although she missed the ultimate prize money, Hazel returned home a heroine. On Wednesday she had a press conference in Lilongwe and Zachimalawi reviews Warren's press conference for you. Excerpts:
How has the reception you have received back home made you feel?
Coming home and seeing all those people at the airport and even on the streets has been a very humbling experience for me. Never in my life did I think that this could happen, it just makes me feel so humbled but at the same time it makes me feel so loved and very accepted by my countrymen.
How did you handle being under the watchful eye of the camera all the time?
Being in the House 24/7 all the time and under the eye of the camera is indeed challenging in the beginning especially coming from a background where you never had cameras and there you are with cameras and wearing microphones all the time. Sometimes you forget that there are cameras and microphones around. Sometimes you get up and you go into the bathroom to brush your teeth and you forget your microphone in the bedroom and you immediately hear Big Brother saying “make sure that you wear your microphone properly”. It’s something that I personally got used to slowly and adjusted. I’m adjusting to living without cameras and microphones now.
What motivated you to join BBA III?
I won’t lie. I wanted the money.
What do you think made you survive in the House for the whole 91 days?
I think my calm nature and I am also tolerant to other people’s views. I realised that my housemates and I were from different parts of the continent with different values and different beliefs. I couldn’t be there and judge everybody according to how I saw the situation and that’s why I think I survived.
How can you describe your relationship with Thami in the House?
I am very happy that Thami and I had a very good friendship but obviously more to that there was a love interest. Personally I felt that making a decision of such nature in the House for myself would not be right because such a decision would be circumstantial in the sense that we were enclosed. And such feelings would probably be there because of the circumstance.
What do you celebrate most in the house and what are your regrets?
I have no regrets being in the House. What I celebrate most is that it gave me an opportunity to explore my abilities. Obviously when we are living out here where we are free we take things for granted and we put ourselves in a box and we don’t think outside the box. But being in there you are put on the spot to perform 100 percent all the time and you will attest that when we were given tasks each of the housemates wagered 100 percent. It has also taught me that there was a lot each one of us can do. Out here we limit ourselves, we can pay some one to do something for us instead of doing it ourselves.
What do you think gave Ricco the upper hand over you?
My opinion is that Ricco is a young guy and he appeals to the younger females who happen also to be most of the voters. As such that gave him an advantage and another thing also was that we might have the same fan base but I would say his fans were more aggressive in their voting in the sense that I can give an example of one fan who probably cast 50 votes for Ricco while I have a fan, same fan base, but probably this one fan of mine cast 20 or 30 votes so you can see the difference there.
Was there any other way which you think the organisers of the show could have broken the tie between you and Ricco?
I will say yes there was another way. This other way is the one that we all knew from the very beginning, from the word go. This new way that was taken was very surprising, one that none of the housemates had ever heard of. The one that we knew that in an eventuality of a tie between the housemates was that the mechanism that would be used would be spinning of a wheel. Obviously to everybody’s surprise that mechanism was never used and we have no idea why and how the winner was selected and I will also quote from the press conference that we did earlier on Monday in South Africa with other journalists at Multichoice offices where there was a similar question on how the eventual winner was determined after the deadlock. The answer that was given was not very impressive to me because they said all the statistics are not yet out but in a couple of days we will be able to have all of the statistics and publish everything and then everything will be known to the world, but this immediately raises the question that if you don’t have the statistics how do you announce the winner, how does that go.
And so what do you think should be done as regards this issue of the tie?
It would be best that whatever action is taken should be taken collectively and not individually because when you make people stand together and make noise it is heard more than if I did it alone. I was there and I did ask how the scenario came about and the answer that I got was not satisfactory and again I could be pushed over left, right and centre but if it is collective it would make so much of a difference.
Was the constant cooking in the House part of your strategy?
I never went into the House with any strategy at all. The reason being that I felt having a strategy would limit you in the sense that you will only be focusing on that and you won’t have an idea who your opponents are. So you create a strategy but you don’t know who you are playing against, you don’t know their strengths and I said that when I get to the House this is what I will do – I will get to know the housemates, know their strengths and weaknesses and then move on from there and not really go into the House with a strategy. As for the cooking a lot of people who know me know that cooking is a passion. It’s not something that developed yesterday, its something that developed way back when I was very young. I did at some point have a business of some catering sort so that wasn’t part of a strategy at all. If you have a passion for something you will do it no matter where you are.
How did it feel to be among people of different nationalities and cultures?
I thought that was learning experience and I would learn more from the people that were in there. I’ve never been to all the countries there is only been South Africa , Zimbabwe and Zambia so it was a learning experience that I was in that House. We exchanged a lot of knowledge. It was a learning experience and also a journey of self discovery.
We don’t here much about your father in all this, can you tell us something about him?
I lost my dad last year in September and it gets me really emotional to talk about him. I can share that on Saturday I cried tonnes (maybe most of you didn’t know) in my bed because I thought of my father and how at that point it could have been so good and nice for him to be around to share my joy but he wasn’t. We deal with grief in different ways and I guess that’s how I deal with it.
What now after Big Brother, we understand you have interests in modelling and acting?
Being on the show exposes you a lot and there are a lot of opportunities that come along with it and those would be some of the things that I would do (modelling and acting).. And I did mention that I would like to do promotions of hair products so I will see and try if there will be anything of that nature on my way. And of those that come I would sift and sift through to see which ones would be best suitable for me.
Some people complained that you were not quite the entertainer in the show because the show is all about entertainment. How do you look at this?
What is entertainment to me might not be entertainment to some one else. But me being in the house the whole 91 days and coming up to a tie, and surviving four nominations without being head of house and without being saved I think that says a lot. If I were boring I would never had made it to the second nomination, maybe..
Is there any love in your life?
No there is no guy. My profile does say I am single.
Do you have any plans to invite any housemate to Malawi
Yes, when we were in the House the housemates were discussing the possibilities of inviting each other to one another’s countries and yes it would be nice to invite all the 11 other housemates to Malawi so that they would be able to spread the word of our beautiful country. It is a possibility and it is something that we discussed in the House that we would extend invitations to each other.
You have changed from little known Hazel to well known Hazel in a space of three months. How are you going to handle the fame?
I would like to take each day one step at a time. I think to me there is no formula as to how I will handle my fame. I think it will be best to take it one step at a time and also with a good support system, with the family that I have, they will be there to support me coz I think it will be challenging to be on your own.
How did you manage to stay in the House for 91 days without engaging in any sexual act, what is your secret? What message do you have for the girl child out there?
First of all my secret is the fear I have in the Lord. And again I knew why I went into the House and that was to go there and win the money. Other things were secondary to this. And to the African girl child out there I say know yourself and know your purpose in life. Set objectives in life and everything you do in life should be targeted towards achieving those objectives. But if you sway with the wind you will not achieve anything. Have a vision of what you want to achieve in life.
Zain has given you K1 million, what are you going to do with it?
I am very grateful for that. I really didn’t expect anything like it. I would still say like I said if I had won the K14 million that I would give part of the money to my mother. And then because I am home and I do have my advisors namely my mother and my relatives who would best advise me as to how and where to manoeuvre with the money. But also I would not forget my business Bride to Be coz I would need to boost it.
Malawi’s representative to the Big Brother Africa III reality show, Hazel Warren returned to the country on Wednesday after an impressive performance for the whole 91 day period that the show run. Although she missed the ultimate prize money, Hazel returned home a heroine. On Wednesday she had a press conference in Lilongwe and Zachimalawi reviews Warren's press conference for you. Excerpts:
How has the reception you have received back home made you feel?
Coming home and seeing all those people at the airport and even on the streets has been a very humbling experience for me. Never in my life did I think that this could happen, it just makes me feel so humbled but at the same time it makes me feel so loved and very accepted by my countrymen.
How did you handle being under the watchful eye of the camera all the time?
Being in the House 24/7 all the time and under the eye of the camera is indeed challenging in the beginning especially coming from a background where you never had cameras and there you are with cameras and wearing microphones all the time. Sometimes you forget that there are cameras and microphones around. Sometimes you get up and you go into the bathroom to brush your teeth and you forget your microphone in the bedroom and you immediately hear Big Brother saying “make sure that you wear your microphone properly”. It’s something that I personally got used to slowly and adjusted. I’m adjusting to living without cameras and microphones now.
What motivated you to join BBA III?
I won’t lie. I wanted the money.
What do you think made you survive in the House for the whole 91 days?
I think my calm nature and I am also tolerant to other people’s views. I realised that my housemates and I were from different parts of the continent with different values and different beliefs. I couldn’t be there and judge everybody according to how I saw the situation and that’s why I think I survived.
How can you describe your relationship with Thami in the House?
I am very happy that Thami and I had a very good friendship but obviously more to that there was a love interest. Personally I felt that making a decision of such nature in the House for myself would not be right because such a decision would be circumstantial in the sense that we were enclosed. And such feelings would probably be there because of the circumstance.
What do you celebrate most in the house and what are your regrets?
I have no regrets being in the House. What I celebrate most is that it gave me an opportunity to explore my abilities. Obviously when we are living out here where we are free we take things for granted and we put ourselves in a box and we don’t think outside the box. But being in there you are put on the spot to perform 100 percent all the time and you will attest that when we were given tasks each of the housemates wagered 100 percent. It has also taught me that there was a lot each one of us can do. Out here we limit ourselves, we can pay some one to do something for us instead of doing it ourselves.
What do you think gave Ricco the upper hand over you?
My opinion is that Ricco is a young guy and he appeals to the younger females who happen also to be most of the voters. As such that gave him an advantage and another thing also was that we might have the same fan base but I would say his fans were more aggressive in their voting in the sense that I can give an example of one fan who probably cast 50 votes for Ricco while I have a fan, same fan base, but probably this one fan of mine cast 20 or 30 votes so you can see the difference there.
Was there any other way which you think the organisers of the show could have broken the tie between you and Ricco?
I will say yes there was another way. This other way is the one that we all knew from the very beginning, from the word go. This new way that was taken was very surprising, one that none of the housemates had ever heard of. The one that we knew that in an eventuality of a tie between the housemates was that the mechanism that would be used would be spinning of a wheel. Obviously to everybody’s surprise that mechanism was never used and we have no idea why and how the winner was selected and I will also quote from the press conference that we did earlier on Monday in South Africa with other journalists at Multichoice offices where there was a similar question on how the eventual winner was determined after the deadlock. The answer that was given was not very impressive to me because they said all the statistics are not yet out but in a couple of days we will be able to have all of the statistics and publish everything and then everything will be known to the world, but this immediately raises the question that if you don’t have the statistics how do you announce the winner, how does that go.
And so what do you think should be done as regards this issue of the tie?
It would be best that whatever action is taken should be taken collectively and not individually because when you make people stand together and make noise it is heard more than if I did it alone. I was there and I did ask how the scenario came about and the answer that I got was not satisfactory and again I could be pushed over left, right and centre but if it is collective it would make so much of a difference.
Was the constant cooking in the House part of your strategy?
I never went into the House with any strategy at all. The reason being that I felt having a strategy would limit you in the sense that you will only be focusing on that and you won’t have an idea who your opponents are. So you create a strategy but you don’t know who you are playing against, you don’t know their strengths and I said that when I get to the House this is what I will do – I will get to know the housemates, know their strengths and weaknesses and then move on from there and not really go into the House with a strategy. As for the cooking a lot of people who know me know that cooking is a passion. It’s not something that developed yesterday, its something that developed way back when I was very young. I did at some point have a business of some catering sort so that wasn’t part of a strategy at all. If you have a passion for something you will do it no matter where you are.
How did it feel to be among people of different nationalities and cultures?
I thought that was learning experience and I would learn more from the people that were in there. I’ve never been to all the countries there is only been South Africa , Zimbabwe and Zambia so it was a learning experience that I was in that House. We exchanged a lot of knowledge. It was a learning experience and also a journey of self discovery.
We don’t here much about your father in all this, can you tell us something about him?
I lost my dad last year in September and it gets me really emotional to talk about him. I can share that on Saturday I cried tonnes (maybe most of you didn’t know) in my bed because I thought of my father and how at that point it could have been so good and nice for him to be around to share my joy but he wasn’t. We deal with grief in different ways and I guess that’s how I deal with it.
What now after Big Brother, we understand you have interests in modelling and acting?
Being on the show exposes you a lot and there are a lot of opportunities that come along with it and those would be some of the things that I would do (modelling and acting).. And I did mention that I would like to do promotions of hair products so I will see and try if there will be anything of that nature on my way. And of those that come I would sift and sift through to see which ones would be best suitable for me.
Some people complained that you were not quite the entertainer in the show because the show is all about entertainment. How do you look at this?
What is entertainment to me might not be entertainment to some one else. But me being in the house the whole 91 days and coming up to a tie, and surviving four nominations without being head of house and without being saved I think that says a lot. If I were boring I would never had made it to the second nomination, maybe..
Is there any love in your life?
No there is no guy. My profile does say I am single.
Do you have any plans to invite any housemate to Malawi
Yes, when we were in the House the housemates were discussing the possibilities of inviting each other to one another’s countries and yes it would be nice to invite all the 11 other housemates to Malawi so that they would be able to spread the word of our beautiful country. It is a possibility and it is something that we discussed in the House that we would extend invitations to each other.
