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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Comments on stories about gays in Malawi
As humans, we have strayed so far from our creator. We have decided that we will determine what is right and what is wrong. Seemingly, the laws of nature now have to take a back seat to the laws that men set. Homosexuality is an illness, it should not be embraced and forced upon people. The rich nations should not be trying to use money to spread their disease throughout the worlld. That is exactly what it is, it is a disease, a chemical imbalance. It should be treated as an illness. If a man goes out and kills someone, he is arrested and sent to prison. He is not considered a productive part of society. It is wrong for us to go against what the creator has put in place. Throughout nature, creatures are paired male to female. God gave us the gift of free will, he also laid out the law and put consequences in place. If you want to be gay, you will have to deal with the Almighty on that issue one day. But please do not try to corrupt
What Chancy Namadzunda has written about Malawian gays on Africa News
Malawi: 15, 000 euros boost for gays
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Posted on Sunday 24 January 2010 - 13:10
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Chancy Namadzunda
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Chancy Namadzunda, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
A 15, 000 euros boost is to be made to the underground Malawi Gay Movement (MGM) from their Netherlands counterparts (name withheld) to help heighten the activities of the movement in the southen African country. MGM said the money would help create a reliable network among its members.
black gays
“We want to have a powerful movement which will enable us to get settled in the country. We want to be recognised just as any other social groups. Currently, it is threatening in the country to come out and say you are gay just like what happens to our friends.
“We are also going to use the same money to help this couple in legal fees. They are our friends and groundbreakers, they have done us proud and we cannot leave them,” an official who does not want to be named said.
The source said they are planning to launch a massive campaign to lobby the parliament to legalise gay marriages as human rights.
Recently, the Minister of Information Leckford Thotho warned that any attempt by anyone within or outside the country to bring gay relationships in the country will be punished.
“This is a cultured and religious country, so nobody should try to bring in this issue,” he said.
Link to the story: http://www.africanews.com/site/Malawi_15_000_euros_boost_for_gays/list_messages/29588
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1.
Posted on Sunday 24 January 2010 - 13:10
* Quote
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Chancy Namadzunda
* Profile
* 27 messages
Chancy Namadzunda, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
A 15, 000 euros boost is to be made to the underground Malawi Gay Movement (MGM) from their Netherlands counterparts (name withheld) to help heighten the activities of the movement in the southen African country. MGM said the money would help create a reliable network among its members.
black gays
“We want to have a powerful movement which will enable us to get settled in the country. We want to be recognised just as any other social groups. Currently, it is threatening in the country to come out and say you are gay just like what happens to our friends.
“We are also going to use the same money to help this couple in legal fees. They are our friends and groundbreakers, they have done us proud and we cannot leave them,” an official who does not want to be named said.
The source said they are planning to launch a massive campaign to lobby the parliament to legalise gay marriages as human rights.
Recently, the Minister of Information Leckford Thotho warned that any attempt by anyone within or outside the country to bring gay relationships in the country will be punished.
“This is a cultured and religious country, so nobody should try to bring in this issue,” he said.
Link to the story: http://www.africanews.com/site/Malawi_15_000_euros_boost_for_gays/list_messages/29588
Haiti still needs help
Dear Richard
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization, founded by volunteer doctors and nurses and dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through relief and development programs. Our emergency response team is in Haiti responding in force and I would like to ask for your help to get the word out to the readers of Zachimalawi. There are still thousands of patients seeking treatment of which approximately 80% are in need of surgery and are running out of time - especially with the tremendous aftershocks still devastating this country. The team is treating crush injuries, trauma, substantial wound care, shock and other critical cases with the few available supplies - And they're in it for the long haul. I would love your help spreading the word by blogging or tweeting about IMC's rescue efforts. We've put up a blogger friendly widget here on our site:
http://www.imcworldwide.org/haiti
With the widget it's really easy to let your readers know that donating $10 to help the people of Haiti is as simple as sending a text message of the word "haiti" to 85944. If you have any questions just let me know and I will do my best to help you out. If you are able to post the widget or tweet, I would appreciate it if you could send me the link.
Thanks so much,
Ellie
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization, founded by volunteer doctors and nurses and dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through relief and development programs. Our emergency response team is in Haiti responding in force and I would like to ask for your help to get the word out to the readers of Zachimalawi. There are still thousands of patients seeking treatment of which approximately 80% are in need of surgery and are running out of time - especially with the tremendous aftershocks still devastating this country. The team is treating crush injuries, trauma, substantial wound care, shock and other critical cases with the few available supplies - And they're in it for the long haul. I would love your help spreading the word by blogging or tweeting about IMC's rescue efforts. We've put up a blogger friendly widget here on our site:
http://www.imcworldwide.org/haiti
With the widget it's really easy to let your readers know that donating $10 to help the people of Haiti is as simple as sending a text message of the word "haiti" to 85944. If you have any questions just let me know and I will do my best to help you out. If you are able to post the widget or tweet, I would appreciate it if you could send me the link.
Thanks so much,
Ellie
‘Anti-gay bill threatens HIV fight in Uganda’
The UN Special Rapporteur on health, Anand Grover, warned that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill being considered by the Ugandan Parliament is "not only a violation of the fundamental human rights of Ugandans, but will also undermine efforts to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support."
Uganda_map
“Lessons from the last 30 years of the HIV epidemic have shown us that recognition of the rights of people with different sexual identities is a necessary component for a successful HIV and health response,” stressed the UN expert.
“In many countries where sex between men is not criminalized and where stigma and discrimination have been reduced, men who have sex with men are more likely to take up HIV prevention, care and support and treatment services,” he added.
“I urge the Ugandan Parliament to build on its past successes in responding to HIV and to refrain from passing this Bill,” said Grover, while strongly supporting the President and other members of the Government in their attempts to prevent the initiative of some members of the Parliament that the bill becoming law.
He said: “Uganda is in the great danger of taking a step backwards – away from realizing human rights for its people and away from an effective, evidence and rights-based HIV response.”
The Special Rapporteur on health stressed that a number of UN human rights conventions ban discrimination on grounds of sexual identity or orientation, and laws that criminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults violate the right to privacy.
Homosexuality is already criminalized through Uganda’s existing penal code, but the proposed Bill will increase penalties for homosexual conduct and will criminalize many related activities, such as the ‘promotion of homosexuality.’
By including the publication and dissemination of materials, funding and sponsoring related activities, and any attempts to ‘promote or abet homosexuality,’ these provisions could affect the work of civil society actors and human rights defenders addressing issues of sexual orientation or gender identity, which are crucial to addressing vulnerability to HIV.
The Bill also criminalizes failure to report any relevant offences. It therefore compels citizens – including health workers and civil society organizations active in HIV prevention and human rights– to report to the authorities anyone whom they suspect of being homosexual. Furthermore, the Bill would result in the punishment of ’serial offenders’ and those who are living with HIV, with the death penalty.
Uganda_map
“Lessons from the last 30 years of the HIV epidemic have shown us that recognition of the rights of people with different sexual identities is a necessary component for a successful HIV and health response,” stressed the UN expert.
“In many countries where sex between men is not criminalized and where stigma and discrimination have been reduced, men who have sex with men are more likely to take up HIV prevention, care and support and treatment services,” he added.
“I urge the Ugandan Parliament to build on its past successes in responding to HIV and to refrain from passing this Bill,” said Grover, while strongly supporting the President and other members of the Government in their attempts to prevent the initiative of some members of the Parliament that the bill becoming law.
He said: “Uganda is in the great danger of taking a step backwards – away from realizing human rights for its people and away from an effective, evidence and rights-based HIV response.”
