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Sunday, May 18, 2014
Malawi Electoral Commission Information Fact Sheet, Election Logistics
ELECTIONS
.Presidential Race: Country wide
.Parliamentary Election: 193 Constituencies
.Local Government Election: 462 Wards
BY-ELECTIONS
.Two Local Government Election races postponed due to the death of candidates
.One Parliamentary race postponed due to death of a candidate
FINAL REGISTERED VOTERS
.7, 470, 806
POLLING
. Polling is conducted at polling-centre locations where voters are directed to one or more polling streams.
Total Polling Centres in Malawi: 4, 445
Total Polling Streams: 11, 626
Maximum Number of Voters Assigned to a Stream: 800
COMPETITORS
Presidential Contestants: 12 presidential candidates and vice-presidential nominees
Parliamentary Contestants: 17 political parties are contesting, as well as independent candidates
Local Government Election Contestants: 18 political parties, as well as independent candidates are taking part.
LOGISTICS
.The polling operation will be supported by almost 1900 vehicles drawn from across Malawi's ministries, coordinated through the Office of the President and Cabinet
.The Malawi Defence Force is also providing logistical support in the form of vehicles and aircraft
STAFFING
.The Malawi Electoral Commission has trained and will deploy almost 90, 000 staff to conduct the polling operations.
These members of staff include:
.193 Constituency Returning Officers
.35 District Election Coordinators
.4,445 Presiding Officers
.10, 895 Assistant Presiding Officers
.58, 120 Polling Clerks
.5,418 Marshalls
.9,750 Security Staff
.800 Quality Control Managers
RESULTS MANAGEMENT AND TALLYING
.Presiding Officers from the 4,445 polling centres will securely transport the results from each centre to a tally centre located in each of the 35 Council locations
.Results will be entered into the computer system and transmitted to the National Tally Centre in Blantyre.
SCHEDULE TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS
.By law, within 8 days after polling day
.May be extended by a decision of the Chairman by up to 72 hours
COMPLAIN
.Complaints can be made at polling stations with Presiding Officers and resolved at the location.
.Or, if not satisfied, may be appealed to the Malawi Electoral Commission
.After the announcement of the results, within seven days:
Please note:
. Presidential and Parliamentary complaints may be submitted directly to the High Court as an election petition
.Councillor complaints may be submitted to the Malawi Electoral Commission, and the decision appealed, if necessary, to the High Court.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Conclusions of the Paris Summit for Security in Nigeria (17 May 2014)
PRESS RELEASE: AFRICAN PRESS ORGANISATION
PARIS, France, May 17, 2014 -- Paris Summit for Security in Nigeria (17 May 2014)
CONCLUSIONS
The Heads of State of Benin, Cameroon, Chad, France, Niger and Nigeria, as well as representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, participated on 17 May 2014 in a Summit in Paris dedicated to security in Nigeria. This Summit has helped intensify regional and international mobilization to combat the terrorism of the Boko Haram group.
The Summit concluded with several decisions that will strengthen cooperation between regional States, both to enable the liberation of the abducted school girls and more generally to combat Boko Haram. The partners present (the European Union, France, the United States and the United Kingdom) are committed to supporting this regional cooperation and strengthening the international means to combat Boko Haram and protect victims. All these States reaffirm their commitment to human rights and particularly the protection of girls who are victims of violence and forced marriage or threatened with slavery.
Regional Cooperation
Nigeria and its neighbours will build analysis and response capabilities that will contribute to enhancing the security of all populations and the rule of law in the areas affected by Boko Haram’s terrorist acts.
To combat the Boko Haram threat, which has recently manifested itself through several murderous attacks and the abduction of more than 270 school girls, Nigeria and its neighbours have decided to immediately:
1. On a bilateral basis
- Implement coordinated patrols with the aim of combating Boko Haram and locating the missing school girls
- Establish a system to pool intelligence in order to support this operation
- Establish mechanisms for information exchange on trafficking of weapons and bolster measures to secure weapons stockpiles
- Establish mechanisms for border surveillance;
2. On a multilateral basis
- Establish an intelligence pooling unit
- Create a dedicated team to identify means of implementation and draw up, during a second phase, a regional counter-terrorism strategy in the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
This approach is consistent with the 2012 Summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and the European Union will coordinate their support for this regional cooperation through technical expertise, training programmes and support for border-area management programmes.