You have changed from little known Hazel to well known Hazel in a space of three months. How are you going to handle the fame?
I would like to take each day one step at a time. I think to me there is no formula as to how I will handle my fame. I think it will be best to take it one step at a time and also with a good support system, with the family that I have, they will be there to support me coz I think it will be challenging to be on your own.
How did you manage to stay in the House for 91 days without engaging in any sexual act, what is your secret? What message do you have for the girl child out there?
First of all my secret is the fear I have in the Lord. And again I knew why I went into the House and that was to go there and win the money. Other things were secondary to this. And to the African girl child out there I say know yourself and know your purpose in life. Set objectives in life and everything you do in life should be targeted towards achieving those objectives. But if you sway with the wind you will not achieve anything. Have a vision of what you want to achieve in life.
Zain has given you K1 million, what are you going to do with it?
I am very grateful for that. I really didn’t expect anything like it. I would still say like I said if I had won the K14 million that I would give part of the money to my mother. And then because I am home and I do have my advisors namely my mother and my relatives who would best advise me as to how and where to manoeuvre with the money. But also I would not forget my business Bride to Be coz I would need to boost it.
Some facts about HIV and AIDS and suggestions on what we may do
HIV/AIDS: The numbers are shocking: According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) more than 30 million people are HIV positive. Every year around two million people die of AIDS. More than 11 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to the illness.
Financing: Among other countries and organisations, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in collaboration with the German Development Service (DED)are working together towards managing the consequencies of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS is threatening both the social and economic development of an entire continent.
HIV/AIDS, education, health Social Development:Every person on our earth has the right to social security. They have the right to the protection of the family, an appropriate standard of living and sufficient health care. These basic rights are not guaranteed by our moral framework alone.
Cooperation with Africa:countries to take their development into their own hands. And yet: Africa continues to battle poverty, crises and conflicts. Natural catastrophes, poor governance and the HIV/AIDS pandemic limit reform processes in many African nations. A great deal still has to be done if the Millennium Development Goals are to be met.
Strengthening the health care system in Africa: from shortages of personnel, laboratory equipment, money and know-how. And this in a region with the worldwide highest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and where Malaria and Tuberculosis push hospitals to capacity limits. In order to effect change, trained personnel are needed to develop reforms, and pass...
Education: there is also need to support various African partners in structural reforms that improve the long-term quality of education and sector management in their countries. This particularly applies to the areas of educational quality, budget management, HIV/Aids, and peace education.
It is also important to support continuing improvement of national health care systems through capacity building. Central Asia has thus far escaped the devastation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but new infections have increased at an alarming rate over the past few years. In order to create better conditions for prevention.
Our Topics Education in Health, HIV/AIDS, Social Security, Environment and Food Sustainable development must ensure that natural resources are used carefully and sparingly.
Statistics: The success of reforms is measurable. Numbers and data show how the advantages of new structures and processes have affected development in a country economically, socially and in civil society. Sustainable policies can only be built on reliable information. But administrative data collection tends to be less advanced.
Financing: Among other countries and organisations, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in collaboration with the German Development Service (DED)are working together towards managing the consequencies of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS is threatening both the social and economic development of an entire continent.
HIV/AIDS, education, health Social Development:Every person on our earth has the right to social security. They have the right to the protection of the family, an appropriate standard of living and sufficient health care. These basic rights are not guaranteed by our moral framework alone.
Cooperation with Africa:countries to take their development into their own hands. And yet: Africa continues to battle poverty, crises and conflicts. Natural catastrophes, poor governance and the HIV/AIDS pandemic limit reform processes in many African nations. A great deal still has to be done if the Millennium Development Goals are to be met.
Strengthening the health care system in Africa: from shortages of personnel, laboratory equipment, money and know-how. And this in a region with the worldwide highest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and where Malaria and Tuberculosis push hospitals to capacity limits. In order to effect change, trained personnel are needed to develop reforms, and pass...
Education: there is also need to support various African partners in structural reforms that improve the long-term quality of education and sector management in their countries. This particularly applies to the areas of educational quality, budget management, HIV/Aids, and peace education.
It is also important to support continuing improvement of national health care systems through capacity building. Central Asia has thus far escaped the devastation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but new infections have increased at an alarming rate over the past few years. In order to create better conditions for prevention.
Our Topics Education in Health, HIV/AIDS, Social Security, Environment and Food Sustainable development must ensure that natural resources are used carefully and sparingly.
Statistics: The success of reforms is measurable. Numbers and data show how the advantages of new structures and processes have affected development in a country economically, socially and in civil society. Sustainable policies can only be built on reliable information. But administrative data collection tends to be less advanced.
Inadequate funding affects persons with disabilities
Lack of funding in most organizations for people with mental and physical challenges is affecting the timely delivery of their programmes, the organizations have complained.
Such organizations include Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA), Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA), Malawi Union of Blind, (MUB), Albino Association of Malawi (AAM), Malawi Disability Sports Association, (MADISA), Parents of Disabled Children Association of Malawi (PODCAM), Association for the Physically Challenged and Deaf of Malawi (APDM), Disabled Women in Development (DIOWODE) and Malawi National Association for the Deaf (MANAD).
These organisations have for the past three years failed to receive full funding for their programmes, a development said to have impacted negatively on their programmes.
HIV and Aids Coordinator for MACOHA, Dyford Mpunga, for instance, revealed that his organisation has not received funding for HIV and AIDS programmes from the National Aids Commission (NAC) for a year, thus stalling their activities.
Despite writing proposals to various companies and NAC in 2008 to fund their HIV and Aids programmes nothing has materialized. The organizations, under their umbrella body FEDOMA, requested for K50 million from NAC but they are still waiting for the funding despite accept the proposal.
“We run a lot of activities and projects especial in Machinga, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Mzimba and Salima to sensitise people on preventive measures on the issues of Aids but no-one is coming to our rescue,” he said, adding that the activities include educating peers, train people on sign language, produce brochures and distribute them to people with disabilities, and translate brail for visual impaired.
MACOHA , established to empower and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, manufactures hand made products, dyes T-shirts with HIV and Aids messages, through financial and technical support from NAC, Population Service International (PSI), and also has a programme on Television Malawi (TVM) for sign language in a bid to reach out to people with hearing impairments as well as raise awareness on Aids.
The programme started in the year 2006 to equip staff on HIV and Aids issues that 50 percent of its staff should declare their sero-status before 2009.
Another representative of the organizations- Phillip Lapozo, Project Officer for MADISA, concurred with Mpunga on funding saying the face similar challenge in their organisation.
He said his organisation was depending munch on sponsorship from NICO Marathon competition but since their pulling out some three years ago, the organisation has nothing in its plate.
“We were one of the beneficiaries from NICO Marathon competitions. And their pulling out has affected us quite a lot,” he said, they remained only with Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS).
Lapozo, who doubles as Public Relations Officer, said they have stayed for six months without any activities due to lack of funding .
The organisation requested K4.5 million from NAC for HIV and Aids activities in four districts of Mulanje, Chikwawa, Machinga and Balaka, an effort that hit a blank wall.
MADISA was formed in 1998 to develop and promote sports for persons with disabilities.
Such organizations include Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA), Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA), Malawi Union of Blind, (MUB), Albino Association of Malawi (AAM), Malawi Disability Sports Association, (MADISA), Parents of Disabled Children Association of Malawi (PODCAM), Association for the Physically Challenged and Deaf of Malawi (APDM), Disabled Women in Development (DIOWODE) and Malawi National Association for the Deaf (MANAD).
These organisations have for the past three years failed to receive full funding for their programmes, a development said to have impacted negatively on their programmes.
HIV and Aids Coordinator for MACOHA, Dyford Mpunga, for instance, revealed that his organisation has not received funding for HIV and AIDS programmes from the National Aids Commission (NAC) for a year, thus stalling their activities.
Despite writing proposals to various companies and NAC in 2008 to fund their HIV and Aids programmes nothing has materialized. The organizations, under their umbrella body FEDOMA, requested for K50 million from NAC but they are still waiting for the funding despite accept the proposal.
“We run a lot of activities and projects especial in Machinga, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Mzimba and Salima to sensitise people on preventive measures on the issues of Aids but no-one is coming to our rescue,” he said, adding that the activities include educating peers, train people on sign language, produce brochures and distribute them to people with disabilities, and translate brail for visual impaired.
MACOHA , established to empower and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, manufactures hand made products, dyes T-shirts with HIV and Aids messages, through financial and technical support from NAC, Population Service International (PSI), and also has a programme on Television Malawi (TVM) for sign language in a bid to reach out to people with hearing impairments as well as raise awareness on Aids.
The programme started in the year 2006 to equip staff on HIV and Aids issues that 50 percent of its staff should declare their sero-status before 2009.
Another representative of the organizations- Phillip Lapozo, Project Officer for MADISA, concurred with Mpunga on funding saying the face similar challenge in their organisation.
He said his organisation was depending munch on sponsorship from NICO Marathon competition but since their pulling out some three years ago, the organisation has nothing in its plate.
“We were one of the beneficiaries from NICO Marathon competitions. And their pulling out has affected us quite a lot,” he said, they remained only with Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS).
Lapozo, who doubles as Public Relations Officer, said they have stayed for six months without any activities due to lack of funding .
The organisation requested K4.5 million from NAC for HIV and Aids activities in four districts of Mulanje, Chikwawa, Machinga and Balaka, an effort that hit a blank wall.
MADISA was formed in 1998 to develop and promote sports for persons with disabilities.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Malawi’s forex blues: What went wrong?
The country is in deep foreign exchange crisis. The central bank will be rationing the little foreign currency the country has.
Local manufactures are threatened because they depend on this scarce resource.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) recently announced s projected 7.7 per cent economic growth, a downward spiral from the 7.9 per cent announced by Finance Minister Ken Kandodo when he presented his budget statement mid this year.
The economy seems to be wobbling towards the right direction yet Malawi is in a foreign exchange crisis of sorts. Just what went wrong, where?
Financial pundits agree that Malawi has been a net importer since attaining independence from former colonial master Britain in 1964. This means the country can not generate enough forex revenue and keep it within the country for long.
And Malawians must simply get used to this, says Thomas Munthali, president of the economic think tank- the Economics Association of Malawi.
Munthali says Malawi will never have adequate forex even during the best of economic times when donor inflows trickle down well enough, and the number one forex earner tobacco fetches well on the unpredictable market.
He attributes the country’s ongoing foreign exchange crisis to last year.
“The first mistake was that we bought too much fertilizer at very high prices in 2008, for use in the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme. Fertilizer prices, which averaged US$650 in 2007/08, more than doubled to US$1600 per tonne in 2008/09 growing season. Despite all this price escalation, government bought an extra 83, 000 metric tonnes above what was required,” says Munthali.
This led to a more than doubled fertilizer import bill. Similarly, the high fuel prices in early 2008, which went as high as US$150 in July 2008, led to a more than doubled fuel bill towards the end of 2008 to early 2009, defining this year’s fate for Malawi.
The extra 83, 000 metric tonnes, feels Munthali, might have been imported due to prevalent fears that the prices would go up again- a good decision gone bad.
“This led to tying up of forex into stocks that could only be locally sold to the private sector under buy-back arrangements but in local currency. This was the one single mistake by government, but one which could not have been foreseen,” adds Munthali.
The economist says although it was a mistake made in the best interest of the nation, government should not have gone ahead because “the reading on the wall was showing signs of tapering off of the prices and we could have bought just what was enough”.
Munthali’s sentiments are shared by RBM’s General Manager Wilson Banda. He acknowledged that the crisis started as a result of a huge importation bill of fuel and fertilizer.
Banda said this, compounded with this year’s low tobacco earnings and the phenomenal economic growth the country has experienced in recent years, has caused forex shortages.
Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) president, Harrison Kalua, says the economy is moving in the right direction and this has resulted in people having staggering amounts of local currency.
This, too, is said to have fueled forex shortage problems.
“Because people have money, the demand for luxurious goods is high. We do not manufacture these goods, we import- therefore, we are using a lot of forex. We also require more forex,” said Kalua.
He added that, with increased agricultural productivity, the country was importing too much fertilizer.
“So, what has drained our forex is fertilizers and fuel,” he said.
Now that Malawi is nursing a forex shortage crisis, what is the way forward?
State President, Bingu wa Mutharika- himself a renowned economist- issued a directive last Wednesday to all ministers, their deputies and senior public and parastatal officials, asking them to cut down on foreign trips.
But Munthali argues that Mutharika should lead by example and reduce his entourage on his foreign trips. He advises the president to include only staff that would add value to such trips.
Former leader of opposition in Parliament, John Tembo, is on record to have slammed Mutharika over frequent foreign trips. Tembo, who got dethroned from the position last week, said Mutharika was proving to be one of the most frequent, exorbitant travelers in Malawi’s history, in the process drowning scanty government resources.
The fact that the country does not generate adequate forex implies that the black market will continue to thrive, even when the official rate is placed at its real value, analysts warn.