The Special Rapporteur on health stressed that a number of UN human rights conventions ban discrimination on grounds of sexual identity or orientation, and laws that criminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults violate the right to privacy.
Homosexuality is already criminalized through Uganda’s existing penal code, but the proposed Bill will increase penalties for homosexual conduct and will criminalize many related activities, such as the ‘promotion of homosexuality.’
By including the publication and dissemination of materials, funding and sponsoring related activities, and any attempts to ‘promote or abet homosexuality,’ these provisions could affect the work of civil society actors and human rights defenders addressing issues of sexual orientation or gender identity, which are crucial to addressing vulnerability to HIV.
The Bill also criminalizes failure to report any relevant offences. It therefore compels citizens – including health workers and civil society organizations active in HIV prevention and human rights– to report to the authorities anyone whom they suspect of being homosexual. Furthermore, the Bill would result in the punishment of ’serial offenders’ and those who are living with HIV, with the death penalty.
How to Set Boundaries With Your Boss
It's good to be the "go-to" guy on the job. You please the boss. You're respected, looked up to, admired. Yes, the "go-to" guy is what so many aspire to be.
John Harris used to be the "go-to" guy. Harris screened calls, ran interference and made things happen for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- at least until both men were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and a count of soliciting bribes. Harris was caught in a web of deceit, bribery and poor ethics, operating as Blagojevich's chief of staff.
While the former governor continues to claim his innocence and exploits his notoriety with an appearance in the upcoming "Celebrity Apprentice," Harris seems to have recognized the severity of the charges.
What is Mr. Harris doing these days? Now he's the government's "go-to" guy. As part of his plea bargain agreement, Harris will be one of the key witnesses in the Blagojevich trial come June 2010. Yes, it's good to be the "go-to" guy.
Was Harris pressured by Blagojevich to act out this criminal behavior? Did Harris fear losing his job -- or worse, fear for his safety? His family's safety?
Establishing boundaries in the workplace can be tricky and sometimes difficult, although it's seldom as dramatic as the choices Harris faced. But if your organization's environment does not foster a comfortable climate for feedback, employee and corporate success suffers. Establishing realistic and appropriate boundaries in the employee-boss relationship and even key to the health of the organization.
John Harris used to be the "go-to" guy. Harris screened calls, ran interference and made things happen for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- at least until both men were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and a count of soliciting bribes. Harris was caught in a web of deceit, bribery and poor ethics, operating as Blagojevich's chief of staff.
While the former governor continues to claim his innocence and exploits his notoriety with an appearance in the upcoming "Celebrity Apprentice," Harris seems to have recognized the severity of the charges.
What is Mr. Harris doing these days? Now he's the government's "go-to" guy. As part of his plea bargain agreement, Harris will be one of the key witnesses in the Blagojevich trial come June 2010. Yes, it's good to be the "go-to" guy.
Was Harris pressured by Blagojevich to act out this criminal behavior? Did Harris fear losing his job -- or worse, fear for his safety? His family's safety?
Establishing boundaries in the workplace can be tricky and sometimes difficult, although it's seldom as dramatic as the choices Harris faced. But if your organization's environment does not foster a comfortable climate for feedback, employee and corporate success suffers. Establishing realistic and appropriate boundaries in the employee-boss relationship and even key to the health of the organization.
Tight handcuffs anger Malawian gays
Arrested Malawian gays, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, have complained bitterly over "too tight handcuffs', saying it seems Police officers want to punish them for 'doing nothing wrong' by pressing the handcuffs too hard on them.
The two complaining loudly on Monday, not for the first time though, telling a Police officer: "Why are you pressing the handcuffs too hard on us as if we are hardcore criminals? Have we stolen anybody's property?"
However, the Police officers merely promised that they would loosen the cuffs in court.
Monjeza and Chimbalanga's case continued on Monday, and three witnesses are expected to testify against them.
The two complaining loudly on Monday, not for the first time though, telling a Police officer: "Why are you pressing the handcuffs too hard on us as if we are hardcore criminals? Have we stolen anybody's property?"
However, the Police officers merely promised that they would loosen the cuffs in court.
Monjeza and Chimbalanga's case continued on Monday, and three witnesses are expected to testify against them.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Nkhayabay hospital construction starts March
The people of Nkhatabay will soon stop crying for a district hospital, following government plans to start construction of a new hospital March.
The hospital will have 600 beds and 60 staff houses, and is modelled on the design of Nkhotakota District Hospital.
The hospital will have 600 beds and 60 staff houses, and is modelled on the design of Nkhotakota District Hospital.
Waiting for the Malawi National Team
Malawians have come to terms with the exist of their national soccer team, the Flames, from the Orange Africa Cup of Nations and are now looking forward to welcoming their team at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.
The team tumbled 3-1 against Mali in a game they should have easily won. Striker Russel Mwafulirwa fluffed a host of scoring opportunities while goal tender Swadick Sanudi seemed to have had a surgical operation that 'opened' his hands and made him too charitable, allowing the unimpressive Malians to score two goals within two minutes.
But Malawians now say the team should dwell on the positives from Angola, a country that has become synonymous with mismanagement and poor organisation.
But missing in Malawi's cities are the Red, Green and Black colours that surfaced after the Flames humbled Algeria 3-1.
The team tumbled 3-1 against Mali in a game they should have easily won. Striker Russel Mwafulirwa fluffed a host of scoring opportunities while goal tender Swadick Sanudi seemed to have had a surgical operation that 'opened' his hands and made him too charitable, allowing the unimpressive Malians to score two goals within two minutes.
But Malawians now say the team should dwell on the positives from Angola, a country that has become synonymous with mismanagement and poor organisation.
But missing in Malawi's cities are the Red, Green and Black colours that surfaced after the Flames humbled Algeria 3-1.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Malawi coach says ready to beat Mali
Kinnah Phiri, Malawi National Football Team coach, has promised nothing short of victory in tomorrow's game against Mali.
Kinnah said in an e-mail response his charges had come over Thiirsday's misery and were now in good mood.
"The Angolans made life difficult for us because we were playing them' now they are good again because we are not playing them on Monday," said Phiri.
The Flames faced intimidation and psychological torture in preparing for the game against Angola. Twice, they failed to train due to purported sabotage.
"The Angolans can be so cruel in deed," said Phiri.
He added:" They can also be good, at the same time."
Kinnah said in an e-mail response his charges had come over Thiirsday's misery and were now in good mood.
"The Angolans made life difficult for us because we were playing them' now they are good again because we are not playing them on Monday," said Phiri.
The Flames faced intimidation and psychological torture in preparing for the game against Angola. Twice, they failed to train due to purported sabotage.
"The Angolans can be so cruel in deed," said Phiri.
He added:" They can also be good, at the same time."
Khonsolo yaBlantyre ipereka ndalama zolimbana ndiEDZI
Khonsolo yamzinda waBlantyre yapereka ndalama zokwana K900, 000 kwamabungwe omwe akugwira ntchito zolimbana ndimatenda aEDZI m’madera osiyanasiyana mukhonsoloyi.
Mkulu wakhonsoloyi aLeycester Bandawe adati akuyembekezera kuti miyoyo yaanthu omwe akukhala ndichiyembekezo ndikachilombo kaHIV, komwe kamayambitsa matenda aEDZI, komanso ana amasiye apindula ndintchito zamabungwe am’midziwa.
ABandawe achenjeza mabungwewa kuti ayenera kugwiritsa ntchito ndalamazi moyenera, ndipo adati mabungwe omwe adzapezeke atasakaza thandizoli adzabweza ndalamazo.