Efforts at international level
The participants commit to accelerating the implementation of international sanctions against Boko Haram, Ansaru and their main leaders, within the United Nations framework as a priority.
Mobilization to support marginalized areas and their fragile populations, and particularly women exposed to violence
The P3 and the EU pledge to mobilize donors in support of programmes fostering the socio-economic development of the regions concerned, with particular emphasis on gender equality, the rights of women and girls and in particular their right to education, increasing women's participation in all decision-making processes, and supporting victims of sexual violence, including through legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial support. The EU will dedicate a certain number of its programmes to these aspects and will strengthen its efforts to combat radicalization.
The participants agreed that the United Kingdom would host a follow-up meeting next month at Ministerial level to review progress on this action plan.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization.
SOURCE: Présidence de la République française
PARIS, France, May 17, 2014 -- Paris Summit for Security in Nigeria (17 May 2014)
CONCLUSIONS
The Heads of State of Benin, Cameroon, Chad, France, Niger and Nigeria, as well as representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, participated on 17 May 2014 in a Summit in Paris dedicated to security in Nigeria. This Summit has helped intensify regional and international mobilization to combat the terrorism of the Boko Haram group.
The Summit concluded with several decisions that will strengthen cooperation between regional States, both to enable the liberation of the abducted school girls and more generally to combat Boko Haram. The partners present (the European Union, France, the United States and the United Kingdom) are committed to supporting this regional cooperation and strengthening the international means to combat Boko Haram and protect victims. All these States reaffirm their commitment to human rights and particularly the protection of girls who are victims of violence and forced marriage or threatened with slavery.
Regional Cooperation
Nigeria and its neighbours will build analysis and response capabilities that will contribute to enhancing the security of all populations and the rule of law in the areas affected by Boko Haram’s terrorist acts.
To combat the Boko Haram threat, which has recently manifested itself through several murderous attacks and the abduction of more than 270 school girls, Nigeria and its neighbours have decided to immediately:
1. On a bilateral basis
- Implement coordinated patrols with the aim of combating Boko Haram and locating the missing school girls
- Establish a system to pool intelligence in order to support this operation
- Establish mechanisms for information exchange on trafficking of weapons and bolster measures to secure weapons stockpiles
- Establish mechanisms for border surveillance;
2. On a multilateral basis
- Establish an intelligence pooling unit
- Create a dedicated team to identify means of implementation and draw up, during a second phase, a regional counter-terrorism strategy in the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
This approach is consistent with the 2012 Summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and the European Union will coordinate their support for this regional cooperation through technical expertise, training programmes and support for border-area management programmes.
Efforts at international level
The participants commit to accelerating the implementation of international sanctions against Boko Haram, Ansaru and their main leaders, within the United Nations framework as a priority.
Mobilization to support marginalized areas and their fragile populations, and particularly women exposed to violence
The P3 and the EU pledge to mobilize donors in support of programmes fostering the socio-economic development of the regions concerned, with particular emphasis on gender equality, the rights of women and girls and in particular their right to education, increasing women's participation in all decision-making processes, and supporting victims of sexual violence, including through legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial support. The EU will dedicate a certain number of its programmes to these aspects and will strengthen its efforts to combat radicalization.
The participants agreed that the United Kingdom would host a follow-up meeting next month at Ministerial level to review progress on this action plan.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization.
SOURCE: Présidence de la République française
On Allegations of Plans for Post Election Violence
DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY
PRESS STATEMENT
‘For immediate release’
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) strongly dismisses allegations being spread by the People’s Party (PP) and its agents that the DPP plans to cause violence in the country should it lose the forthcoming tripartite general elections on 20th May 2014.
This scheme of misinformation and fear mongering is being run by the People’s Party through its political activists on the social media and through the use of government sponsored opportunistic persons operating under the guise of civil society; the discredited the National Forum for Development is one such grouping of persons.