“The best way forward is to ensure that the local (Kwacha) currency stays at its true value so that exporters have it in abundance and can tap on it every time they need. There is also need to cramp down on the black market: fiscal police, RBM Intelligence Bureau, Immigration Department need to work closely in this regard, efforts that will help in sniffing off any forms of forex evasion and black market growth,” suggests Munthali.
Renowned economist Priston Msiska suggests that RBM works closely with commercial banks in minimizing importation of luxury goods.
Msiska faults commercial banks for easily facilitating importation of luxury goods. He adds that, at the end of the end, these items add up to million of United States Dollars annually.
“We also need to increase our efforts in generating forex. Currently, there are no incentives for the export business. Unless government comes up with incentives to export-business, people will continue to shun it and we will still have the problem perennial forex shortages,” he said.
One of such incentives could include non-charging of interest on half the money borrowed by people involved in export business, observers say.
The other exit strategy could be by creating companies locally, companies that will specialize in producing much sought after luxury goods.
“That’s the only way we can reduce our import bill,” says Kalua.
Local manufactures are threatened because they depend on this scarce resource.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) recently announced s projected 7.7 per cent economic growth, a downward spiral from the 7.9 per cent announced by Finance Minister Ken Kandodo when he presented his budget statement mid this year.
The economy seems to be wobbling towards the right direction yet Malawi is in a foreign exchange crisis of sorts. Just what went wrong, where?
Financial pundits agree that Malawi has been a net importer since attaining independence from former colonial master Britain in 1964. This means the country can not generate enough forex revenue and keep it within the country for long.
And Malawians must simply get used to this, says Thomas Munthali, president of the economic think tank- the Economics Association of Malawi.
Munthali says Malawi will never have adequate forex even during the best of economic times when donor inflows trickle down well enough, and the number one forex earner tobacco fetches well on the unpredictable market.
He attributes the country’s ongoing foreign exchange crisis to last year.
“The first mistake was that we bought too much fertilizer at very high prices in 2008, for use in the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme. Fertilizer prices, which averaged US$650 in 2007/08, more than doubled to US$1600 per tonne in 2008/09 growing season. Despite all this price escalation, government bought an extra 83, 000 metric tonnes above what was required,” says Munthali.
This led to a more than doubled fertilizer import bill. Similarly, the high fuel prices in early 2008, which went as high as US$150 in July 2008, led to a more than doubled fuel bill towards the end of 2008 to early 2009, defining this year’s fate for Malawi.
The extra 83, 000 metric tonnes, feels Munthali, might have been imported due to prevalent fears that the prices would go up again- a good decision gone bad.
“This led to tying up of forex into stocks that could only be locally sold to the private sector under buy-back arrangements but in local currency. This was the one single mistake by government, but one which could not have been foreseen,” adds Munthali.
The economist says although it was a mistake made in the best interest of the nation, government should not have gone ahead because “the reading on the wall was showing signs of tapering off of the prices and we could have bought just what was enough”.
Munthali’s sentiments are shared by RBM’s General Manager Wilson Banda. He acknowledged that the crisis started as a result of a huge importation bill of fuel and fertilizer.
Banda said this, compounded with this year’s low tobacco earnings and the phenomenal economic growth the country has experienced in recent years, has caused forex shortages.
Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) president, Harrison Kalua, says the economy is moving in the right direction and this has resulted in people having staggering amounts of local currency.
This, too, is said to have fueled forex shortage problems.
“Because people have money, the demand for luxurious goods is high. We do not manufacture these goods, we import- therefore, we are using a lot of forex. We also require more forex,” said Kalua.
He added that, with increased agricultural productivity, the country was importing too much fertilizer.
“So, what has drained our forex is fertilizers and fuel,” he said.
Now that Malawi is nursing a forex shortage crisis, what is the way forward?
State President, Bingu wa Mutharika- himself a renowned economist- issued a directive last Wednesday to all ministers, their deputies and senior public and parastatal officials, asking them to cut down on foreign trips.
But Munthali argues that Mutharika should lead by example and reduce his entourage on his foreign trips. He advises the president to include only staff that would add value to such trips.
Former leader of opposition in Parliament, John Tembo, is on record to have slammed Mutharika over frequent foreign trips. Tembo, who got dethroned from the position last week, said Mutharika was proving to be one of the most frequent, exorbitant travelers in Malawi’s history, in the process drowning scanty government resources.
The fact that the country does not generate adequate forex implies that the black market will continue to thrive, even when the official rate is placed at its real value, analysts warn.
“The best way forward is to ensure that the local (Kwacha) currency stays at its true value so that exporters have it in abundance and can tap on it every time they need. There is also need to cramp down on the black market: fiscal police, RBM Intelligence Bureau, Immigration Department need to work closely in this regard, efforts that will help in sniffing off any forms of forex evasion and black market growth,” suggests Munthali.
Renowned economist Priston Msiska suggests that RBM works closely with commercial banks in minimizing importation of luxury goods.
Msiska faults commercial banks for easily facilitating importation of luxury goods. He adds that, at the end of the end, these items add up to million of United States Dollars annually.
“We also need to increase our efforts in generating forex. Currently, there are no incentives for the export business. Unless government comes up with incentives to export-business, people will continue to shun it and we will still have the problem perennial forex shortages,” he said.
One of such incentives could include non-charging of interest on half the money borrowed by people involved in export business, observers say.
The other exit strategy could be by creating companies locally, companies that will specialize in producing much sought after luxury goods.
“That’s the only way we can reduce our import bill,” says Kalua.
John Zenus Ungapake Tembo speaks on his ‘Leader of Opposition’ loss
Main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, John Zenus Ungapake Tembo, has blamed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for his loss in the Leader of Opposition in Parliament tussle.
Tembo has been downed by a little-known political new-comer, 36-year-old Abel Kayembe. Kayembe is MCP Member of Parliament for Dowa West.
This is Tembo’s first reaction to his loss for the position of leader of opposition. Kayembe becomes Malawi’s third leader of opposition after Gwanda Chakuamba and Tembo himself.
The leader of opposition tag has, since the dawn of multiparty democracy in 1994, revolved around MCP leadership.
Tembo said what DPP is doing in Malawi is aimed at confusing and eliminating the opposition, whose first results were his fall as leader of opposition in Parliament.
“Tembo, who has been in politics for over 40 years, said there was no country in the 53-member strong Commonwealth bloc that uses MPs from both the opposition and government backbenchers to vote for leader of opposition.
“They just want to confuse the opposition and eliminate it,” said Tembo.
Kayembe won the leader of opposition post through a secret ballot the house conducted following change of standing orders which Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee drafted following a petition by late MP Ishmael Chafukira.
Chafukira was the defacto leader of an MCP pressure group advocating for leadership change.
“The DPP is abusing its majority in Parliament and this is bad for our democracy,” said Tembo.
The position of leader of opposition attracts an K800, 000 pay check every month, apart from an official Toyota VX government vehicle. It also attracts pay and remuneration as that of a full cabinet minister.
But the ruling DPP has disputed Tembo’s claims.
“They (opposition) are the ones that came up with names, including that of Tembo himself, Kayembe and Alfred Mwechumu of the United Democratic Front (UDF),” said government chief whip in Parliament Khumbo Kachali.
Kachali also serves as DPP’s second vice president, after vice president Joyce Banda and state president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Following the dramatic fall in the House, Tembo- who was powerful and called the shots in the last opposition-dominated Parliament (2004-May 2009)- has been relegated to the back benches as the MCP taskforce for leadership change, the party’s official rebel group, has taken over parliamentary affairs.
It is, however, not known for how long would the veteran politician, who was down in 1994 after the MCP lost power to Bakili Muluzi’s UDF. He was, however, up and running in the 1999 and 2004 elections as he became party presidential candidate. He lost both bids to the State House.
“This is too bad for our democracy; it is not what Malawians voted for in 1994, This is chaos,” said Tembo, for once appearing more angry.
Over the years, he might have let bags of anger bundle up inside him. It is only now that the pain could come to the fall now that the veteran politician has started speaking in negatives about political governance in the Southern African Development Community member-state.
Tembo has been downed by a little-known political new-comer, 36-year-old Abel Kayembe. Kayembe is MCP Member of Parliament for Dowa West.
This is Tembo’s first reaction to his loss for the position of leader of opposition. Kayembe becomes Malawi’s third leader of opposition after Gwanda Chakuamba and Tembo himself.
The leader of opposition tag has, since the dawn of multiparty democracy in 1994, revolved around MCP leadership.
Tembo said what DPP is doing in Malawi is aimed at confusing and eliminating the opposition, whose first results were his fall as leader of opposition in Parliament.
“Tembo, who has been in politics for over 40 years, said there was no country in the 53-member strong Commonwealth bloc that uses MPs from both the opposition and government backbenchers to vote for leader of opposition.
“They just want to confuse the opposition and eliminate it,” said Tembo.
Kayembe won the leader of opposition post through a secret ballot the house conducted following change of standing orders which Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee drafted following a petition by late MP Ishmael Chafukira.
Chafukira was the defacto leader of an MCP pressure group advocating for leadership change.
“The DPP is abusing its majority in Parliament and this is bad for our democracy,” said Tembo.
The position of leader of opposition attracts an K800, 000 pay check every month, apart from an official Toyota VX government vehicle. It also attracts pay and remuneration as that of a full cabinet minister.
But the ruling DPP has disputed Tembo’s claims.
“They (opposition) are the ones that came up with names, including that of Tembo himself, Kayembe and Alfred Mwechumu of the United Democratic Front (UDF),” said government chief whip in Parliament Khumbo Kachali.
Kachali also serves as DPP’s second vice president, after vice president Joyce Banda and state president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Following the dramatic fall in the House, Tembo- who was powerful and called the shots in the last opposition-dominated Parliament (2004-May 2009)- has been relegated to the back benches as the MCP taskforce for leadership change, the party’s official rebel group, has taken over parliamentary affairs.
It is, however, not known for how long would the veteran politician, who was down in 1994 after the MCP lost power to Bakili Muluzi’s UDF. He was, however, up and running in the 1999 and 2004 elections as he became party presidential candidate. He lost both bids to the State House.
“This is too bad for our democracy; it is not what Malawians voted for in 1994, This is chaos,” said Tembo, for once appearing more angry.
Over the years, he might have let bags of anger bundle up inside him. It is only now that the pain could come to the fall now that the veteran politician has started speaking in negatives about political governance in the Southern African Development Community member-state.
Joyce Meyer finishes tour of Malawi
Evangelist Joyce Meyer finished her tour of Malawi Sunday, ending with a touching sermon that implored Malawian men to help their wives in everyday chores as well as detailing her childhood days when her father often abused her sexually.
Meyer, a well-known and highly respected preacher and teacher of the word of God, was in town to hold special Christian meetings dubbed ‘Festival of Life’ in collaboration with Malawian churches.
The meetings begun Friday and ended Sunday in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre.
However, her tour was not without early drama. Her private jet could not land after 6pm due to the absence of runway lights at Chileka International Airport.
Other international flights have suffered this fate before, as runway lights at the biggest airport in Southern Malawi continue to be regarded as luxury. Those who choose to land at Chileka, the airport used by first president Dr. Kamuzu Banda on his pre-independence return to Malawi, do so at their own risk.
Meyer seemed to have put the incident fast behind her memory, and went on to teach locals on the theories of the heavens and practicals of life.
In the end, she talked about psychological pain and sexual abuse.
“I know how it feels, I know,” she said. “My own childhood was troubled; my own father used to sexually-abuse me that often, that I really lost any aorta of confidence. God is great because, somehow, I managed to overcome this and here I am,” said Meyer.
She said the painful part of sexual abuses she suffered was that her mother knew what was happening, but could do nothing under the circumstances to help her.
“We can overcome these things, having faith in God,” said Meyer.
She then took on Malawian men, faulting them for idleness.
“You have the responsibility to help your wives. Someone was asking me why is it that, when we went around, we saw only women working- some carrying children and hoes- and the men were mostly sitting down hands akimbo? No, we can do better and help each other,” she said.
Apostle Madalitso Mbewe, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Festival of Life, Meyer’s visit was a blessing.
“Our nation stands to get many blessings through the church leaders who have been trained in various aspects of religion,” said Mbewe.
Meyer, a well-known and highly respected preacher and teacher of the word of God, was in town to hold special Christian meetings dubbed ‘Festival of Life’ in collaboration with Malawian churches.
The meetings begun Friday and ended Sunday in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre.
However, her tour was not without early drama. Her private jet could not land after 6pm due to the absence of runway lights at Chileka International Airport.
Other international flights have suffered this fate before, as runway lights at the biggest airport in Southern Malawi continue to be regarded as luxury. Those who choose to land at Chileka, the airport used by first president Dr. Kamuzu Banda on his pre-independence return to Malawi, do so at their own risk.
Meyer seemed to have put the incident fast behind her memory, and went on to teach locals on the theories of the heavens and practicals of life.
In the end, she talked about psychological pain and sexual abuse.
“I know how it feels, I know,” she said. “My own childhood was troubled; my own father used to sexually-abuse me that often, that I really lost any aorta of confidence. God is great because, somehow, I managed to overcome this and here I am,” said Meyer.