“Ndalama zimenezi ndizaanthu omwe akuvutika m’madera osiyanasiyana chifukwa chosowa thandizo mwina chifukwa chokuti akukhala ndichiyembekezo ndiHIV, kapena ndiana amasiye. Pali mavuto osiyanasiyana omwe anthu oterewa amakumana nawo ndipo akuyembekezera umoyo wabwino kuchokera kwamabungwewa,” adatero aBandawe.
Mabungwe am’madera osiyanasiyana mukhonsolo yaBlantyre akhala akudandaula kuti kuchedwa kwandalama zogwirira ntchito kwapangitsa kuti ntchito zosamalira anthu omwe amadalira thandizo lochokera kubungwe loyendetsa ntchito zokhudzana ndiHIV ndiEDZI laNAC avutike kwambiri.
Ena mwamabungwewa adayambanso manong’onong’o pomanena kuti akuluakulu akhonsolo yaBlantyre adadya ndalama zomwe zimayenera kupita kwaanthu omwe akhudzidwa kwambiri ndimatenda aEDZI, chinthu chomwe chidakhumudwitsa akuluakulu amumzindawu popeza ndalama zidali zisadabwere.
Mkulu wakhonsoloyi aLeycester Bandawe adati akuyembekezera kuti miyoyo yaanthu omwe akukhala ndichiyembekezo ndikachilombo kaHIV, komwe kamayambitsa matenda aEDZI, komanso ana amasiye apindula ndintchito zamabungwe am’midziwa.
ABandawe achenjeza mabungwewa kuti ayenera kugwiritsa ntchito ndalamazi moyenera, ndipo adati mabungwe omwe adzapezeke atasakaza thandizoli adzabweza ndalamazo.
“Ndalama zimenezi ndizaanthu omwe akuvutika m’madera osiyanasiyana chifukwa chosowa thandizo mwina chifukwa chokuti akukhala ndichiyembekezo ndiHIV, kapena ndiana amasiye. Pali mavuto osiyanasiyana omwe anthu oterewa amakumana nawo ndipo akuyembekezera umoyo wabwino kuchokera kwamabungwewa,” adatero aBandawe.
Mabungwe am’madera osiyanasiyana mukhonsolo yaBlantyre akhala akudandaula kuti kuchedwa kwandalama zogwirira ntchito kwapangitsa kuti ntchito zosamalira anthu omwe amadalira thandizo lochokera kubungwe loyendetsa ntchito zokhudzana ndiHIV ndiEDZI laNAC avutike kwambiri.
Ena mwamabungwewa adayambanso manong’onong’o pomanena kuti akuluakulu akhonsolo yaBlantyre adadya ndalama zomwe zimayenera kupita kwaanthu omwe akhudzidwa kwambiri ndimatenda aEDZI, chinthu chomwe chidakhumudwitsa akuluakulu amumzindawu popeza ndalama zidali zisadabwere.
M’gwirizano wadzetsa mtendere kuChiradzulu
Mfumu Likoswe yam’boma laChiradzulu idati kutha kwam’chitidwe odula ziwalo amayi komanso kuchepa kwaumbanda m’bolalo kwadza chifukwa cham’gwirizano omwe ulipo pakati paApolisi ndianthu am’midzi.
Boma laChiradzulu lidavutika kwambiri ndim’chitidwe waumbanda kumayambiliro azaka zam’ma2000, chinthu chomwe chidadzetsa mantha pakati paanthu am’bomalo.
M’chitidwewu udakula kwambiri m’dera lamfumu Likoswe, ndipo zimenezi zidakhumudwitsa mfumuyi, yomwe idadabwitsidwa ndichifukwa chomwe anthu ambandawa amkachitira zamtopolazi mdera lake.
Koma mfumu Likoswe yam’bolalo idati zonsezi tsopano ndimbiri yakale, ndipo anthu akugona mosayang’ana kukhomo, chinthu chomwe idati chatheka kamba kam’gwirizano wabwino pakati paApolisi ndianthu am’madera akumidzi kumeneko.
“Zinthu zidasintha tsopano ndipo kuno kuli mtendere tsopano. Zimenezi zatheka chifukwa cham’gwirizano wabwino omwe ulipo pakati paogwira ntchito zachitetezo ndianthu am’midzi,” idatero mfumu Likoswe.
Mfumuyi yathokoza anthu omwe amayang’anira ntchito zoonetsetsa kuti akuluakulu ogwira ntchito zolimbikitsa chitetezo akugwira ntchito limodzi ndianthu m’madera osiyanasiyana kamba kothandiza ndizida zosiyanasiyana monga zobvala pantchito, miyuni younikira usiku komanso psilili (mawezulo).
Akuluakulu olimbikitsa ntchitozi m’chigawo chakumwera sabata latha adapereka zovala anthu omwe akuthandizana ndiApolisi pantchito yobweretsa chitetezo, zinthu zomwe adati zithandiza kusiyanitsa pakati paanthuwa ndiena ongodziyendera usiku, mwina kamba kofuna kuchita zinthu zaumbanda.
Boma laChiradzulu lidavutika kwambiri ndim’chitidwe waumbanda kumayambiliro azaka zam’ma2000, chinthu chomwe chidadzetsa mantha pakati paanthu am’bomalo.
M’chitidwewu udakula kwambiri m’dera lamfumu Likoswe, ndipo zimenezi zidakhumudwitsa mfumuyi, yomwe idadabwitsidwa ndichifukwa chomwe anthu ambandawa amkachitira zamtopolazi mdera lake.
Koma mfumu Likoswe yam’bolalo idati zonsezi tsopano ndimbiri yakale, ndipo anthu akugona mosayang’ana kukhomo, chinthu chomwe idati chatheka kamba kam’gwirizano wabwino pakati paApolisi ndianthu am’madera akumidzi kumeneko.
“Zinthu zidasintha tsopano ndipo kuno kuli mtendere tsopano. Zimenezi zatheka chifukwa cham’gwirizano wabwino omwe ulipo pakati paogwira ntchito zachitetezo ndianthu am’midzi,” idatero mfumu Likoswe.
Mfumuyi yathokoza anthu omwe amayang’anira ntchito zoonetsetsa kuti akuluakulu ogwira ntchito zolimbikitsa chitetezo akugwira ntchito limodzi ndianthu m’madera osiyanasiyana kamba kothandiza ndizida zosiyanasiyana monga zobvala pantchito, miyuni younikira usiku komanso psilili (mawezulo).
Akuluakulu olimbikitsa ntchitozi m’chigawo chakumwera sabata latha adapereka zovala anthu omwe akuthandizana ndiApolisi pantchito yobweretsa chitetezo, zinthu zomwe adati zithandiza kusiyanitsa pakati paanthuwa ndiena ongodziyendera usiku, mwina kamba kofuna kuchita zinthu zaumbanda.
Thandizo likufunikabe m’boma laSalima
Anthu omwe adakhudzidwa ndivuto lamphepo yamkuntho m’boma laSalima adadandaula kuti anthu ndimabungwe ambiri akuyika chidwi chawo chonse pangozi yazivomerezi zomwe zidakhudza anthu oposa 4,000 m’boma laKaronga, kuyiwala kuti nawonso akuvutika chifukwa chimphepo yamphavu yomwe idasasula nyumba ndikugwetsa mitengo mwezi watha.
Anthu okhala kuChitala m’boma laSalima adakhudzidwa ndivuto lamphepo yamkuntho paDisembala 19, chaka chatha, chinthu chomwe chidapangitsa kuti nyumba komanso mitengo yamalambe, mtenthanyerere ndiina igwe ndikutchinga njira.
Anthu omwe nyumba zawo zidagwa akusowa mtengo wogwira ndipo akugona muzisakasa.