These efforts from the PP are the last kicks of a dying horse; the writing is all over the wall that the PP’s time to be experimenting with Malawians lives and continue protecting corrupt persons in its rank and file is over.
The DPP is aware that the PP and its leadership are in a serious panic mode knowing that the day of reckoning is fast approaching. The day is only days away and is fast becoming closer by the hour; nothing will change this fact.
We are also aware that the allegations of pending violence being spread by the PP are a calculated move aimed at threatening Malawians, and discouraging them so that they don’t come out in large numbers and express their disapproval of the People’s Party administration on 20th May 2014.
Malawians are demanding answers to many ills that have befallen them since the PP administration took over such as the government orchestrated looting of public resources; ‘‘Cash-gate’’, loss of lives due to shortage of drugs in hospitals, failure to pay civil servants , escalating levels of poverty and lack of national direction. No amount of lies from the PP and its paid agents will deter Malawians from further demanding answers to these questions on 20th May 2014 through their vote.
The PP and its agents such as the Forum for Development should know that Malawians are tired of an administration that seems to only understand and specialize in the manufacturing and peddling lies for the very people it is supposed to govern.
The duty of any competent administration where there is a credible threat of violence against its citizens as the PP administration is alleging is to investigate, arrest and try those involved to protect the innocent; We wonder why the PP is not doing this; merely going to the media to talk about the threat casually is indicative of an administration that is not only clueless of its responsibilities towards its citizens, but one in serious fear of accepting reality that its days are numbered.
The DPP is calling upon all well meaning Malawians to ignore the wild barking from PP and its agents but focus on what is good for Malawi; ushering in a visionary leadership so that we can progressively move together as a nation.
Finally the Democratic Progressive Party is urging all Malawians to be diligent during the few remaining days and conduct themselves peacefully to ensure that come the elections day 20th May 2014, the People’s Party and its agents do not hijack the Malawi we deserve through baseless fear mongering and vote rigging.
Signed
KONDWANI NANKHUMWA
DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS
DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY
PRESS STATEMENT
‘For immediate release’
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) strongly dismisses allegations being spread by the People’s Party (PP) and its agents that the DPP plans to cause violence in the country should it lose the forthcoming tripartite general elections on 20th May 2014.
This scheme of misinformation and fear mongering is being run by the People’s Party through its political activists on the social media and through the use of government sponsored opportunistic persons operating under the guise of civil society; the discredited the National Forum for Development is one such grouping of persons.
These efforts from the PP are the last kicks of a dying horse; the writing is all over the wall that the PP’s time to be experimenting with Malawians lives and continue protecting corrupt persons in its rank and file is over.
The DPP is aware that the PP and its leadership are in a serious panic mode knowing that the day of reckoning is fast approaching. The day is only days away and is fast becoming closer by the hour; nothing will change this fact.
We are also aware that the allegations of pending violence being spread by the PP are a calculated move aimed at threatening Malawians, and discouraging them so that they don’t come out in large numbers and express their disapproval of the People’s Party administration on 20th May 2014.
Malawians are demanding answers to many ills that have befallen them since the PP administration took over such as the government orchestrated looting of public resources; ‘‘Cash-gate’’, loss of lives due to shortage of drugs in hospitals, failure to pay civil servants , escalating levels of poverty and lack of national direction. No amount of lies from the PP and its paid agents will deter Malawians from further demanding answers to these questions on 20th May 2014 through their vote.
The PP and its agents such as the Forum for Development should know that Malawians are tired of an administration that seems to only understand and specialize in the manufacturing and peddling lies for the very people it is supposed to govern.
The duty of any competent administration where there is a credible threat of violence against its citizens as the PP administration is alleging is to investigate, arrest and try those involved to protect the innocent; We wonder why the PP is not doing this; merely going to the media to talk about the threat casually is indicative of an administration that is not only clueless of its responsibilities towards its citizens, but one in serious fear of accepting reality that its days are numbered.
The DPP is calling upon all well meaning Malawians to ignore the wild barking from PP and its agents but focus on what is good for Malawi; ushering in a visionary leadership so that we can progressively move together as a nation.