She said the painful part of sexual abuses she suffered was that her mother knew what was happening, but could do nothing under the circumstances to help her.
“We can overcome these things, having faith in God,” said Meyer.
She then took on Malawian men, faulting them for idleness.
“You have the responsibility to help your wives. Someone was asking me why is it that, when we went around, we saw only women working- some carrying children and hoes- and the men were mostly sitting down hands akimbo? No, we can do better and help each other,” she said.
Apostle Madalitso Mbewe, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Festival of Life, Meyer’s visit was a blessing.
“Our nation stands to get many blessings through the church leaders who have been trained in various aspects of religion,” said Mbewe.
Police force 16 year old into marriage
A 16-year-old girl stunned the Mzuzu Juvenile Court on Tuesday when she claimed that two police officers from the Northern region forced her to marry a man she never loved in exchange for police bail.
The girl, (name withheld for ethical purposes), told First Grade Magistrate Anthony Banda that two police officers from Enukweni Police Unit in Mzuzu, Malawi’s only city in the Northern region, threatened her with pro-longed detention if she rebuffed their idea of marrying the policemen’s preferred man.
The two police officers, identified as Sergeant Meckson Kayange and Constable Ishmael Rashid, forced the school-going girl to marry Kondwani Nyirenda. The officers have since been summoned to appear before the court.
“While in police custody, the two officers told me that I would be released on bail if I paid K6, 500,” said the girl, who was arrested on arson charges.
Her grandmother was forced to borrow K5, 500 to have the girl released, but the two officers received the money and refused to release the girl.
The girl told the court that the two officers only agreed to release her after the grandmother followed up the issue, and on condition that she does not return home but marry Nyirenda.
However, according to information presented in court, the girl went home and did not marry Nyirenda.
After noting this, the officers accompanied by a man from the area’s community police went to the girl’s home and threatened to beat and lock her up if she never honoured the condition.
The girl obliged and has been staying with Nyirenda till the day the matter went to court.
The girl said she was forced to reveal the officers’ conduct because, despite her honouring the ‘bail’ condition, the two officers have not returned the K5, 500 they received- and which the grandmother was failing to repay the lenders.
Police bail is free under Malawi laws, though it remains common practice for police officers to demand money in return for bail across the country.
Magistrate Banda ordered the two officers, Nyirenda and the grandmother to appear before court. However, he failed to hear the matter last Wednesday because the girl failed to come in time due to heavy rains that rocked Mzuzu on the day.
The case resumed Monday this week and will continue throughout the week.
If the allegations are proved true, Nyirenda could be convicted for rape because “submitting to sex because of threats is equivalent to rape”, said prosecutors.
The police officers could also be guilty of selling police bail, which is free. They could also answer charges of aiding a rapist.
The girl, (name withheld for ethical purposes), told First Grade Magistrate Anthony Banda that two police officers from Enukweni Police Unit in Mzuzu, Malawi’s only city in the Northern region, threatened her with pro-longed detention if she rebuffed their idea of marrying the policemen’s preferred man.
The two police officers, identified as Sergeant Meckson Kayange and Constable Ishmael Rashid, forced the school-going girl to marry Kondwani Nyirenda. The officers have since been summoned to appear before the court.
“While in police custody, the two officers told me that I would be released on bail if I paid K6, 500,” said the girl, who was arrested on arson charges.
Her grandmother was forced to borrow K5, 500 to have the girl released, but the two officers received the money and refused to release the girl.
The girl told the court that the two officers only agreed to release her after the grandmother followed up the issue, and on condition that she does not return home but marry Nyirenda.
However, according to information presented in court, the girl went home and did not marry Nyirenda.
After noting this, the officers accompanied by a man from the area’s community police went to the girl’s home and threatened to beat and lock her up if she never honoured the condition.
The girl obliged and has been staying with Nyirenda till the day the matter went to court.
The girl said she was forced to reveal the officers’ conduct because, despite her honouring the ‘bail’ condition, the two officers have not returned the K5, 500 they received- and which the grandmother was failing to repay the lenders.
Police bail is free under Malawi laws, though it remains common practice for police officers to demand money in return for bail across the country.
Magistrate Banda ordered the two officers, Nyirenda and the grandmother to appear before court. However, he failed to hear the matter last Wednesday because the girl failed to come in time due to heavy rains that rocked Mzuzu on the day.
The case resumed Monday this week and will continue throughout the week.
If the allegations are proved true, Nyirenda could be convicted for rape because “submitting to sex because of threats is equivalent to rape”, said prosecutors.
The police officers could also be guilty of selling police bail, which is free. They could also answer charges of aiding a rapist.
Church fires gay cleric
Nkhoma Synod of the influential Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has fired a church minister who allegedly tried to demonstrate how gays make love to an inquisitive ‘student’.
Reverend Simeon Banda was ministering at Kakoma CCAP Church located at Kamwendo in the Central Malawi district of Mchinji.
Banda confirmed his firing from the church, but described it as unfair since he was just “doing guidance and counseling with the inquisitive student”.
It all begun when Rev. Banda was invited to lecture at an Anglican institution in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. In the process of his lecturing, the cleric referred to same-sex marriages and intercourse as part of “the evil people do”.
His ‘victim’, a member of the audience, wondered how people of the same gender can have sex.
The Rev. then invited the inquisitive trainee to a room for a detailed explanation on how gays manage to have sex with each other. The pastor went all the way, demonstrating on the ’student’ in pure practical fashion- leaving nothing that has to be touched untouched, and all holes that must be filled temporarily rocked.
Said Martin Chalimba Saiwa, a member of the audience: “That is how the Reverend sodomised him. In fact, the boy came out very, very weak; he even had difficulties to walk.”
However, Rev, Banda dismissed these claims.
“It is sad that it was reported this way. I did not do that. In fact, I am still waiting to hear from the Synod on the grounds fro my firing<” said Banda.
Nevertheless, Banda admitted having shared the same, isolated room with the boy.
“I did that to pray for him. He wants to become an Anglican reverend in future. I pray and I am able to visualize if one can make it as a reverend. I was praying for him but he reported it wrongly after I left,” said Banda.
Nkhoma Synod General Secretary, Reverend Davidson Chifungo, wondered why such a story should be published.
“We have our own internal mechanisms when dealing with such issues. It is, therefore, not good for us to comment. By the way, why publish such a story,” queried Chifungo.
The matter also led to the suspension of Kakoma CCAP session clerk Joseph Uledi, who was accused of shielding the cleric.
Uledi was also accused of writing a letter to Chileka CCAP where Rev. Banda is currently praying. The letter cleared the embattled cleric and permitted him to receive Holy Communion.
Uledi denied ever shielding the Reverend.
“This story came to us through the Presbytery office but, before all the processes were finished, we received a letter from the synod copied to Reverend Banda, Kakoma CCAP and Mchinji Presbytery.
“In the letter, I was accused of not telling church members about the synod letter stopping Reverend Banda. How could I do that without being instructed by authorities to tell the church members?” queried Uledi.
Uledi was suspended on October 23 this year.
Other Kakoma Church members said they heard that Rev. Banda attempted to sodomised the boy “but he did not do it”.
Anglican authorities reported that matter to Nkhoma Synod, who investigated the issue and consequently fired Reverend Banda.
But Banda said this week he was not heard before the decision was made.
On two occasions, members of Kakoma CCAP sent back a lorry sent by the synod to transfer Reverend Banda to his home.
Apparently, this was because they were not told of the allegations. This angered synod officials, consequently suspending the session clerk Uledi.
Reverend Banda is now staying as a layman in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city.
Reverend Simeon Banda was ministering at Kakoma CCAP Church located at Kamwendo in the Central Malawi district of Mchinji.
Banda confirmed his firing from the church, but described it as unfair since he was just “doing guidance and counseling with the inquisitive student”.
It all begun when Rev. Banda was invited to lecture at an Anglican institution in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. In the process of his lecturing, the cleric referred to same-sex marriages and intercourse as part of “the evil people do”.
His ‘victim’, a member of the audience, wondered how people of the same gender can have sex.
The Rev. then invited the inquisitive trainee to a room for a detailed explanation on how gays manage to have sex with each other. The pastor went all the way, demonstrating on the ’student’ in pure practical fashion- leaving nothing that has to be touched untouched, and all holes that must be filled temporarily rocked.
Said Martin Chalimba Saiwa, a member of the audience: “That is how the Reverend sodomised him. In fact, the boy came out very, very weak; he even had difficulties to walk.”
However, Rev, Banda dismissed these claims.
“It is sad that it was reported this way. I did not do that. In fact, I am still waiting to hear from the Synod on the grounds fro my firing<” said Banda.
Nevertheless, Banda admitted having shared the same, isolated room with the boy.
“I did that to pray for him. He wants to become an Anglican reverend in future. I pray and I am able to visualize if one can make it as a reverend. I was praying for him but he reported it wrongly after I left,” said Banda.
Nkhoma Synod General Secretary, Reverend Davidson Chifungo, wondered why such a story should be published.
“We have our own internal mechanisms when dealing with such issues. It is, therefore, not good for us to comment. By the way, why publish such a story,” queried Chifungo.
The matter also led to the suspension of Kakoma CCAP session clerk Joseph Uledi, who was accused of shielding the cleric.
Uledi was also accused of writing a letter to Chileka CCAP where Rev. Banda is currently praying. The letter cleared the embattled cleric and permitted him to receive Holy Communion.
Uledi denied ever shielding the Reverend.
“This story came to us through the Presbytery office but, before all the processes were finished, we received a letter from the synod copied to Reverend Banda, Kakoma CCAP and Mchinji Presbytery.
“In the letter, I was accused of not telling church members about the synod letter stopping Reverend Banda. How could I do that without being instructed by authorities to tell the church members?” queried Uledi.
Uledi was suspended on October 23 this year.
Other Kakoma Church members said they heard that Rev. Banda attempted to sodomised the boy “but he did not do it”.
Anglican authorities reported that matter to Nkhoma Synod, who investigated the issue and consequently fired Reverend Banda.
But Banda said this week he was not heard before the decision was made.
On two occasions, members of Kakoma CCAP sent back a lorry sent by the synod to transfer Reverend Banda to his home.
Apparently, this was because they were not told of the allegations. This angered synod officials, consequently suspending the session clerk Uledi.
Reverend Banda is now staying as a layman in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city.
Church fires ‘Gay’ cleric
Nkhoma Synod of the influential Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has fired a church minister who allegedly tried to demonstrate how gays make love to an inquisitive ‘student’.
Reverend Simeon Banda was ministering at Kakoma CCAP Church located at Kamwendo in the Central Malawi district of Mchinji.
Banda confirmed his firing from the church, but described it as unfair since he was just “doing guidance and counseling with the inquisitive student”.
It all begun when Rev. Banda was invited to lecture at an Anglican institution in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. In the process of his lecturing, the cleric referred to same-sex marriages and intercourse as part of “the evil people do”.
His ‘victim’, a member of the audience, wondered how people of the same gender can have sex.
The Rev. then invited the inquisitive trainee to a room for a detailed explanation on how gays manage to have sex with each other. The pastor went all the way, demonstrating on the ’student’ in pure practical fashion- leaving nothing that has to be touched untouched, and all holes that must be filled temporarily rocked.
Said Martin Chalimba Saiwa, a member of the audience: “That is how the Reverend sodomised him. In fact, the boy came out very, very weak; he even had difficulties to walk.”
However, Rev, Banda dismissed these claims.
“It is sad that it was reported this way. I did not do that. In fact, I am still waiting to hear from the Synod on the grounds fro my firing<” said Banda.
Nevertheless, Banda admitted having shared the same, isolated room with the boy.
“I did that to pray for him. He wants to become an Anglican reverend in future. I pray and I am able to visualize if one can make it as a reverend. I was praying for him but he reported it wrongly after I left,” said Banda.
Nkhoma Synod General Secretary, Reverend Davidson Chifungo, wondered why such a story should be published.
“We have our own internal mechanisms when dealing with such issues. It is, therefore, not good for us to comment. By the way, why publish such a story,” queried Chifungo.
The matter also led to the suspension of Kakoma CCAP session clerk Joseph Uledi, who was accused of shielding the cleric.
Uledi was also accused of writing a letter to Chileka CCAP where Rev. Banda is currently praying. The letter cleared the embattled cleric and permitted him to receive Holy Communion.
Uledi denied ever shielding the Reverend.
“This story came to us through the Presbytery office but, before all the processes were finished, we received a letter from the synod copied to Reverend Banda, Kakoma CCAP and Mchinji Presbytery.
“In the letter, I was accused of not telling church members about the synod letter stopping Reverend Banda. How could I do that without being instructed by authorities to tell the church members?” queried Uledi.
Uledi was suspended on October 23 this year.
Other Kakoma Church members said they heard that Rev. Banda attempted to sodomised the boy “but he did not do it”.
Anglican authorities reported that matter to Nkhoma Synod, who investigated the issue and consequently fired Reverend Banda.
But Banda said this week he was not heard before the decision was made.
On two occasions, members of Kakoma CCAP sent back a lorry sent by the synod to transfer Reverend Banda to his home.