Zimenezi zidadziwika pomwe bungwe laCentre for Sustainable Development and Alternative Rights (SUDAR) lidakayendera madera omwe akhudzidwa kwambiri ndivutoli litalandira pempho kuchokera kubungwe lina lakuNetherlands, lomwe lidapempha bungweli kuti likawunikew zamavuto omwe adza kamba kamphepoyo.
Malingana ndiaMichael Mtambalika, mkulu wabungweli, bungwe lakunjalo lidapempha SUDAR litamva zavutoli.
“Vutoli litagwa, ife tidafotokozera bungwe lotchedwa Universal Justice lakuNetherlands, ndipo bungweli layamba kale kusonkhetsa thandizo m’dzikolo. Tapeza kuti anthu ambiri akuvutika ndivutoli kuSalima, ena mwaiwo alibe ndichakudya chomwe,” adatero aMtambalika.
Anthu oposa 250 akufunika thandizo lamsanga kuChitala, Malingana ndimafumu ena akuChitala.
M’modzi mwaanthu omwe akhudzidwa ndivutoli, a Linda Kuzimva, adadandaula kuti anthu ambiri ayika chidwi chawo pangozi yakuKaronga, chonsecho kuSalima kunalinso vuto lina lalikulu.
“Tikupempha kuti anthu atikumbuke nafenso popeza tili pamavuto adzaoneni. Tikusowa zakudya monga Likuni phala ndizina,” adatero aKuzimva.
Malingana ndibwanankubwa waboma laSalima, a Gift Lapozo, zinthu monga mapepala apulasitiki komanso zakudya ndizomwe zimafunika m’bomalo.
Anthu okhala kuChitala m’boma laSalima adakhudzidwa ndivuto lamphepo yamkuntho paDisembala 19, chaka chatha, chinthu chomwe chidapangitsa kuti nyumba komanso mitengo yamalambe, mtenthanyerere ndiina igwe ndikutchinga njira.
Anthu omwe nyumba zawo zidagwa akusowa mtengo wogwira ndipo akugona muzisakasa.
Zimenezi zidadziwika pomwe bungwe laCentre for Sustainable Development and Alternative Rights (SUDAR) lidakayendera madera omwe akhudzidwa kwambiri ndivutoli litalandira pempho kuchokera kubungwe lina lakuNetherlands, lomwe lidapempha bungweli kuti likawunikew zamavuto omwe adza kamba kamphepoyo.
Malingana ndiaMichael Mtambalika, mkulu wabungweli, bungwe lakunjalo lidapempha SUDAR litamva zavutoli.
“Vutoli litagwa, ife tidafotokozera bungwe lotchedwa Universal Justice lakuNetherlands, ndipo bungweli layamba kale kusonkhetsa thandizo m’dzikolo. Tapeza kuti anthu ambiri akuvutika ndivutoli kuSalima, ena mwaiwo alibe ndichakudya chomwe,” adatero aMtambalika.
Anthu oposa 250 akufunika thandizo lamsanga kuChitala, Malingana ndimafumu ena akuChitala.
M’modzi mwaanthu omwe akhudzidwa ndivutoli, a Linda Kuzimva, adadandaula kuti anthu ambiri ayika chidwi chawo pangozi yakuKaronga, chonsecho kuSalima kunalinso vuto lina lalikulu.
“Tikupempha kuti anthu atikumbuke nafenso popeza tili pamavuto adzaoneni. Tikusowa zakudya monga Likuni phala ndizina,” adatero aKuzimva.
Malingana ndibwanankubwa waboma laSalima, a Gift Lapozo, zinthu monga mapepala apulasitiki komanso zakudya ndizomwe zimafunika m’bomalo.
Debate rages on 2010 secondary school selection
BY RICHARD CHIROMBO
Benedicto Kondowe, National Coordinator for Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education (CSCQBE), is a man of high estimations; he sets his eyes on the future and never looks back, overtly sure that human beings will always learn from history’s toughest lessons.
Like so many who hope that tomorrow may be better than today, his optimism for the future of education in Malawi is pregnant almost to a fault. At least, that is the impression one gets from Kondowe since announcement of the 2009 Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations (PSLCE) results, and list of candidates selected to various national secondary schools.
Dots of pessimism and discouragement now mark facial expressions once decorated with hope and optimism. Moreover, Kondowe cannot help but look back at life’s little lessons- something that brings him to the realization that, after all, childhood was a lesson, too.
The lesson he gets: When you are a small child, you know something is not right, and you do not like it. But you do not question it, and you never let that get you down; you, sought of, just continue to move on with life, to live.
This is the situation Malawian Civil Society Organisations (CSO) found themselves in when the country embraced multiparty democracy in 1994. They could see things go wrong with the new political leaders and merely move on with their lives.
“Now we have matured with age and are ready to question those in authority whenever we see that something has gone amiss. We have even gone a step further and are increasingly engaging the government in dialogue on various issues of national interest,” says Kondowe.
A good case in point is that of the 2009 PSLCE secondary school selection list. Kondowe, the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and others feel shortchanged on the results, and are questioning the Ministry of Education.
The bone of contention, over an issue government officials say is far way straight forward, is the difference in regional percentage points. CSCQEBE and Livingstonia Synod are questioning the rationale behind drastic reductions in selected students from the Northern region, and suspect an invisible hand and system to be at play.
“Why, for example, is it that the number of students selected to national secondary schools for Northern region candidates has dwindled from 19 per cent in 2009 to 13 per cent (representing a decrease of 6 percentage points) in 2010? At the same time, the number of students from the Southern and Central region has increased from 36 per cent in 2009 to 42 percent in 2010, and 42 per cent in 2009 to 44 percent in 2010, respectively. We suspect foul play,” said Kondowe.
What sort of foul play?
“We believe that the quota system has been used indiscreetly,” he adds, his anger beginning to appear.
The issue of quota system has a deep surface. It existed during the one party regime and was, subsequently, abandoned. Then, in 2007, the University Council reignited debate over the issue following concerns presented in Parliament by one opposition Member of Parliament over the shortfalls of University Entrance Examinations (UEE).
The MP noted that UEE was creating selection disparity between urban and rural students but the Council identified regional disparity and not urban versus rural was what the Council identified as a core issue.
Facts established by the council indicated that about 3000 students qualify for entrance examinations every year, competing for about 900 spaces only. It then requested the Centre for Education Research and Training (CERT) to conduct a comprehensive study to confirm or disqualify this impression.
The University Council, however, noted the social-political implications of the trend to the future of Malawi’s education, and recommended to the University Senate in 2007 to consider re-introducing the quarter system, but the Senate pleaded for more time and consultations.
Now CSCQBE believes the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb), which is not related to the University Council or Senate, has borrowed a leaf from the University of Malawi and applied a quota system of selection.
“Otherwise, Maneb should come out in the open and explain its selection criteria. People may lose trust in it. It is also good for the government to be transparent because it will help the regions that have not done better to get back to successful, old ways,” said Kondowe.
However, Education Minister George Chaponda feels that CSOs suspecting foul play are seeing opium smoke where plantations never exist. The 2010 secondary selection process was normal, he says, and nothing sinister ever happened.
Chaponda assures Malawians that government would not behind their backs and implement a system that is far from matured, asking people to get regional politics out of the selection equation.
The issue of quota system is a contentious issue even within the file and ranks of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), following the firing of former Director of Political Affairs Harry Mkandawire.
This was after Mkandawire’s public criticism of government’s intention to employ the quota system. The party liked no bit of his criticism of President Bingu wa Mutharika, who has vowed to make development, including access to higher education, equitable to all Malawians.
Mutharika has often advocated for equality in sharing the national development cake, and says just such a development could help spur a new era of all-round development.