Finally the Democratic Progressive Party is urging all Malawians to be diligent during the few remaining days and conduct themselves peacefully to ensure that come the elections day 20th May 2014, the People’s Party and its agents do not hijack the Malawi we deserve through baseless fear mongering and vote rigging.
Signed
KONDWANI NANKHUMWA
DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS
DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Friday, May 16, 2014
Voting by Malawi Police Service, Malawi Defence Forces Officers
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Malawi Electoral Commission would like to refute rumours that officers of the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Forces have already voted.
The Commission is informing all registered voters that no one has voted ahead of the polling day on May 20, 2014.
The Police and Malawi Defence Officers, just like any other registered voter, will vote on May 20, 2014. The arrangement is that on the polling day security officers and polling staff will vote first on the polling day so that they can be free to discharge their duties.
The Commission would like to urge all individuals or institutions who are spreading such rumours to stop with immediate effect.
Dated at Blantyre this 15th day of May, 2014.
Willie Kalonga
CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Citizen Journalism Campaign Launch
STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2014
The Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN), through the Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC), has launched a campaign called Citizen Journalism to motivate citizens to effectively participate in the May 20, 2014 Tripartite Elections by reporting on electoral incidents happening in their respective communities. All reported incidences will be shared with relevant authorities for immediate action and redress if need be.
Citizen Journalism is a concept coined to describe citizen participation in matters that affect their daily lives by sharing stories and experiences on issues happening in their respective communities.
Among others, the campaign aims to:
.Raise citizen awareness on the importance of active citizen participation in the electoral process
.Raise awareness on the need to vote
.Sensitize citizens on their role in publicizing electoral incidents taking place in their communities
The launch, which took place at Namame Catholic grounds in Blantyre City South East Constituency on Wednesday, May 13, will run till polling day on May 20 and targets all citizens of voting age – both men and women as well as decision makers, media and community based none governmental organizations.
Among other strategies, the campaign involves road shows and face to face interactions with citizens in randomly selected constituencies across the country. Some of the constituencies selected for the road shows include: Mzimba South, Rumphi Central, Nkhatabay South, Blantyre Rural East, Thyolo South, Nsanje Central, Chikwawa Central, Zomba Malosa, Machinga Central, Mangochi South East, Lilongwe South, Dedza North, Ntcheu Central and Kasungu South East.
All citizens are encouraged to participate in the electoral process by taking part in deciding the future of Malawi and sharing their experiences using mobile phones by simply sending an sms to 58683. The sms is for free and applies to both TNM and Airtel.
This is the first time in the history of the country that citizens are being encouraged to participate in the electoral process by reporting electoral incidence’s in their respective communities. Citizens are encouraged to indicate their location and time when sending the text.
The system is secure and will help citizens and communities have their concerns addressed immediately. The system does not capture details of the sender e.g contact number or name and all the text messages will be analyzed and captured on a Citizen Journalism Platform to inform any strategic interventions to do with the elections.
The Campaign has been made possible with support from the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), and Hivos.
Signed
Steven Duwa,
Malawi Electoral Support Network and Malawi Election Information Centre Chairperson
May 15, 2014
The Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN), through the Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC), has launched a campaign called Citizen Journalism to motivate citizens to effectively participate in the May 20, 2014 Tripartite Elections by reporting on electoral incidents happening in their respective communities. All reported incidences will be shared with relevant authorities for immediate action and redress if need be.
Citizen Journalism is a concept coined to describe citizen participation in matters that affect their daily lives by sharing stories and experiences on issues happening in their respective communities.
Among others, the campaign aims to:
.Raise citizen awareness on the importance of active citizen participation in the electoral process
.Raise awareness on the need to vote
.Sensitize citizens on their role in publicizing electoral incidents taking place in their communities
The launch, which took place at Namame Catholic grounds in Blantyre City South East Constituency on Wednesday, May 13, will run till polling day on May 20 and targets all citizens of voting age – both men and women as well as decision makers, media and community based none governmental organizations.