Apparently, this was because they were not told of the allegations. This angered synod officials, consequently suspending the session clerk Uledi.
Reverend Banda is now staying as a layman in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city.
Reverend Simeon Banda was ministering at Kakoma CCAP Church located at Kamwendo in the Central Malawi district of Mchinji.
Banda confirmed his firing from the church, but described it as unfair since he was just “doing guidance and counseling with the inquisitive student”.
It all begun when Rev. Banda was invited to lecture at an Anglican institution in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. In the process of his lecturing, the cleric referred to same-sex marriages and intercourse as part of “the evil people do”.
His ‘victim’, a member of the audience, wondered how people of the same gender can have sex.
The Rev. then invited the inquisitive trainee to a room for a detailed explanation on how gays manage to have sex with each other. The pastor went all the way, demonstrating on the ’student’ in pure practical fashion- leaving nothing that has to be touched untouched, and all holes that must be filled temporarily rocked.
Said Martin Chalimba Saiwa, a member of the audience: “That is how the Reverend sodomised him. In fact, the boy came out very, very weak; he even had difficulties to walk.”
However, Rev, Banda dismissed these claims.
“It is sad that it was reported this way. I did not do that. In fact, I am still waiting to hear from the Synod on the grounds fro my firing<” said Banda.
Nevertheless, Banda admitted having shared the same, isolated room with the boy.
“I did that to pray for him. He wants to become an Anglican reverend in future. I pray and I am able to visualize if one can make it as a reverend. I was praying for him but he reported it wrongly after I left,” said Banda.
Nkhoma Synod General Secretary, Reverend Davidson Chifungo, wondered why such a story should be published.
“We have our own internal mechanisms when dealing with such issues. It is, therefore, not good for us to comment. By the way, why publish such a story,” queried Chifungo.
The matter also led to the suspension of Kakoma CCAP session clerk Joseph Uledi, who was accused of shielding the cleric.
Uledi was also accused of writing a letter to Chileka CCAP where Rev. Banda is currently praying. The letter cleared the embattled cleric and permitted him to receive Holy Communion.
Uledi denied ever shielding the Reverend.
“This story came to us through the Presbytery office but, before all the processes were finished, we received a letter from the synod copied to Reverend Banda, Kakoma CCAP and Mchinji Presbytery.
“In the letter, I was accused of not telling church members about the synod letter stopping Reverend Banda. How could I do that without being instructed by authorities to tell the church members?” queried Uledi.
Uledi was suspended on October 23 this year.
Other Kakoma Church members said they heard that Rev. Banda attempted to sodomised the boy “but he did not do it”.
Anglican authorities reported that matter to Nkhoma Synod, who investigated the issue and consequently fired Reverend Banda.
But Banda said this week he was not heard before the decision was made.
On two occasions, members of Kakoma CCAP sent back a lorry sent by the synod to transfer Reverend Banda to his home.
Apparently, this was because they were not told of the allegations. This angered synod officials, consequently suspending the session clerk Uledi.
Reverend Banda is now staying as a layman in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city.
Some lessons from Malawi's democracy
This Saturday, May 9, 2009, a group of people gathered at Goma Primary
School in Chikwawa. The bicycle parade to Mgabu Trading Centre, as one
way of sensitizing people about the beauty of taking part in national
elections, was taking too long to start. But everybody kept quiet, no
murmuring, complaints, whatsoever- just some inner, psychological
pain. It was as if everybody, more or less, blamed themselves for
their delinquency, lack of power to make things happen their way or
merely pushed it over to bad luck.
Among this group were Chikwawa group village heads- Goma, Senjere,
Changa, Makande, Linga, Singano, Konzere, Jombo, Mpheza, and Mgabu. At
Mgabu Trading Centre waited Traditional Authority (T/A) Mgabu himself,
and a host of other T/As; Ngowe and Sub-TA Masache, among others. The
meeting at Mgabu Trading Centre was initially slated for 10:00am, but
arrival delays for a Two-toner vehicle carrying the Public Address
System meant 12:00 noon would be the most probable time for departure
to the Trading Centre.
Then, around 11:00am, something happened- unrelated to the event that
was to be, but in the end (it) related, all the same. Made to relate
by the sharp democratically-tuned eye of Maynard Nyirenda, Programmes
Officer for the Sustainable Rural Growth and Development Initiative
(SRGDI), an organisation behind this great gathering of traditional
leaders and other villagers; for most of these, the relatively long
distance they had traveled registered on their bicycles. The village
‘motor vehicles’ had added some dusty colour to their, mostly, black
colour.
Distance speaks. It speaks through dust that clings to such mobile
property as bicycles, vehicles, ferries, even wheelbarrows.
Back to 11:00am, and what happened:
A man in his late 30s was chasing a little dog in, somewhat, lucid
manner from the Southern end of Goma Primary School. He caught up with
it just some two metres from Nyirenda and me, behind the primary
school. The ‘master’ then started whipping the little dog, fiercely,
without mercy, to the extent of even throwing six stones at it (poor
dog!). To Nyirenda’s amazement, the dog did not come anywhere near us
to seek refuge but lied down before him, licking his hands in an
attempt to mollify him.
That is typical of dogs; they often remain close to their master, even
when the master is away. They wait at home for his return, for in the
dog’s mind the master will always return, and then follows him
whenever it is permitted once he returns. The man, who later said his
name was Simeon Makaza, was a good man, according to some of the
villagers who sat patiently under Acacias trees, waiting for the
bicycle parade to Mgabu. He was only infuriated at his dog’s
discourtesy in eating his two mice. He had laboured and toiled really
had to get those two (mice) because, he claimed, eight more had eluded
his seemingly clever hands.
“I wanted to teach it (the dog) a lesson because it is still young,
only nine months old. As they say, Kuongola mtengo ndiukadali waungono
(the best time to straighten a tree is when it is still tender and
young),” said Makaza, seemingly satisfied with the ‘job’ he had done.
We did not leave Makaza at Goma Primary School, he and his dog. He
went home, some 100 metres away, took his bicycle and joined the
bicycle parade for Mgabu when 12:00 noon came and it was time to go.
Every one on the parade wore t-shirts written ‘Ndife Amodzi’ (We are
One). Except some four people because they had come alittle late when
the t-shirts had run out, but they still cycled, fully aware of the
importance of the day.
Any lessons from the ‘master’-little dog scenario at Goma (Primary
School)? I asked Nyirenda.
“Yes,” said Nyirenda. “It is like democracy”.
Here is a master and his little dog, and you talk about democracy. Has
that scenario gone that far?
“It’s not going far (linking the two to democracy); I am just applying
the things we come across in everyday life, like what we saw at Goma,
and relating them to democracy. The symbols we come across in life may
represent so many things, including the relationship between leaders
and their subjects, which I may link to democracy. There must always
be a process through which leaders are made accountable………….”
(Interruption)
I say, how does that relate to democracy?
“It relates. The dog had eaten its master’s two mice, isn’t it?”
He claimed so.
“Right. That applies in democratic systems of government, like ours
here in Malawi, too. The national leaders ‘eat’ our votes because we
cast them (votes) for them (leaders). The votes are not for free. It
is like investing power in them and we expect something back.
“Something in terms of development initiatives, favourable laws and
accountability. By beating up the dog, the owner- I wouldn’t love to
call him master, which does not apply in democracy because the master
is the voter, the purported subject- Makaza was just trying to make it
accountable for the two mice. Everything we see could have lessons to
the systems of our every day life,” said Nyirenda.
That was the reason national leaders have to play to ‘little dog’ once
every five years, he said. Just what happened on May19, 2009.
So, the delays in departing for Mgabu were a blessing in disguise; one
more lesson about democracy. Nyirenda said, for Malawi’s democracy to
grow and attain maturity to the level of the United States of America,
for instance, there was need to gauge the pay we have traveled, and
suggest some of the things we may put in place to make our leaders
accountable, other than instilling in them the spirit that they were
‘masters’.
Malawians needed to find out the impact of the four times (1994, 1999,
2004 and 2009) our national leaders were made to lie down and account
for their political actions. They then got re-elected (positive
sanction) or got the boot (negative sanction). That happens when
little dogs lie down.
Rafiq Hajat, Executive Director for the Institute for Policy
Interaction (IPI) and his counterpart at the Active Youth Initiative
for Social Enhancement, Marcel Chisi, agree with Nyirenda that there
is need to draw some lessons from the 15 years of Malawi’s democracy.
The boat is not half empty because even chairperson for the Public
Affairs Committee (Pac) Fr. Boniface Tamani, Human Rights Consultative
Committee’s (HRCC) chairperson, Undule Mwakasungula and Gender Support
Programme’s Cecilia Mussa agree- a common voice echoed by political
analysts and scientists.
Some of these lessons came out clearly during public lectures
organized by SRGDI with funding from the German institution GTZ. It
came under the ‘Demokalase Yathu’ (Our Democracy) Project, which was
conceived to help Malawians design democratic principles that make
local sense, and tallies with our hopes, wishes and aspirations.
Hajat, Mzuzu University political analyst Noel Mbowela, Chancellor
College lecture in the Department of Political and Administrative
Studies Joseph Chunga, among others, guided Malawians through this
process. Each step towards the whole 15-years process a lesson.
Some of these lessons also came from various other analysts and observers.
Malawi has no parliament, just a national assembly
One of the things that came out clearly was the revelation by Chisi
that Malawi has no parliament, only a national assembly. This took
students from the Catholic University by surprise. There was some
sort of understandable disgust provoked by that revelation, though it
is clear that constructive thinking, ironically, is almost taking the
place in Malawian politics of the politics of patronage as the void-
once filled by the zeal to appease, regionalism and nepotism- is being
filled with pour ideologies.
Having done away with the one party system of government, and thus
one-sidedness in thinking, people can now focus on a myriad of other
issues- truths, half truths, untruths, abuse, ignorance, or prejudice.
Chisi has picked prejudice, saying the events of 1997 in parliament,
when members of parliament (MPs) repelled the Senate, hinged on
prejudice for the people of Malawi because, as the behaviour of MPs
during the 2004 to 2009 House manifested, there was need for checks
and balances.
“Who could check that bunch of MPs? Not the constituents, because
those people were clearly following their party leaders’ bid, but the
senate. That is to say chiefs, minority groups, among others. It is
sad, but true, that Malawi has no parliament because of that action in
1997. Parliament comprises both the senate and the national assembly.
No one way about it,” says Chisi.
Hajat, however, says, as far as he was concerned, the Senate was still
there- at least in his mind- because the 1997 MPs did not call for a
referendum when undertaking such an “enormous task” as to discard off
chiefs and other minority groups in that one mad sweep.
That sounds very much like in 1993. In that year, Malawi’s political
curtain was apparently in tatters and appeared ripe for revolution.
Then came May17, 1994, when came the abrupt, but highly anticipated,
change- a new untried political demand made for a nation of learners.
It was a curious state of limbo buried by a collective barrage of
hope.
“That revolution is not over. We need that spirit to reverse the
damage imposed by a handful people over a nation state. We need the
Senate,” says Hajat.
He may be infuriated because, as it turned out, the hopeful image of
politics of perfection proved merely an illusion. The specter of a
smooth ride and fairness was apparently remote from a country still
dozing from a dictatorship, weakened by a new slanderous, castigating
multiparty regime still nursing the pangs of a shattered economy, an
overtaxed population and rife with traits of regionalism.
We may be lucky now, though, as political analysts and experts have
started replacing the lack of serious dissent, based on the view that
democracy would be perfect and the constitution hole-free. The likes
of Edge Kanyongolo, Boniface Dulani, among others, have contributed a
willingness to do voluntary research that unearths our shortfalls,
which they have presented at various platforms. No longer do members
of the academia, civil society organisations (CSOs), private sector
and the media view the political situation through the same prism.
This pleases Nyirenda, who chips in: “This situation will accord the
curious, progressive citizen a candid view of where our democracy has
come from while, for political scholars, it will supply some footnotes
to the relevance of citizens’ participation and, of course, give more
ammunition to the ‘dyed-in-the-wool’ critic of the Republican
constitution.”
Nobody is willing to relinquish grip over public media
One Bruce Sterling never set foot on Malawi. True. Yet, the practical
machinations of his words render credence in Malawi. If that sounds
unfamiliar, hear him (Sterling): “Knowledge is power. Do you suppose
that (that) fragile little form of yours, your primitive legs, your
ridiculous arms and hands, your tiny, scarcely wrinkled brain can
contain all that power? Certainly not! Already, your race is flying to
pieces under the impact of your own expertise. The original human form
is becoming obsolete.”
Nyirenda agrees that knowledge is power. There are so many ways of
getting this knowledge- through school class rooms, conferences,
meetings, seminars, every day experience. But none, he says, surpasses
the power of radio in Malawi, and to some extent television. And no
radio station surpasses the reach of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s
(MBC) Radio One (though Zodiac Broadcasting Station is going that
distance).
“People are being denied balanced knowledge here in Malawi; those
entrusted with the mandate to rule are not loosening their grip over
MBC, and that has an impact on democracy. What it means when we say
‘Knowledge is power’ is that it can change perspectives, it can tilt
results, it can misinform. Our people are being shown one side of the
coin and that is a serious anomaly,” says Nyirenda, an observation
once shared by many.