DPP has, thus, not taken lightly to CSCQBE and Livingstonia Synod accusations of under-hand tactics. Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba, DPP Publicity Secretary, feels that the sentiments are innuendos aimed at the ruling party- now driving the current administration.
“The Livingstonia Synod and others should know that the schools in question are national schools and not regional schools. These people are advocating regional lines, yet the number of Northern region students in the country’s education facilities is more than the 13% Livingstonia Synod is claiming. People must know that these students are scattered all over Malawi.”
Ntaba adds that, in fact, “Section 20, subsection 2 of the Republican Constitution requires that government acts to address any inequalities in the country. If I may ask, why are other regions not complaining; they are a silent majority.”
CSCQBE has since threatened to take stern action, among others by carrying out a more comprehensive study on the “evils” of the year’s secondary school selection criteria.
“Equitable distribution should not be retrospective,” says Kondowe.
It remains to be seen whether the coalition will take any real action. However, a 2009 study conducted in four SADC countries by Development Media Africa (Dema) revealed that CSOs rarely succeed in their advocacy roles.
The Dema study indicated, for instance, that only 3 per cent of advocacy efforts for Malawian CSOs worked for the past five years, with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia reporting a 13 per cent effectiveness rate.
What is more? The study, which had 1780 respondents in all the four countries, revealed that CSOs rarely follow what they preach, often doing the very same things they scorn governments for.
A recent press conference on equal distribution of resources in the education sector, organized by the equality-conscious CSCQBE in Blantyre, could be a good case in point. While coalition officials vilified government for sidelining the Northern region in this year’s secondary school selection in the presence of 28 journalists, they handpicked only eight members of the pen for sitting allowances.
Equitable distribution the CSCQBE-way!
Benedicto Kondowe, National Coordinator for Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education (CSCQBE), is a man of high estimations; he sets his eyes on the future and never looks back, overtly sure that human beings will always learn from history’s toughest lessons.
Like so many who hope that tomorrow may be better than today, his optimism for the future of education in Malawi is pregnant almost to a fault. At least, that is the impression one gets from Kondowe since announcement of the 2009 Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations (PSLCE) results, and list of candidates selected to various national secondary schools.
Dots of pessimism and discouragement now mark facial expressions once decorated with hope and optimism. Moreover, Kondowe cannot help but look back at life’s little lessons- something that brings him to the realization that, after all, childhood was a lesson, too.
The lesson he gets: When you are a small child, you know something is not right, and you do not like it. But you do not question it, and you never let that get you down; you, sought of, just continue to move on with life, to live.
This is the situation Malawian Civil Society Organisations (CSO) found themselves in when the country embraced multiparty democracy in 1994. They could see things go wrong with the new political leaders and merely move on with their lives.
“Now we have matured with age and are ready to question those in authority whenever we see that something has gone amiss. We have even gone a step further and are increasingly engaging the government in dialogue on various issues of national interest,” says Kondowe.
A good case in point is that of the 2009 PSLCE secondary school selection list. Kondowe, the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and others feel shortchanged on the results, and are questioning the Ministry of Education.
The bone of contention, over an issue government officials say is far way straight forward, is the difference in regional percentage points. CSCQEBE and Livingstonia Synod are questioning the rationale behind drastic reductions in selected students from the Northern region, and suspect an invisible hand and system to be at play.
“Why, for example, is it that the number of students selected to national secondary schools for Northern region candidates has dwindled from 19 per cent in 2009 to 13 per cent (representing a decrease of 6 percentage points) in 2010? At the same time, the number of students from the Southern and Central region has increased from 36 per cent in 2009 to 42 percent in 2010, and 42 per cent in 2009 to 44 percent in 2010, respectively. We suspect foul play,” said Kondowe.
What sort of foul play?
“We believe that the quota system has been used indiscreetly,” he adds, his anger beginning to appear.
The issue of quota system has a deep surface. It existed during the one party regime and was, subsequently, abandoned. Then, in 2007, the University Council reignited debate over the issue following concerns presented in Parliament by one opposition Member of Parliament over the shortfalls of University Entrance Examinations (UEE).
The MP noted that UEE was creating selection disparity between urban and rural students but the Council identified regional disparity and not urban versus rural was what the Council identified as a core issue.
Facts established by the council indicated that about 3000 students qualify for entrance examinations every year, competing for about 900 spaces only. It then requested the Centre for Education Research and Training (CERT) to conduct a comprehensive study to confirm or disqualify this impression.
The University Council, however, noted the social-political implications of the trend to the future of Malawi’s education, and recommended to the University Senate in 2007 to consider re-introducing the quarter system, but the Senate pleaded for more time and consultations.
Now CSCQBE believes the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb), which is not related to the University Council or Senate, has borrowed a leaf from the University of Malawi and applied a quota system of selection.
“Otherwise, Maneb should come out in the open and explain its selection criteria. People may lose trust in it. It is also good for the government to be transparent because it will help the regions that have not done better to get back to successful, old ways,” said Kondowe.
However, Education Minister George Chaponda feels that CSOs suspecting foul play are seeing opium smoke where plantations never exist. The 2010 secondary selection process was normal, he says, and nothing sinister ever happened.
Chaponda assures Malawians that government would not behind their backs and implement a system that is far from matured, asking people to get regional politics out of the selection equation.
The issue of quota system is a contentious issue even within the file and ranks of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), following the firing of former Director of Political Affairs Harry Mkandawire.
This was after Mkandawire’s public criticism of government’s intention to employ the quota system. The party liked no bit of his criticism of President Bingu wa Mutharika, who has vowed to make development, including access to higher education, equitable to all Malawians.
Mutharika has often advocated for equality in sharing the national development cake, and says just such a development could help spur a new era of all-round development.
DPP has, thus, not taken lightly to CSCQBE and Livingstonia Synod accusations of under-hand tactics. Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba, DPP Publicity Secretary, feels that the sentiments are innuendos aimed at the ruling party- now driving the current administration.
“The Livingstonia Synod and others should know that the schools in question are national schools and not regional schools. These people are advocating regional lines, yet the number of Northern region students in the country’s education facilities is more than the 13% Livingstonia Synod is claiming. People must know that these students are scattered all over Malawi.”
Ntaba adds that, in fact, “Section 20, subsection 2 of the Republican Constitution requires that government acts to address any inequalities in the country. If I may ask, why are other regions not complaining; they are a silent majority.”
CSCQBE has since threatened to take stern action, among others by carrying out a more comprehensive study on the “evils” of the year’s secondary school selection criteria.
“Equitable distribution should not be retrospective,” says Kondowe.
It remains to be seen whether the coalition will take any real action. However, a 2009 study conducted in four SADC countries by Development Media Africa (Dema) revealed that CSOs rarely succeed in their advocacy roles.
The Dema study indicated, for instance, that only 3 per cent of advocacy efforts for Malawian CSOs worked for the past five years, with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia reporting a 13 per cent effectiveness rate.
What is more? The study, which had 1780 respondents in all the four countries, revealed that CSOs rarely follow what they preach, often doing the very same things they scorn governments for.
A recent press conference on equal distribution of resources in the education sector, organized by the equality-conscious CSCQBE in Blantyre, could be a good case in point. While coalition officials vilified government for sidelining the Northern region in this year’s secondary school selection in the presence of 28 journalists, they handpicked only eight members of the pen for sitting allowances.
Equitable distribution the CSCQBE-way!
Tiwonge Chimbalanga, Steven Monjeza Soko still sick
Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza Soko, the two Malawian gays arrested on December 28, 2009 and being denied the right to bail, are still not "feeling okay".
The two told Zachimalawi Saturday, when the blogger paid them a courtesy call, they were still feeling dizzy and in pain.