Among other strategies, the campaign involves road shows and face to face interactions with citizens in randomly selected constituencies across the country. Some of the constituencies selected for the road shows include: Mzimba South, Rumphi Central, Nkhatabay South, Blantyre Rural East, Thyolo South, Nsanje Central, Chikwawa Central, Zomba Malosa, Machinga Central, Mangochi South East, Lilongwe South, Dedza North, Ntcheu Central and Kasungu South East.
All citizens are encouraged to participate in the electoral process by taking part in deciding the future of Malawi and sharing their experiences using mobile phones by simply sending an sms to 58683. The sms is for free and applies to both TNM and Airtel.
This is the first time in the history of the country that citizens are being encouraged to participate in the electoral process by reporting electoral incidence’s in their respective communities. Citizens are encouraged to indicate their location and time when sending the text.
The system is secure and will help citizens and communities have their concerns addressed immediately. The system does not capture details of the sender e.g contact number or name and all the text messages will be analyzed and captured on a Citizen Journalism Platform to inform any strategic interventions to do with the elections.
The Campaign has been made possible with support from the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), and Hivos.
Signed
Steven Duwa,
Malawi Electoral Support Network and Malawi Election Information Centre Chairperson
Postponement of Parliamentary Election for Blantyre North
PUBLIC NOTICE
In pursuance of Section 47 of the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act no. 31 of 1993, the Malawi Electoral Commission is informing all stakeholders that Parliamentary Election for Blantyre North constituency has been postponed because of death of a
candidate.
Mr Harold Chester Mulli died on Saturday, May 10, 2014. He was contesting on a Malawi Congress Party ticket.
The Commission will conduct by-elections in the constituency after the May 20, 2014 Tripartite Elections. Candidates who were duly nominated for the cancelled polls will need to notify the Commission in writing of their intention to contest again when the Commission issues a notice to hold by-elections.
Dated at Blantyre this 14th day of May, 2014.
Willie Kalonga
Chief Elections Office
Postponement of Parliamentary Election for Blantyre North
PUBLIC NOTICE
In pursuance of Section 47 of the Parliamentary and Presidential
Elections Act no. 31 of 1993, the Malawi Electoral Commission is
informing all stakeholders that Parliamentary Election for Blantyre
North constituency has been postponed because of death of a
candidate.
Mr Harold Chester Mulli died on Saturday, May 10, 2014. He was
contesting on a Malawi Congress Party ticket.
The Commission will conduct by-elections in the constituency after
the May 20, 2014 Tripartite Elections. Candidates who were duly
nominated for the cancelled polls will need to notify the Commission
in writing of their intention to contest again when the Commission
issues a notice to hold by-elections.
Dated at Blantyre this 14th day of May, 2014.
Willie Kalonga
Chief Elections Officer
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
AUC Chairperson Arrives in Malawi Ahead of May 20 Tripartite Elections
PRESS RELEASE N.101/2014
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 14 May, 2014:The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, arrives in Blantyre, Malawi on Wednesday, 14 May 2014, ahead of the country’s tripartite elections scheduled for May 20, 2014.
Upon her arrival, H.E. Dr Dlamini Zuma will join H.E Sam Nujoma (founding President of the Republic of Namibia) and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission and his team, to offer solidarity and support to the people of Malawi. She will be reassuring them of the AU’s commitment to maintain stability through democratic and credible elections in Malawi and throughout the continent.
During her three-day official visit, the AUC Chairperson will pay a courtesy call on the incumbent, President Joyce Banda, as well as meet with leaders of other contesting political parties. She will also meet with officials of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Justice Maxon Mbendera, SC; the security services and other state institutions, to ascertain the level of preparedness as well as to reaffirm the AU’s support and commitment.
Dr. Dlamini Zuma is due to join a press conference to officially release the AU’s pre-election and arrival statements at the AUEOM’s secretariat at the Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel, in Blantyre, Malawi.
She will also grant a press conference before leaving Malawi on Friday, 16 May 2014, at the AU mission secretariat.
A team of 10 long term observers deployed since 12 April, was joined on 13 May by 40 others to comprise the AUEOM of 50 observers.
The AU implores all stakeholders to engage in the election process peacefully and in accordance with the AU election instruments such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the AU/OAU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; and the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions.