Dulani, Kanyongolo, Hajat, Mwakasungula, Hajat, international
electoral observers, parliament, former president Bakili Muluzi
(himself an abuser of the same) have all spoken about it. Even the
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority and Electoral Commission’s
(EC) media monitoring units have pointed it out. No change.
Students who also patronized the Demokalase Yathu Public lectures felt
the same- the need to open up the airwaves to dissenting views.
“Let the people get the power. Whether they have the capacity to
contain that power (knowledge) is irrelevant in democracy. Democracy
means power to the people and knowledge is one way of imparting that
knowledge, power,” says Mwakasungula.
EC Chairperson, Justice Anastasia Msosa, bemoaned it too (patronage of
the public media) in her assessment of the official campaign period.
“The public media has performed miserably in leveling the playing
field for other political parties,” she said.
Democratic governance makes it necessary to provide a time frame,
which in Malawi’s case comes every five years after any other national
election, where it is necessary to unmask, through a secret ballot,
the mass of repressed political wishes lying within the unconscious so
that a new possibility founded on informed knowledge and choices may
be launched to inspire people towards the next course of development.
Two months before this all-important unmasking process, the EC pays
for airtime on public broadcasters so that other political players
should have a platform to share their plans, aspirations, wishes
compressed in manifestos.
It never happened in Malawi this time (2009), though it happened in
1994 when the winds of change drew cracks across the hither to single
wall. This is despite the fact that, with the 2004 general elections
approaching and Muluzi ineligible to succeed himself- having served
the two constitutional terms- people thought things would change.
There is hope, however, as most analysts agree. Chisi and Mwakasungula
agree that 2009 may not be fatefully late a beginning to start the
process of change. We are still learning, says Chisi, as evidenced by
the fact, for example, that it may take Malawi over 228 years to reach
the level of democracy of the United States (if maturity in democracy
was measured by the number of years in it, which is, fortunately, not
the case. Democracy lies in the head- the willingness to learn and
change).
While it may be hard to know the real intents behind people who would
want to abuse their political mandate by monopolizing public airwaves,
Mwakasungula says it becomes less hard to isolate their intents from
the will of the people. It all boils down to intolerance and
selfishness, which is often fortified by their propaganda apparatus
including the use of public broadcasters.
Our liberalized markets need democracy, too
The idea behind democratic systems of government is to avoid monopoly
of power by politicians. Those who opted for democracy over all other
forms must have learnt it the hard way from corporations that
monopolized markets in the past. The corporations originally had power
over every dimension of people’s lives: they produced what they (not
people) wanted; produced whatever quantity or quality they determined;
they fixed prices and costs; they decided on the future of each of
their employees and, sometimes, on the future of entire communities.
They could even determine where people lived; what work, if any, would
do for them (people); what they had to eat, drink and wear; what sort
of knowledge, schools and universities needed to encourage; and what
kind of society children had to inherit. Not only that, they also
affected everybody in their treatment of natural resources and how
they decided to deal with their own factory garbage and residues.
Some of these ills, chips in Hajat, continue to be practiced with our
market players.
“Take our tobacco buyers, for instance; they form cartels and connive
on prices; they refuse to share, let alone disclose, part of their
huge profits with the tobacco farmer in Rumphi, Kasungu, Dedza. The
case is the same with the tea grower in Mulanje, Thyolo; and cotton
growers in Salima, Chikwawa, Nsanje. This shows the clear need for
democracy in our market economy,” says Hajat.
He adds that the British government, for instance, makes more money
from taxes imposed on tobacco products than the ‘real’ man who toils
on the ground in Malawi can ever imagine in his basket. They make
billions, he says, when it remains the same old poverty story for the
African farmer.
His sentiments may emanate from the reality that, while our economic
system is sold to us under the banner of a liberalized, free
enterprise economy, experience shows that free enterprise no longer
exists, if, in deed, it ever did. This because free enterprise, as the
name implies, would have been a system in which buyers and sellers had
equal powers, met at a neutral market in the real village, possess
equal information and make their trade without leaving traces of
poverty behind.
Our markets may not be that neutral, in the words of Hajat, because
tobacco buyers dictate the stakes and government still passes
legislation that rigs the market by giving certain groups investment
tax credits, incentives, depletion and depreciation allowances,
subsidies, rebates and price supports.
Assertions best understood by long time Kasungu farmer, Andrew Bauti:
“We need democracy on the tobacco market, and powers enabling farmers
to vote out players who practice unfair trade. In our system,
currently, neither small and big businesses nor buyers and sellers are
equal in any way. It is very unfair on us because we toil and get
nothing in return.”
That may be true because power is contagious. It can only be fought
with equal, or more, power. Buyers are more powerful than the rural
farmer. That is where democracy comes in when, for once, common
citizens retain their power to fight possible excessive use of power
by those in elected positions. This upon the realization that every
human group that exercises power does so, not in such a way as to
bring total happiness to those who are subject to it, but in such a
way as to increase that power.
That happens when we all pretend to own up to the moral values of
democracy none of us really possesses. And Hajat is against it.
From personal to ideology-based politics
Then comes the question of presidential and parliamentary elections.
Sterling wrote that elections were a means by which people delegated
and extended their mandate to national leaders so that, after a
specific period of time, the people (electorate) get their mandate
back and extend it through the election, or re-election, of new
leaders.
Every thing in life is an extension, he argued: as the wheel is an
extension of the foot; clothing an extension of the skin; the roof an
extension of the sky; synthetic hair an extension of tree leaves;
democracy an extension of choice, to the effect that it is no longer
meaningful to see democracy as a subject. It has even moved from an
object of desire to that of designing.
People have designed elections not as an end, but a means to an end.
And the way Malawians are achieving their means to this end (electing
leaders) has pleased Fr. Boniface Tamani, chairperson for the Public
Affairs Committee (PAC) so much.
“People have moved from the politics of personalities to politics
based on principles and ideologies, something we have been advocating
for all these years. It is pleasing to note that we have started
moving towards that direction,” said Tamani.
It is only natural to appreciate, as he does, because every election
is a complex process. The complexity is compounded by the reality that
it involves a multi-purposed society of ever-evolving egos, a
development that means voting on personal, regional, or ideological
lines may not be out of the complete question. To expect that every
one will vote on the basis of principles is tantamount to thinking
that every citizen thinks alike, says Nyirenda.
“Elections and democracy in other words, counters the myth that we
live as autonomous individuals, as islands unto ourselves, without
rights balanced by duties. Our ‘Demokalase Yathu Project’, for
instance, is premised on the realization that every decision each and
every Malawian makes-whether it be to sell yourself into slavery or to
sell yourself into prostitution- adds to and creates the telos of
communities you are part of. You do not exist as an island, in
democracy, you live in the context of majority wishes,” said Nyirenda.
Not that the majority should take everything for themselves, he adds,
but must employ selflessness, compromise, servility and understanding
to improvise the minority population (voters), the social-economically
disenfranchised, the socially and politically marginalized and the
psychologically weak. When people vote on ideology lines, it feeds
into their nature that they must consider the wishes of others without
being tainted by partisanship, nepotism, regionalism, or whatever,”
according to Nyirenda.
Many analysts have hailed Malawians for voting along ideological lines
this time around, though sentiments by Malawi Congress Party leader,
John Tembo, seemed to suggest he wanted people to maintain the status
quo.
What does the sentence, “Those who know the politics of this country
will understand that the way (Bingu wa) Mutharika has amassed the
number of votes he has is very, extra-ordinary”, mean? (That is an
issue for next time).
People get the government they deserve
This is Rafiq Hajat’s tirade against none-voters. During the 2004
parliamentary and presidential elections, only one in every two
registered voters trekked to the polling station, while the rest
stayed home, some remained on the wheel (track and bus drivers). It is
called voter apathy, a term referred to a scenario where eligible
voters decide to stay out for various reasons. There has, however,
never been a comprehensive study on the reasons voters opted to stay
out of the polling station even before voting (when you vote, you are
not supposed to linger around the polling station. Before you vote,
you are most welcome).
“Some of these people were then heard murmuring and complaining about
all sorts of things. If you don’t vote, the government and
administration that comes in is the one you deserve. The solution lies
in voting,” he said.
He may be backed by fact. In 2004, people gave Mutharika, then
standing on United Democratic Front ticket, 36 per cent of the
presidential vote. The policies, ideologies and principles he brought
into office were the things that the people deserved, those who voted,
but more importantly, those who did not.
Come May19, 2009. There was a huge turn out, which Muluzi has equated
to the situation and enthusiasm of 1994. It can not be ruled out that
most of the voters that shunned voting in 2004 came out this time
around, and voted for Mutharika.
Mutharika has chalked 2, 946, 103 votes, translating into 50.7 per
cent of the total votes. Tembo, his staggeringly insignificant runner
up, got 24 per cent of the vote when he got 1, 370, 044 votes. EC
statistics indicate that 5.8 million people registered to be in that
lonely house, polling booth, for some 10 seconds or more.
Why do we say that? “Because Mutharika has amassed an overwhelming
number of votes than anyone else in multiparty democracy since 1994.
The people who stayed out have understandably contributed to this,
after discovering that, may be, Mutharika’s style of leadership could
be something they have wanted all along and deserve,” says Gender
Support Programme’s Cecilia Mussa.
The youth have a great role to play in Malawi’s democracy
It came out clearly, from the minds of Chancellor College’s Chunga and
Mbowela of Mzuni, that Malawian youths form a political bloc that can
be dismissed at one’s own peril. The youths, especially those pursuing
higher education, are taken as role models in rural areas, are
flexible to new ideas, have more access to communication channels, and
have the energy to pursue their dreams, said Chunga, and could
therefore influence political change.
Mbowela cited last year’s election in the United States of America,
where he said the youth, as a bloc, influenced the election of Barack
Obama, as the first African American president. This influence lies
not in voter apathy, but in the ways their goals and aspirations are
employed and the common end to which they are directed. In the USA,
this common end came in their hope for change, and voting for it.
It lies in action, youths’ power, according to Mbowela and Chunga.
Action Chunga said was evident during the nationalist period when
university youths formed a universities’ revolution group that
influenced political change across the width and breadth of the
continent.
A power still evident in current development initiatives. The youth
contribute towards farming in Malawi, they have helped in Malawi
Social Action Fund work, as well as the income generating public works
programme, adds Chunga.
But their main power and influence lies in their numbers. If only they
redirect their energies (from violence) to leadership participation,
their influence could work well for the country’s development agenda,
in the reckoning of Chunga.
Gender equality, too, is a great issue
A long, long battle that represents, in a way, the short of human
rights advocacy. The United Nations has mechanisms that ensure that
minority groups are not suppressed by the majority- some form of
guarantee that the majority will not take everything to themselves but
employ selflessness, compromise, servility and understanding on the
needs of the minority.
Nowhere do they talk about the suppressed majority, like women, and
how the powerful, influential minority should handle them
(selflessness, compassion, compromise, servility, understanding), a
magnanimous sort of international oversight because women comprise a
whooping 52 per cent of the Malawian population.
The suppression of women arose originally on grounds of economics,
which held that cultural and moral change derive from changes in
economic structure. This perceived suppression got perpetuated with
the concept of private property; mainly because women could reproduce,
they, like animals, were defined as property.
Mussa feels that this practice is continuing in Malawi, looking at the
nature of positions our women hold in society. It is evident in the
continued second class status most women are subjected to, especially
in rural areas where the husband is very much the patriarch to be
feared and worshipped in equal measure.
“It is also clear in the difficulties women continue to face in so
many areas- their continued difficulty in regulating such matters as
sex, marriage, procreation and divorce,” she says, one of the reasons
gender activists may have almost turned gender equality advocacy into
women empowerment campaigns.
Mussa is convinced this practice is also rampant in employment because
it allows employers to get two workers for the price of one as there
are huge disparities between salaries men and women get at the
workplace. The man is paid wages but his wife, who performs the
services necessary for him to live a decent life during the many hours
he spends at work, is not paid (by the husband).
Women also provide a cheap reserve of labour, which helps keep wages
down and profits up.
Will this change?
Emma Kaliya, NGO Gender Coordinating Network’s chairperson sees no
reason why it should not. She says, through advocacy work, things were
now improving- raising the hopes even higher for women is the fact
that the black clouds may ascend even further and live room for light.
This light comes when women are elected, or appointed, into decision
making decisions.
“That is why we have applauded President Mutharika for choosing Joyce
Banda, a reputable woman, as his running mate and, consequently, vice
president of this country. We are really happy. Now we want a female
speaker,” said Kaliya.
Some 40 seats have gone to women in parliament, following the May19
elections. This goes against the target for the 50-50 campaign for
women meant to catapult more women into decision making positions.
Only that the secret ballot may not be the best of catapults.
Gender activists are not worried, though. They say ensuring that women
get to the same level as men, in terms of numbers and influence, is a
process. But it is not a one-day process.
As Malawi moves more and more towards the island of democratic
maturity, women shall finally make it, according to Kaliya, who sums
up:
“We know for sure it will happen, and society will be an improved lot
because women are known for their caring nature, their unsurpassed
love.”