Monjeza complained of headache on Monday while Chimbalanga could not do otherwise but throw up in court, a development that led to the postponement of their case.
The two told Zachimalawi they were receiving a poor diet from well-wishers, apart from living in smelly cells at the station.
In addition, Chimbalanga said he is not being treated as a woman, something he felt was counterproductive to human rights freedoms in Malawi.
The two told Zachimalawi Saturday, when the blogger paid them a courtesy call, they were still feeling dizzy and in pain.
Monjeza complained of headache on Monday while Chimbalanga could not do otherwise but throw up in court, a development that led to the postponement of their case.
The two told Zachimalawi they were receiving a poor diet from well-wishers, apart from living in smelly cells at the station.
In addition, Chimbalanga said he is not being treated as a woman, something he felt was counterproductive to human rights freedoms in Malawi.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Tanzania: CPJ condemns government suspension of private weekly
New York, January 12, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for the suspension of independent weekly Swahili newspaper Kulikoni to be lifted immediately. Information Minister George Mkuchika announced the suspension of the leading investigative weekly on Friday, citing a sales and distribution ban for a period of 90 days beginning January 11, according to local journalists and news reports.
The ruling was linked to a November 27, 2009, story that alleged cheating in the national exams for the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces, the managing editor of Dar-es-Salaam-based Kulikoni, Evarist Mwitumba, told CPJ. Presidential spokesman Salva Rweyemamu told CPJ that the minister had decided the newspaper had breached the security laws of the country. He suspended the newspaper under the 1976 Newspapers Act. The minister can make direct decisions for suspension without consulting the independent media monitoring body, the Media Council, the spokesman added. The information minister said the paper could not substantiate their claims in the story after a formal request to do so by the government-run registrar of newspapers, according to the state-owned Daily News.
“The information minister should not be able to censor a publication at will,” said CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes. “We call on the minister to lift the ban immediately and to allow the Media Council to reach its own decision on the matter.”
According to local journalists, the decision was politicized because of upcoming election nominations. The paper is critical of the government and frequently investigates corruption issues. Tanzania is expected to hold its fourth multiparty general election October this year.
While the suspension announcement was made on Friday, Kulikoni’s staff were not invited to the press conference and only received official notification of their suspension Monday at 5 p.m., local journalists told CPJ. The newspaper published an edition on Sunday evening and distributed the newspaper Monday prior to receiving notice, Mwitumba told CPJ. The minister sent an additional letter demanding an explanation for publishing today despite the suspension order, he said.
The government suspended another leading investigative journal, MwanHalisi, under the same legal provision on October 13, 2008, for 90 days for “inciting public hatred against the president.”
CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.
The ruling was linked to a November 27, 2009, story that alleged cheating in the national exams for the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces, the managing editor of Dar-es-Salaam-based Kulikoni, Evarist Mwitumba, told CPJ. Presidential spokesman Salva Rweyemamu told CPJ that the minister had decided the newspaper had breached the security laws of the country. He suspended the newspaper under the 1976 Newspapers Act. The minister can make direct decisions for suspension without consulting the independent media monitoring body, the Media Council, the spokesman added. The information minister said the paper could not substantiate their claims in the story after a formal request to do so by the government-run registrar of newspapers, according to the state-owned Daily News.
“The information minister should not be able to censor a publication at will,” said CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes. “We call on the minister to lift the ban immediately and to allow the Media Council to reach its own decision on the matter.”
According to local journalists, the decision was politicized because of upcoming election nominations. The paper is critical of the government and frequently investigates corruption issues. Tanzania is expected to hold its fourth multiparty general election October this year.
While the suspension announcement was made on Friday, Kulikoni’s staff were not invited to the press conference and only received official notification of their suspension Monday at 5 p.m., local journalists told CPJ. The newspaper published an edition on Sunday evening and distributed the newspaper Monday prior to receiving notice, Mwitumba told CPJ. The minister sent an additional letter demanding an explanation for publishing today despite the suspension order, he said.
The government suspended another leading investigative journal, MwanHalisi, under the same legal provision on October 13, 2008, for 90 days for “inciting public hatred against the president.”
CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.
Arrested gays very sick
Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, the two gays arrested on December 28, 2009 for having a public gay engagement and still in police custody since then, are very sick.
This forced the Blantyre Magistrates Court to suspend court proceedings on Wednesday.
This happened when Chimbalanga started vomiting in court while Monjeza kept complaining of having a terrible headache.
The two are being subjected to intense public redicule that it seems the court cannot help on this, as witnessed by incidences where they are being booed in court while court officials watch helplessly.
On Monday, when the two appeared in court and state witnesses started giving first hand evidence, the two asked for permission to go to the loo. While in there, where they took four minutes, State Prosecutor Dickens Mwambazi told the crowd that gathered outside the toilet:
"These guys are taking long; they should not penetrate each other in there!"
The members of the public laughed.
This forced the Blantyre Magistrates Court to suspend court proceedings on Wednesday.
This happened when Chimbalanga started vomiting in court while Monjeza kept complaining of having a terrible headache.
The two are being subjected to intense public redicule that it seems the court cannot help on this, as witnessed by incidences where they are being booed in court while court officials watch helplessly.
On Monday, when the two appeared in court and state witnesses started giving first hand evidence, the two asked for permission to go to the loo. While in there, where they took four minutes, State Prosecutor Dickens Mwambazi told the crowd that gathered outside the toilet:
"These guys are taking long; they should not penetrate each other in there!"
The members of the public laughed.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Calista Chimombo denies dating President Bingu wa Mutharika
Former Tourism Minister, Calista Chapola-Chimombo, has refuted claims she is dating Malawi's president, Bingu wa Mutharika.
Chimombo has since mid-December 2009 been seen sitting next to Mutharika, a position reserved for high government officials and trusted pals.
Instead, Chimombo says it is the president who chooses who to sit next to him, and as such it was "just a previlege" that Mutharika has allowed her to sit next to her.
Chimombo also says she sits next to the president in her capacity as ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Director of Political Affairs.
"There is nothing more between us; as least as far as I am concerned," Chimombo told Zachimalawi.
Chimombo has since mid-December 2009 been seen sitting next to Mutharika, a position reserved for high government officials and trusted pals.
Instead, Chimombo says it is the president who chooses who to sit next to him, and as such it was "just a previlege" that Mutharika has allowed her to sit next to her.
Chimombo also says she sits next to the president in her capacity as ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Director of Political Affairs.
"There is nothing more between us; as least as far as I am concerned," Chimombo told Zachimalawi.
Discovered: A plot against Malawi's earthquakes
BY RICHARD CHIROMBO
Dancing buildings. Defaced landmarks and road infrastructure. General panic. Lost lives.
It did not take Karonga District residents and public officials long to find the suspect- an earthquake.
The signs were there, long before the devastating earthquake of December 19, 2009 showed to the world how serious the problem is for Karonga, a district the Geological Surveys Department indicates lies above an area prone to faulty rock movements arising from deep within the earth’s crust.
The price people and infrastructure pay for playing tenant to the Great East Africa Rift Valley System areas.
The first quake, almost prophetic, struck early during the month of December, forcing people to abandon their houses for the unpredictable open ground during the night, and back into their houses wearing the safety of day light.
Then, on December 19, 2009, it happened. At four-years old, Agnes Sambo was in the morning of her life, and yet she died. Sambo was hit by falling walls of a house she, and other family members, were sleeping in, according to Karonga District Police Public Relations Officer, Enock Livason.
Sixty-year old Tereza Kilembe, 15-times Sambo’s age, had a long way to go before the sunset of her life. She, along with one more Karonga resident, became part of Sunday, December 20, 2009’s statistics: Quake kills Three.