Media contact:Ms. Brenda Kok, Tel. +265 994850386; and Samuel Mondays Atuobi: Tel. +265 995 464 308 at the AUEOM’s Secretariat at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel, Blantyre, Malawi.
Commonwealth to Observe Malawi Elections
London, 12 May 2014 - Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma announced today that the Commonwealth will observe elections in Malawi on 20 May. This follows an invitation from the Electoral Commission of Malawi.
Former Vice President of Botswana Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe will lead the Commonwealth Observer Group.
The Secretary-General said: “These elections will consolidate the democratic process in Malawi. Conducting credible elections where citizens can choose their leaders and representatives freely in a peaceful environment is a fundamental part of a healthy democracy and is a collective strength of Commonwealth member states. The Commonwealth will be present to witness and observe the elections and to work in partnership with Malawi towards strengthening and embedding good practice.”
Mr Sharma added: “The responsibility for conducting elections with integrity falls on all stakeholders in the process - from the election management body, to political parties and their leaders, to civil society, security agencies, the media and the voters. Each and every one has a rightful role to ensure a credible process and outcome.”
The observer group will consider the pre-electoral environment and election preparations. On Election Day, it will observe the voting process, vote-counting procedures and the announcement of results, in the light of international standards for democratic elections, to which the country has committed.
As with all Commonwealth Observer Groups, this mission will function impartially and independently, and will conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, to which the Commonwealth is a signatory.
This observer mission to Malawi follows a Commonwealth observer mission in South Africa during that country’s elections last week.
Martin Kasirye, Head of the Democracy Section in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Political Affairs Division, will lead a Secretariat team that will support the observers.
Composition of the Observer Group
The Commonwealth Observer Group will consist of 11 eminent persons supported by four Commonwealth Secretariat staff members. The members of the Group are:
Chair: Lt. Gen. Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe, former Vice-President of Botswana
Dr. Namanga Amos Ngongi, Retired United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Diplomat, Cameroon
Ms Linda Duffield, Retired Diplomat, United Kingdom
Hon Ntlhoi Motsamai, Former Speaker, Lesotho
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman, Electoral Commission, Ghana
Mr Malietau Malietoa, Electoral Commissioner, Samoa
Dr Leith Dunn, Academic, University of the West Indies, Jamaica
Ms Maureen Khamala Mudi, Media Expert, Kenya
Mr Boniface Cheembe, Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, Zambia
Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, Sri Lanka
Ms Sudharashana Lakshmi Ayyappan, Youth Representative, India
Commonwealth Secretariat Support Team
The Commonwealth Secretariat Support Team is made up of the following staff:
Mr Martin Kasirye (Team Leader)
Mr Julius Mucunguzi
Mr Koffi Sawyer
Ms Zippy Ojago
Abduction of Nigerian Girls Demands Global Response
Source: Mon, 5 May 2014 10:11 PM
Author: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Babatunde Osotimehin
Today more than 200 school girls will wake up to another day in an unthinkable nightmare. Three weeks ago, they were seized in the night by armed men dressed as soldiers who said they were there to protect them. In reality, the men were militant extremists who kidnapped them and set their boarding school on fire. The girls’ whereabouts continue to be unknown.
This happened in Chibok, a town in north-eastern Nigeria. Imagine if it had taken place in your community.
This horrific act offends our common humanity and demands global outrage and action. We have a responsibility to rally behind the parents, people and government of Nigeria and bring the girls back home to safety.
The violation of the rights of women and girls on such a scale, no matter who they are and where they are, requires the whole world to stand up and take action. We are racing against time and every moment counts. We need the government of Nigeria to act fast and we need the support of the world.
We must send the message loud and clear that no girl can be abducted.
Human rights are indivisible and universal. Yet, women and girls continue to be systematically targeted, assaulted, trafficked and enslaved on a massive scale. Globally, one in three women will experience violence in her lifetime.
For women and girls in every country, violence and the fear of violence is a daily reality. In conflict zones and in the presence of armed extremists, violence is an even bigger threat.