The battle for women empowerment, a majority that suffers suppression,
is a battle of love, and care.
Democracy is Malawian
Chisi further dispelled suggestion democracy was foreign. He said it
was both local and foreign, but more local than foreign.
“Our chiefs practiced it over a long period of time, even before
colonialism. In fact, colonialists found democracy here (in Malawi)
because our chiefs used to delegate cases to their counselors (Nduna
zamfumu). Isn’t that democracy?”
Local government elections are an integral part of democracy
Hajat says the absence of councilors has been felt for the past four
years, one that shows that their presence fills some void in the
democratic open space. He says failure to hold local government
elections violates people’s development and political rights, as the
duty of MPs was not to initiate development activities in their areas
but make laws.
Nyirenda and the others agree. How can we help the common Malawian
understand the tenets and principles of democracy when there is no
democracy near him (meaning councilors). He says councilors were
“democracy brought to the people”,- a form of living democracy that
sits and chats with the people and sleep with the people.
“Unlike most MPs, councilors live with the people they represent; they
know them personality. Isn’t that not democracy near the people?”
This has been one of the shorts so far; democracy that stays with the
people. The distance from Salima to Capital Hill is too huge to be
‘walked’ on foot. The distance to the councilor’s house is not, says
Nyirenda.
The journey to explore the lessons from our fifteen-year old
democracy, too, is too huge to walk on foot. It is like walking from
Salima to Capital Hill.
We may be forgiven for being at Mvela in Dowa, and not Capital Hill yet.
School in Chikwawa. The bicycle parade to Mgabu Trading Centre, as one
way of sensitizing people about the beauty of taking part in national
elections, was taking too long to start. But everybody kept quiet, no
murmuring, complaints, whatsoever- just some inner, psychological
pain. It was as if everybody, more or less, blamed themselves for
their delinquency, lack of power to make things happen their way or
merely pushed it over to bad luck.
Among this group were Chikwawa group village heads- Goma, Senjere,
Changa, Makande, Linga, Singano, Konzere, Jombo, Mpheza, and Mgabu. At
Mgabu Trading Centre waited Traditional Authority (T/A) Mgabu himself,
and a host of other T/As; Ngowe and Sub-TA Masache, among others. The
meeting at Mgabu Trading Centre was initially slated for 10:00am, but
arrival delays for a Two-toner vehicle carrying the Public Address
System meant 12:00 noon would be the most probable time for departure
to the Trading Centre.
Then, around 11:00am, something happened- unrelated to the event that
was to be, but in the end (it) related, all the same. Made to relate
by the sharp democratically-tuned eye of Maynard Nyirenda, Programmes
Officer for the Sustainable Rural Growth and Development Initiative
(SRGDI), an organisation behind this great gathering of traditional
leaders and other villagers; for most of these, the relatively long
distance they had traveled registered on their bicycles. The village
‘motor vehicles’ had added some dusty colour to their, mostly, black
colour.
Distance speaks. It speaks through dust that clings to such mobile
property as bicycles, vehicles, ferries, even wheelbarrows.
Back to 11:00am, and what happened:
A man in his late 30s was chasing a little dog in, somewhat, lucid
manner from the Southern end of Goma Primary School. He caught up with
it just some two metres from Nyirenda and me, behind the primary
school. The ‘master’ then started whipping the little dog, fiercely,
without mercy, to the extent of even throwing six stones at it (poor
dog!). To Nyirenda’s amazement, the dog did not come anywhere near us
to seek refuge but lied down before him, licking his hands in an
attempt to mollify him.
That is typical of dogs; they often remain close to their master, even
when the master is away. They wait at home for his return, for in the
dog’s mind the master will always return, and then follows him
whenever it is permitted once he returns. The man, who later said his
name was Simeon Makaza, was a good man, according to some of the
villagers who sat patiently under Acacias trees, waiting for the
bicycle parade to Mgabu. He was only infuriated at his dog’s
discourtesy in eating his two mice. He had laboured and toiled really
had to get those two (mice) because, he claimed, eight more had eluded
his seemingly clever hands.
“I wanted to teach it (the dog) a lesson because it is still young,
only nine months old. As they say, Kuongola mtengo ndiukadali waungono
(the best time to straighten a tree is when it is still tender and
young),” said Makaza, seemingly satisfied with the ‘job’ he had done.
We did not leave Makaza at Goma Primary School, he and his dog. He
went home, some 100 metres away, took his bicycle and joined the
bicycle parade for Mgabu when 12:00 noon came and it was time to go.
Every one on the parade wore t-shirts written ‘Ndife Amodzi’ (We are
One). Except some four people because they had come alittle late when
the t-shirts had run out, but they still cycled, fully aware of the
importance of the day.
Any lessons from the ‘master’-little dog scenario at Goma (Primary
School)? I asked Nyirenda.
“Yes,” said Nyirenda. “It is like democracy”.
Here is a master and his little dog, and you talk about democracy. Has
that scenario gone that far?
“It’s not going far (linking the two to democracy); I am just applying
the things we come across in everyday life, like what we saw at Goma,
and relating them to democracy. The symbols we come across in life may
represent so many things, including the relationship between leaders
and their subjects, which I may link to democracy. There must always
be a process through which leaders are made accountable………….”
(Interruption)
I say, how does that relate to democracy?
“It relates. The dog had eaten its master’s two mice, isn’t it?”
He claimed so.
“Right. That applies in democratic systems of government, like ours
here in Malawi, too. The national leaders ‘eat’ our votes because we
cast them (votes) for them (leaders). The votes are not for free. It
is like investing power in them and we expect something back.
“Something in terms of development initiatives, favourable laws and
accountability. By beating up the dog, the owner- I wouldn’t love to
call him master, which does not apply in democracy because the master
is the voter, the purported subject- Makaza was just trying to make it
accountable for the two mice. Everything we see could have lessons to
the systems of our every day life,” said Nyirenda.
That was the reason national leaders have to play to ‘little dog’ once
every five years, he said. Just what happened on May19, 2009.
So, the delays in departing for Mgabu were a blessing in disguise; one
more lesson about democracy. Nyirenda said, for Malawi’s democracy to
grow and attain maturity to the level of the United States of America,
for instance, there was need to gauge the pay we have traveled, and
suggest some of the things we may put in place to make our leaders
accountable, other than instilling in them the spirit that they were
‘masters’.
Malawians needed to find out the impact of the four times (1994, 1999,
2004 and 2009) our national leaders were made to lie down and account
for their political actions. They then got re-elected (positive
sanction) or got the boot (negative sanction). That happens when
little dogs lie down.
Rafiq Hajat, Executive Director for the Institute for Policy
Interaction (IPI) and his counterpart at the Active Youth Initiative
for Social Enhancement, Marcel Chisi, agree with Nyirenda that there
is need to draw some lessons from the 15 years of Malawi’s democracy.
The boat is not half empty because even chairperson for the Public
Affairs Committee (Pac) Fr. Boniface Tamani, Human Rights Consultative
Committee’s (HRCC) chairperson, Undule Mwakasungula and Gender Support
Programme’s Cecilia Mussa agree- a common voice echoed by political
analysts and scientists.
Some of these lessons came out clearly during public lectures
organized by SRGDI with funding from the German institution GTZ. It
came under the ‘Demokalase Yathu’ (Our Democracy) Project, which was
conceived to help Malawians design democratic principles that make
local sense, and tallies with our hopes, wishes and aspirations.
Hajat, Mzuzu University political analyst Noel Mbowela, Chancellor
College lecture in the Department of Political and Administrative
Studies Joseph Chunga, among others, guided Malawians through this
process. Each step towards the whole 15-years process a lesson.
Some of these lessons also came from various other analysts and observers.
Malawi has no parliament, just a national assembly
One of the things that came out clearly was the revelation by Chisi
that Malawi has no parliament, only a national assembly. This took
students from the Catholic University by surprise. There was some
sort of understandable disgust provoked by that revelation, though it
is clear that constructive thinking, ironically, is almost taking the
place in Malawian politics of the politics of patronage as the void-
once filled by the zeal to appease, regionalism and nepotism- is being
filled with pour ideologies.
Having done away with the one party system of government, and thus
one-sidedness in thinking, people can now focus on a myriad of other
issues- truths, half truths, untruths, abuse, ignorance, or prejudice.
Chisi has picked prejudice, saying the events of 1997 in parliament,
when members of parliament (MPs) repelled the Senate, hinged on
prejudice for the people of Malawi because, as the behaviour of MPs
during the 2004 to 2009 House manifested, there was need for checks
and balances.
“Who could check that bunch of MPs? Not the constituents, because
those people were clearly following their party leaders’ bid, but the
senate. That is to say chiefs, minority groups, among others. It is
sad, but true, that Malawi has no parliament because of that action in
1997. Parliament comprises both the senate and the national assembly.
No one way about it,” says Chisi.
Hajat, however, says, as far as he was concerned, the Senate was still
there- at least in his mind- because the 1997 MPs did not call for a
referendum when undertaking such an “enormous task” as to discard off
chiefs and other minority groups in that one mad sweep.
That sounds very much like in 1993. In that year, Malawi’s political
curtain was apparently in tatters and appeared ripe for revolution.
Then came May17, 1994, when came the abrupt, but highly anticipated,
change- a new untried political demand made for a nation of learners.
It was a curious state of limbo buried by a collective barrage of
hope.
“That revolution is not over. We need that spirit to reverse the
damage imposed by a handful people over a nation state. We need the
Senate,” says Hajat.
He may be infuriated because, as it turned out, the hopeful image of
politics of perfection proved merely an illusion. The specter of a
smooth ride and fairness was apparently remote from a country still
dozing from a dictatorship, weakened by a new slanderous, castigating
multiparty regime still nursing the pangs of a shattered economy, an
overtaxed population and rife with traits of regionalism.
We may be lucky now, though, as political analysts and experts have
started replacing the lack of serious dissent, based on the view that
democracy would be perfect and the constitution hole-free. The likes
of Edge Kanyongolo, Boniface Dulani, among others, have contributed a
willingness to do voluntary research that unearths our shortfalls,
which they have presented at various platforms. No longer do members
of the academia, civil society organisations (CSOs), private sector
and the media view the political situation through the same prism.
This pleases Nyirenda, who chips in: “This situation will accord the
curious, progressive citizen a candid view of where our democracy has
come from while, for political scholars, it will supply some footnotes
to the relevance of citizens’ participation and, of course, give more
ammunition to the ‘dyed-in-the-wool’ critic of the Republican
constitution.”
Nobody is willing to relinquish grip over public media
One Bruce Sterling never set foot on Malawi. True. Yet, the practical
machinations of his words render credence in Malawi. If that sounds
unfamiliar, hear him (Sterling): “Knowledge is power. Do you suppose
that (that) fragile little form of yours, your primitive legs, your
ridiculous arms and hands, your tiny, scarcely wrinkled brain can
contain all that power? Certainly not! Already, your race is flying to
pieces under the impact of your own expertise. The original human form
is becoming obsolete.”
Nyirenda agrees that knowledge is power. There are so many ways of
getting this knowledge- through school class rooms, conferences,
meetings, seminars, every day experience. But none, he says, surpasses
the power of radio in Malawi, and to some extent television. And no
radio station surpasses the reach of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s
(MBC) Radio One (though Zodiac Broadcasting Station is going that
distance).
“People are being denied balanced knowledge here in Malawi; those
entrusted with the mandate to rule are not loosening their grip over
MBC, and that has an impact on democracy. What it means when we say
‘Knowledge is power’ is that it can change perspectives, it can tilt
results, it can misinform. Our people are being shown one side of the
coin and that is a serious anomaly,” says Nyirenda, an observation
once shared by many.
Dulani, Kanyongolo, Hajat, Mwakasungula, Hajat, international
electoral observers, parliament, former president Bakili Muluzi
(himself an abuser of the same) have all spoken about it. Even the
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority and Electoral Commission’s
(EC) media monitoring units have pointed it out. No change.
Students who also patronized the Demokalase Yathu Public lectures felt
the same- the need to open up the airwaves to dissenting views.
“Let the people get the power. Whether they have the capacity to
contain that power (knowledge) is irrelevant in democracy. Democracy
means power to the people and knowledge is one way of imparting that
knowledge, power,” says Mwakasungula.
EC Chairperson, Justice Anastasia Msosa, bemoaned it too (patronage of
the public media) in her assessment of the official campaign period.
“The public media has performed miserably in leveling the playing
field for other political parties,” she said.
Democratic governance makes it necessary to provide a time frame,
which in Malawi’s case comes every five years after any other national
election, where it is necessary to unmask, through a secret ballot,
the mass of repressed political wishes lying within the unconscious so
that a new possibility founded on informed knowledge and choices may
be launched to inspire people towards the next course of development.
Two months before this all-important unmasking process, the EC pays
for airtime on public broadcasters so that other political players
should have a platform to share their plans, aspirations, wishes
compressed in manifestos.
It never happened in Malawi this time (2009), though it happened in
1994 when the winds of change drew cracks across the hither to single
wall. This is despite the fact that, with the 2004 general elections
approaching and Muluzi ineligible to succeed himself- having served
the two constitutional terms- people thought things would change.