United only by the fact they both hailed from the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu, they were later joined by one more productive citizen of the district, all because of a natural phenomenon originating from a distance of remote impossibility from Karonga’s bustling district life.
John Saiwa-Kilembe, one of the people hard hit by the earthquake disaster, lost a house to the unstable earth that Saturday night. He, like most of the people affected, wondered aloud why the quake chose to wear the mask of darkness and strike at night, when most people were peacefully asleep.
“That brought general confusion. Nobody understood it any more than anybody else. What pains me is that I spent over K600, 000 to construct my house. After the earthquake, its value went down to practically nothing- reduced to rubble,” said Saiwa-Kilembe.
Most of the net worth of Karonga people, even during these days of changing lifestyles and Western culture infiltrations, lies in their firm belief to uphold traditional values. Often, these values do not come in cash terms; they are measured in units of integrity and respect. However, the one factor affected people seem to have come to peaceful terms with is that, during disasters and panicking moments, even values go down regardless of worth. Even the most respected community members may find themselves crammed with commoners in donated tents.
Michael Chatsika, who now has to grapple with the fact that his Toyota Carina family car is damaged beyond repair as garage walls fell over it, acknowledges this fact better than many. He spent three days sleeping in tents.
“Just in November 2009, I could not imagine myself being in this situation. Once disaster befell us, there was no choosing where to sleep or what to eat. I would, however, love to thank all well-wishers for coming to our rescue. I have now come to understand the gift of giving better than before,” said Chatsika, who originally comes from the Central Region district of Dowa but settled in Karonga. He says he will never leave Karonga, his new, lovable district. Nothing, not even earthquakes, will separate him from it.
Now that the quakes are come and, God forbid, may continue to disrupt normal life during the rainy season- and relief items continue to trickle down for the quake victims: should public authorities and us just sit on our laurels and wait for the next disaster?
“No, that would be sheer recklessness. It is high time we started planning against the earthquakes big time. Malawians must now join hands and see how we may minimize property and life loss in future,” says Undule Mwakasungura, publicity secretary for Karonga Earthquake Victims Trust.
Sheer recklessness it would be, agrees Dr. Ignacio Ngoma- president of the Malawi Institution of Engineers (MIE). Why does he rush to comment, anyway; what do engineers have to do with earthquakes?
“Earthquake mitigation mechanisms wear a multidisciplinary face. Many disciplines are involved including engineers, seismologists, architects, public administrators, risk analyzers and managers, economists, building conservation technologists, as well as material testing and inspection experts,” argues Ngoma.
Ngoma says no future planning efforts could really work without incorporating engineers because this crop of people considers earthquakes a type of load that exerts forces on infrastructure they build and operate. They have also come to know, through experience, that the force created by quakes may be either static or dynamic, depending on the ground motion.
“By far, the most serious earthquake damage is structural. What engineers do is design and construct buildings that will withstand various degrees of earthquake exposure. In addition, we also have building codes that cover such areas as the largest earthquake magnitude ever recorded in any particular area and any such probability,” says Ngoma.
He is an angry man, though, at the lack of appreciation for engineers’ work and usefulness in reducing quake and winds damage, at least in Malawi. Just look at the general lack of public works engineers in most Town and District Assemblies, he says, not to mention government departments, and takes a shot at long-standing public engineers’ vacancies in most institutions.
It is like courting death, in real terms, he warns.
When disaster strikes, there is one face that shines above all faces; a voice above the noise. This is Lilian Ng’oma, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs.
Ng’oma does not cherish it when the Department of Disaster Management Affairs comes to drawn all faces and voices in the aftermath of disasters; she dies for a time when Malawi will establish comprehensive disaster alert systems, especially on earthquakes, so the Department may concentrate on the task of warning people in advance before disasters of the Karonga magnitude.
“It is better to warn people in advance than rush with relief items. That is why we would love the Geological Surveys Department, for instance, to map out earthquake-prone areas in, say, Karonga so we may have an effective earthquakes’ early warning system. That will make our work easy as we will be able to forewarn people, and possibly evacuate them, before disaster strikes,” says Ng’oma, who cited the Lower Shire as one of the areas this system really works.
Not that she wouldn’t like to help- soliciting maize floor here, Soya for children, salt, beans, tents, cooking oil, blankets, kitchen utensils, plastic sheets, poles for temporally houses and jerry cans there.
But the running around, it cannot last forever. When will it end?
“When we begin to plan properly. This includes routine checks on structures like bridges and buildings. We should also promote the construction of mad huts, which has shown strong resilience against earthquake damage,” says engineer Hutchson Mthinda. He has never seen the face of an earthquake, but has planned against more than a thousand in his lifetime.
As it is, Karonga will continue to experience earthquake occurrences because, geologists say, it lies at a point where two arms of the Rift Valley meet to form a Y-junction of two other rifts- one from the Red Sea and the other from Zambia.
This adds to Malawi’s continued susceptibility to earthquakes. The last great quake to have caused great damage came in 1989, and heavily affected Salima district. The Chitala Earthquakes, seismologists and geologists call them over a drink.
Earthquakes are measured on a scale christened Richter, after the name of the person who came up with the innovation, but human beings do not normally feel earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 2.0. There is no upper limit on the scale though earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 8.0 are described as ‘great’ and, on average, only one of these will occur in the world each year.
Most earthquakes occurring in Malawi are moderate, of less than 6.0 in magnitude on the Richter scale, though those above 6.0 and 7.0 occasionally occur.
A geologists’ map for Malawi is replete with dots of earthquake black spots all over, but the dots are much darker for Karonga and brother-in-disaster Salima.
And MIE president, Ngoma, offers little hope when he says: “It is important to note that all engineering solutions are limited by economic and political considerations.”
The only consideration politicians- including the incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika, former Heads of State Bakili Muluzi and Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda- ever made was declare affected areas ‘Disaster Zones’ while the economists merely went to such zones and counted the losses and costs. Nothing like planning for the future.
Mutharika has declared Karonga district a disaster area already, but the question remains: what next?
Detecting earthquakes is, for now, a business of remote impossibility because they are creatures of short-notice mannerisms. They can only be detected within seconds- too late for any early warning system to be effective. Neither can they be blocked by placing a huge stone in their way.
Dancing buildings. Defaced landmarks and road infrastructure. General panic. Lost lives.
It did not take Karonga District residents and public officials long to find the suspect- an earthquake.
The signs were there, long before the devastating earthquake of December 19, 2009 showed to the world how serious the problem is for Karonga, a district the Geological Surveys Department indicates lies above an area prone to faulty rock movements arising from deep within the earth’s crust.
The price people and infrastructure pay for playing tenant to the Great East Africa Rift Valley System areas.
The first quake, almost prophetic, struck early during the month of December, forcing people to abandon their houses for the unpredictable open ground during the night, and back into their houses wearing the safety of day light.
Then, on December 19, 2009, it happened. At four-years old, Agnes Sambo was in the morning of her life, and yet she died. Sambo was hit by falling walls of a house she, and other family members, were sleeping in, according to Karonga District Police Public Relations Officer, Enock Livason.
Sixty-year old Tereza Kilembe, 15-times Sambo’s age, had a long way to go before the sunset of her life. She, along with one more Karonga resident, became part of Sunday, December 20, 2009’s statistics: Quake kills Three.
United only by the fact they both hailed from the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu, they were later joined by one more productive citizen of the district, all because of a natural phenomenon originating from a distance of remote impossibility from Karonga’s bustling district life.
John Saiwa-Kilembe, one of the people hard hit by the earthquake disaster, lost a house to the unstable earth that Saturday night. He, like most of the people affected, wondered aloud why the quake chose to wear the mask of darkness and strike at night, when most people were peacefully asleep.