There is hope, however, as most analysts agree. Chisi and Mwakasungula
agree that 2009 may not be fatefully late a beginning to start the
process of change. We are still learning, says Chisi, as evidenced by
the fact, for example, that it may take Malawi over 228 years to reach
the level of democracy of the United States (if maturity in democracy
was measured by the number of years in it, which is, fortunately, not
the case. Democracy lies in the head- the willingness to learn and
change).
While it may be hard to know the real intents behind people who would
want to abuse their political mandate by monopolizing public airwaves,
Mwakasungula says it becomes less hard to isolate their intents from
the will of the people. It all boils down to intolerance and
selfishness, which is often fortified by their propaganda apparatus
including the use of public broadcasters.
Our liberalized markets need democracy, too
The idea behind democratic systems of government is to avoid monopoly
of power by politicians. Those who opted for democracy over all other
forms must have learnt it the hard way from corporations that
monopolized markets in the past. The corporations originally had power
over every dimension of people’s lives: they produced what they (not
people) wanted; produced whatever quantity or quality they determined;
they fixed prices and costs; they decided on the future of each of
their employees and, sometimes, on the future of entire communities.
They could even determine where people lived; what work, if any, would
do for them (people); what they had to eat, drink and wear; what sort
of knowledge, schools and universities needed to encourage; and what
kind of society children had to inherit. Not only that, they also
affected everybody in their treatment of natural resources and how
they decided to deal with their own factory garbage and residues.
Some of these ills, chips in Hajat, continue to be practiced with our
market players.
“Take our tobacco buyers, for instance; they form cartels and connive
on prices; they refuse to share, let alone disclose, part of their
huge profits with the tobacco farmer in Rumphi, Kasungu, Dedza. The
case is the same with the tea grower in Mulanje, Thyolo; and cotton
growers in Salima, Chikwawa, Nsanje. This shows the clear need for
democracy in our market economy,” says Hajat.
He adds that the British government, for instance, makes more money
from taxes imposed on tobacco products than the ‘real’ man who toils
on the ground in Malawi can ever imagine in his basket. They make
billions, he says, when it remains the same old poverty story for the
African farmer.
His sentiments may emanate from the reality that, while our economic
system is sold to us under the banner of a liberalized, free
enterprise economy, experience shows that free enterprise no longer
exists, if, in deed, it ever did. This because free enterprise, as the
name implies, would have been a system in which buyers and sellers had
equal powers, met at a neutral market in the real village, possess
equal information and make their trade without leaving traces of
poverty behind.
Our markets may not be that neutral, in the words of Hajat, because
tobacco buyers dictate the stakes and government still passes
legislation that rigs the market by giving certain groups investment
tax credits, incentives, depletion and depreciation allowances,
subsidies, rebates and price supports.
Assertions best understood by long time Kasungu farmer, Andrew Bauti:
“We need democracy on the tobacco market, and powers enabling farmers
to vote out players who practice unfair trade. In our system,
currently, neither small and big businesses nor buyers and sellers are
equal in any way. It is very unfair on us because we toil and get
nothing in return.”
That may be true because power is contagious. It can only be fought
with equal, or more, power. Buyers are more powerful than the rural
farmer. That is where democracy comes in when, for once, common
citizens retain their power to fight possible excessive use of power
by those in elected positions. This upon the realization that every
human group that exercises power does so, not in such a way as to
bring total happiness to those who are subject to it, but in such a
way as to increase that power.
That happens when we all pretend to own up to the moral values of
democracy none of us really possesses. And Hajat is against it.
From personal to ideology-based politics
Then comes the question of presidential and parliamentary elections.
Sterling wrote that elections were a means by which people delegated
and extended their mandate to national leaders so that, after a
specific period of time, the people (electorate) get their mandate
back and extend it through the election, or re-election, of new
leaders.
Every thing in life is an extension, he argued: as the wheel is an
extension of the foot; clothing an extension of the skin; the roof an
extension of the sky; synthetic hair an extension of tree leaves;
democracy an extension of choice, to the effect that it is no longer
meaningful to see democracy as a subject. It has even moved from an
object of desire to that of designing.
People have designed elections not as an end, but a means to an end.
And the way Malawians are achieving their means to this end (electing
leaders) has pleased Fr. Boniface Tamani, chairperson for the Public
Affairs Committee (PAC) so much.
“People have moved from the politics of personalities to politics
based on principles and ideologies, something we have been advocating
for all these years. It is pleasing to note that we have started
moving towards that direction,” said Tamani.
It is only natural to appreciate, as he does, because every election
is a complex process. The complexity is compounded by the reality that
it involves a multi-purposed society of ever-evolving egos, a
development that means voting on personal, regional, or ideological
lines may not be out of the complete question. To expect that every
one will vote on the basis of principles is tantamount to thinking
that every citizen thinks alike, says Nyirenda.
“Elections and democracy in other words, counters the myth that we
live as autonomous individuals, as islands unto ourselves, without
rights balanced by duties. Our ‘Demokalase Yathu Project’, for
instance, is premised on the realization that every decision each and
every Malawian makes-whether it be to sell yourself into slavery or to
sell yourself into prostitution- adds to and creates the telos of
communities you are part of. You do not exist as an island, in
democracy, you live in the context of majority wishes,” said Nyirenda.
Not that the majority should take everything for themselves, he adds,
but must employ selflessness, compromise, servility and understanding
to improvise the minority population (voters), the social-economically
disenfranchised, the socially and politically marginalized and the
psychologically weak. When people vote on ideology lines, it feeds
into their nature that they must consider the wishes of others without
being tainted by partisanship, nepotism, regionalism, or whatever,”
according to Nyirenda.
Many analysts have hailed Malawians for voting along ideological lines
this time around, though sentiments by Malawi Congress Party leader,
John Tembo, seemed to suggest he wanted people to maintain the status
quo.
What does the sentence, “Those who know the politics of this country
will understand that the way (Bingu wa) Mutharika has amassed the
number of votes he has is very, extra-ordinary”, mean? (That is an
issue for next time).
People get the government they deserve
This is Rafiq Hajat’s tirade against none-voters. During the 2004
parliamentary and presidential elections, only one in every two
registered voters trekked to the polling station, while the rest
stayed home, some remained on the wheel (track and bus drivers). It is
called voter apathy, a term referred to a scenario where eligible
voters decide to stay out for various reasons. There has, however,
never been a comprehensive study on the reasons voters opted to stay
out of the polling station even before voting (when you vote, you are
not supposed to linger around the polling station. Before you vote,
you are most welcome).
“Some of these people were then heard murmuring and complaining about
all sorts of things. If you don’t vote, the government and
administration that comes in is the one you deserve. The solution lies
in voting,” he said.
He may be backed by fact. In 2004, people gave Mutharika, then
standing on United Democratic Front ticket, 36 per cent of the
presidential vote. The policies, ideologies and principles he brought
into office were the things that the people deserved, those who voted,
but more importantly, those who did not.
Come May19, 2009. There was a huge turn out, which Muluzi has equated
to the situation and enthusiasm of 1994. It can not be ruled out that
most of the voters that shunned voting in 2004 came out this time
around, and voted for Mutharika.
Mutharika has chalked 2, 946, 103 votes, translating into 50.7 per
cent of the total votes. Tembo, his staggeringly insignificant runner
up, got 24 per cent of the vote when he got 1, 370, 044 votes. EC
statistics indicate that 5.8 million people registered to be in that
lonely house, polling booth, for some 10 seconds or more.
Why do we say that? “Because Mutharika has amassed an overwhelming
number of votes than anyone else in multiparty democracy since 1994.
The people who stayed out have understandably contributed to this,
after discovering that, may be, Mutharika’s style of leadership could
be something they have wanted all along and deserve,” says Gender
Support Programme’s Cecilia Mussa.
The youth have a great role to play in Malawi’s democracy
It came out clearly, from the minds of Chancellor College’s Chunga and
Mbowela of Mzuni, that Malawian youths form a political bloc that can
be dismissed at one’s own peril. The youths, especially those pursuing
higher education, are taken as role models in rural areas, are
flexible to new ideas, have more access to communication channels, and
have the energy to pursue their dreams, said Chunga, and could
therefore influence political change.
Mbowela cited last year’s election in the United States of America,
where he said the youth, as a bloc, influenced the election of Barack
Obama, as the first African American president. This influence lies
not in voter apathy, but in the ways their goals and aspirations are
employed and the common end to which they are directed. In the USA,
this common end came in their hope for change, and voting for it.
It lies in action, youths’ power, according to Mbowela and Chunga.
Action Chunga said was evident during the nationalist period when
university youths formed a universities’ revolution group that
influenced political change across the width and breadth of the
continent.
A power still evident in current development initiatives. The youth
contribute towards farming in Malawi, they have helped in Malawi
Social Action Fund work, as well as the income generating public works
programme, adds Chunga.
But their main power and influence lies in their numbers. If only they
redirect their energies (from violence) to leadership participation,
their influence could work well for the country’s development agenda,
in the reckoning of Chunga.
Gender equality, too, is a great issue
A long, long battle that represents, in a way, the short of human
rights advocacy. The United Nations has mechanisms that ensure that
minority groups are not suppressed by the majority- some form of
guarantee that the majority will not take everything to themselves but
employ selflessness, compromise, servility and understanding on the
needs of the minority.
Nowhere do they talk about the suppressed majority, like women, and
how the powerful, influential minority should handle them
(selflessness, compassion, compromise, servility, understanding), a
magnanimous sort of international oversight because women comprise a
whooping 52 per cent of the Malawian population.
The suppression of women arose originally on grounds of economics,
which held that cultural and moral change derive from changes in
economic structure. This perceived suppression got perpetuated with
the concept of private property; mainly because women could reproduce,
they, like animals, were defined as property.
Mussa feels that this practice is continuing in Malawi, looking at the
nature of positions our women hold in society. It is evident in the
continued second class status most women are subjected to, especially
in rural areas where the husband is very much the patriarch to be
feared and worshipped in equal measure.
“It is also clear in the difficulties women continue to face in so
many areas- their continued difficulty in regulating such matters as
sex, marriage, procreation and divorce,” she says, one of the reasons
gender activists may have almost turned gender equality advocacy into
women empowerment campaigns.
Mussa is convinced this practice is also rampant in employment because
it allows employers to get two workers for the price of one as there
are huge disparities between salaries men and women get at the
workplace. The man is paid wages but his wife, who performs the
services necessary for him to live a decent life during the many hours
he spends at work, is not paid (by the husband).
Women also provide a cheap reserve of labour, which helps keep wages
down and profits up.
Will this change?
Emma Kaliya, NGO Gender Coordinating Network’s chairperson sees no
reason why it should not. She says, through advocacy work, things were
now improving- raising the hopes even higher for women is the fact
that the black clouds may ascend even further and live room for light.
This light comes when women are elected, or appointed, into decision
making decisions.
“That is why we have applauded President Mutharika for choosing Joyce
Banda, a reputable woman, as his running mate and, consequently, vice
president of this country. We are really happy. Now we want a female
speaker,” said Kaliya.
Some 40 seats have gone to women in parliament, following the May19
elections. This goes against the target for the 50-50 campaign for
women meant to catapult more women into decision making positions.
Only that the secret ballot may not be the best of catapults.
Gender activists are not worried, though. They say ensuring that women
get to the same level as men, in terms of numbers and influence, is a
process. But it is not a one-day process.
As Malawi moves more and more towards the island of democratic
maturity, women shall finally make it, according to Kaliya, who sums
up:
“We know for sure it will happen, and society will be an improved lot
because women are known for their caring nature, their unsurpassed
love.”
The battle for women empowerment, a majority that suffers suppression,
is a battle of love, and care.
Democracy is Malawian
Chisi further dispelled suggestion democracy was foreign. He said it
was both local and foreign, but more local than foreign.
“Our chiefs practiced it over a long period of time, even before
colonialism. In fact, colonialists found democracy here (in Malawi)
because our chiefs used to delegate cases to their counselors (Nduna
zamfumu). Isn’t that democracy?”
Local government elections are an integral part of democracy
Hajat says the absence of councilors has been felt for the past four
years, one that shows that their presence fills some void in the
democratic open space. He says failure to hold local government
elections violates people’s development and political rights, as the
duty of MPs was not to initiate development activities in their areas
but make laws.
Nyirenda and the others agree. How can we help the common Malawian
understand the tenets and principles of democracy when there is no
democracy near him (meaning councilors). He says councilors were
“democracy brought to the people”,- a form of living democracy that
sits and chats with the people and sleep with the people.
“Unlike most MPs, councilors live with the people they represent; they
know them personality. Isn’t that not democracy near the people?”
This has been one of the shorts so far; democracy that stays with the
people. The distance from Salima to Capital Hill is too huge to be
‘walked’ on foot. The distance to the councilor’s house is not, says
Nyirenda.
The journey to explore the lessons from our fifteen-year old
democracy, too, is too huge to walk on foot. It is like walking from
Salima to Capital Hill.
We may be forgiven for being at Mvela in Dowa, and not Capital Hill yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)