“That brought general confusion. Nobody understood it any more than anybody else. What pains me is that I spent over K600, 000 to construct my house. After the earthquake, its value went down to practically nothing- reduced to rubble,” said Saiwa-Kilembe.
Most of the net worth of Karonga people, even during these days of changing lifestyles and Western culture infiltrations, lies in their firm belief to uphold traditional values. Often, these values do not come in cash terms; they are measured in units of integrity and respect. However, the one factor affected people seem to have come to peaceful terms with is that, during disasters and panicking moments, even values go down regardless of worth. Even the most respected community members may find themselves crammed with commoners in donated tents.
Michael Chatsika, who now has to grapple with the fact that his Toyota Carina family car is damaged beyond repair as garage walls fell over it, acknowledges this fact better than many. He spent three days sleeping in tents.
“Just in November 2009, I could not imagine myself being in this situation. Once disaster befell us, there was no choosing where to sleep or what to eat. I would, however, love to thank all well-wishers for coming to our rescue. I have now come to understand the gift of giving better than before,” said Chatsika, who originally comes from the Central Region district of Dowa but settled in Karonga. He says he will never leave Karonga, his new, lovable district. Nothing, not even earthquakes, will separate him from it.
Now that the quakes are come and, God forbid, may continue to disrupt normal life during the rainy season- and relief items continue to trickle down for the quake victims: should public authorities and us just sit on our laurels and wait for the next disaster?
“No, that would be sheer recklessness. It is high time we started planning against the earthquakes big time. Malawians must now join hands and see how we may minimize property and life loss in future,” says Undule Mwakasungura, publicity secretary for Karonga Earthquake Victims Trust.
Sheer recklessness it would be, agrees Dr. Ignacio Ngoma- president of the Malawi Institution of Engineers (MIE). Why does he rush to comment, anyway; what do engineers have to do with earthquakes?
“Earthquake mitigation mechanisms wear a multidisciplinary face. Many disciplines are involved including engineers, seismologists, architects, public administrators, risk analyzers and managers, economists, building conservation technologists, as well as material testing and inspection experts,” argues Ngoma.
Ngoma says no future planning efforts could really work without incorporating engineers because this crop of people considers earthquakes a type of load that exerts forces on infrastructure they build and operate. They have also come to know, through experience, that the force created by quakes may be either static or dynamic, depending on the ground motion.
“By far, the most serious earthquake damage is structural. What engineers do is design and construct buildings that will withstand various degrees of earthquake exposure. In addition, we also have building codes that cover such areas as the largest earthquake magnitude ever recorded in any particular area and any such probability,” says Ngoma.
He is an angry man, though, at the lack of appreciation for engineers’ work and usefulness in reducing quake and winds damage, at least in Malawi. Just look at the general lack of public works engineers in most Town and District Assemblies, he says, not to mention government departments, and takes a shot at long-standing public engineers’ vacancies in most institutions.
It is like courting death, in real terms, he warns.
When disaster strikes, there is one face that shines above all faces; a voice above the noise. This is Lilian Ng’oma, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs.
Ng’oma does not cherish it when the Department of Disaster Management Affairs comes to drawn all faces and voices in the aftermath of disasters; she dies for a time when Malawi will establish comprehensive disaster alert systems, especially on earthquakes, so the Department may concentrate on the task of warning people in advance before disasters of the Karonga magnitude.
“It is better to warn people in advance than rush with relief items. That is why we would love the Geological Surveys Department, for instance, to map out earthquake-prone areas in, say, Karonga so we may have an effective earthquakes’ early warning system. That will make our work easy as we will be able to forewarn people, and possibly evacuate them, before disaster strikes,” says Ng’oma, who cited the Lower Shire as one of the areas this system really works.
Not that she wouldn’t like to help- soliciting maize floor here, Soya for children, salt, beans, tents, cooking oil, blankets, kitchen utensils, plastic sheets, poles for temporally houses and jerry cans there.
But the running around, it cannot last forever. When will it end?
“When we begin to plan properly. This includes routine checks on structures like bridges and buildings. We should also promote the construction of mad huts, which has shown strong resilience against earthquake damage,” says engineer Hutchson Mthinda. He has never seen the face of an earthquake, but has planned against more than a thousand in his lifetime.
As it is, Karonga will continue to experience earthquake occurrences because, geologists say, it lies at a point where two arms of the Rift Valley meet to form a Y-junction of two other rifts- one from the Red Sea and the other from Zambia.
This adds to Malawi’s continued susceptibility to earthquakes. The last great quake to have caused great damage came in 1989, and heavily affected Salima district. The Chitala Earthquakes, seismologists and geologists call them over a drink.
Earthquakes are measured on a scale christened Richter, after the name of the person who came up with the innovation, but human beings do not normally feel earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 2.0. There is no upper limit on the scale though earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 8.0 are described as ‘great’ and, on average, only one of these will occur in the world each year.
Most earthquakes occurring in Malawi are moderate, of less than 6.0 in magnitude on the Richter scale, though those above 6.0 and 7.0 occasionally occur.
A geologists’ map for Malawi is replete with dots of earthquake black spots all over, but the dots are much darker for Karonga and brother-in-disaster Salima.
And MIE president, Ngoma, offers little hope when he says: “It is important to note that all engineering solutions are limited by economic and political considerations.”
The only consideration politicians- including the incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika, former Heads of State Bakili Muluzi and Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda- ever made was declare affected areas ‘Disaster Zones’ while the economists merely went to such zones and counted the losses and costs. Nothing like planning for the future.
Mutharika has declared Karonga district a disaster area already, but the question remains: what next?
Detecting earthquakes is, for now, a business of remote impossibility because they are creatures of short-notice mannerisms. They can only be detected within seconds- too late for any early warning system to be effective. Neither can they be blocked by placing a huge stone in their way.
Police officers, journalists trying to separate us- arrested gay Tiwonge Chimbalanga says
Steven Monjeza’s groom, Tiwonge Chimbalanga, has expressed concern over what he terms journalists and police officers efforts to separate them, describing the two forces as ‘confusionists and separatists’.
Chimbalanga says ever since their issue came into the media limelight, most journalists- notably those from state-run Malawi Television (TVM)- have been pressing him and Monjeza with questions that expose their (journalists) prejudice.
“We are being judged in the media even before the Blantyre Magistrates Court starts hearing from us. Let people give us a chance,” said Chimbalanga.
TVM’s Mwansambo, for example, quizzed Chimbalanga and Monjeza about their sexuality the way a police interrogator would, raising questions over media impartiality.
Mwansambo, at one time, even told Chimbalanga to stop wearing his female clothes, since he may have realized how wrong it is to be gay.
However, Chimbalanga refused, saying it was the way he grew up.
That, apparently, angered Mwansambo who told Chimbalanga: “That means you are not changed your bad ways, eeh?”
Chimbalanga says ever since their issue came into the media limelight, most journalists- notably those from state-run Malawi Television (TVM)- have been pressing him and Monjeza with questions that expose their (journalists) prejudice.
“We are being judged in the media even before the Blantyre Magistrates Court starts hearing from us. Let people give us a chance,” said Chimbalanga.
TVM’s Mwansambo, for example, quizzed Chimbalanga and Monjeza about their sexuality the way a police interrogator would, raising questions over media impartiality.
Mwansambo, at one time, even told Chimbalanga to stop wearing his female clothes, since he may have realized how wrong it is to be gay.
However, Chimbalanga refused, saying it was the way he grew up.
That, apparently, angered Mwansambo who told Chimbalanga: “That means you are not changed your bad ways, eeh?”
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