The abduction of schoolgirls in Nigeria is shocking and deserves an urgent global response. While some girls escaped, jumping from the jeeps, and made their way home to tell the story, most of the kidnapped girls remain missing.
Their parents, teachers and friends continue to demand their release. Meanwhile, reports are circulating that the girls have been sold as brides and trafficked as sex slaves across Nigeria’s borders.
In Nigeria and elsewhere, parents and marchers took to the streets wearing red, demanding answers and action. There has been a deluge of social media posts demanding the girls’ urgent and unconditional release and return home.
The hashtags #BringBackOurGirls and #BringBackOurDaughters, are spreading around the globe.
These girls were targeted for the simple reason that they went to school. They were exercising their right to education. They were kidnapped by the Islamist group, Boko Haram.
Attacks against children and the targeting of schools cannot be justified under any circumstances and should be condemned by all.
Girls and young women belong in school and should stay there without fear of violence, so they can play their rightful roles as equal citizens of the world. Schools are and must remain places of safety and security, where children can learn and grow in peace.
Women and girls have the right to live free from intimidation, persecution and all other forms of discrimination and to participate fully and equally in public and civic life.
We cannot allow extremists to trample these rights and take us and our societies backwards.
We stand with people worldwide who believe that every person is equal in inherent worth and dignity and human rights. We stand with the parents and families of the abducted girls. If we do not respond effectively, those who prey on women and girls are emboldened to continue their crimes.
The world must come together and make every possible effort to rescue these girls, bring their captors to justice, and, more importantly, do everything in our power to prevent this from happening again.
--Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the Executive Director of UN Women and Babatunde Osotimehin is the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
STATEMENT FROM NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMISSION OF ECM ON ATTACKS ON RIGHT TO EDUCATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
As part of the Global Faiths Coalition for Education (GFC Education), the National Education Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi condemns the attack on girls' education in northern Nigeria. We believe that education is a fundamental right, and pledge to support efforts to end injustices against children, including forced marriage and discrimination against girls. We pledge to work collaboratively with the faiths community, governments, and NGOs to achieve education for all.
NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMISSION OF ECM
Monday, May 12, 2014
Media Launch: Fragmented Governance and Local Service Delivery in Malawi
Media release: Embargoed until 00:01 Monday 12 May 2014
Media launch: Fragmented governance and local service delivery in Malawi
12 May 2014, 16:00 – 17:30, Crossroads Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi
Report co-author Professor Edge Kanyongolo will present findings and recommendations.
He will be available for interview.
Journalists RSVP to Claire Bracegirdle on: c.bracegirdle@odi.org.uk
The publication: http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/8382-fragmented-governance-local-service-delivery-malawi
Voting for local councillors a positive step for Malawi, but there’s a long road ahead warns ODI
As voters prepare to go to the polls in Malawi to elect the first local authorities in almost a decade, a new report reveals botched public service reforms have resulted in confusion, mismanagement and duplication, allowing scarce resources to be squandered.
The decentralisation of local services – started in 1998 – was intended to strengthen community oversight of health, education, sanitation and water services. Instead, the report Fragmented governance and local service delivery in Malawi from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) found that the process was never fully completed, and that some services are deteriorating, not improving.
Researchers studied two districts, Dedza and Rumphi, as well as one city, Blantyre. They found many instances of hard-working local officials achieving remarkable successes with little money or support. But overall, researchers found these achievements were in spite of, not because of, the institutions supposed to deliver them.
The authors say, “the ad hoc roll out of local government and service delivery in Malawi has resulted in functional fragmentation, unclear mandates, overlapping jurisdictions and responsibilities, and complex administrative processes.”
The report goes on to document the reality of poor service provision. Instances of this are:
· In Blantyre, the CEO reported that Mbayani Primary School had one of the highest classroom densities in the world – 611 per classroom
· Severe shortages of front-line staff. In a clinic run by Blantyre city health department, where there should be five nurses, only three are employed
· Overlapping jurisdictions leading to paralysis. In Ndirande market, Blantyre Department of Health and the water board are both responsible for solving the problem of polluted water - with the result that actions are rare and poorly coordinated.
Although decentralisation in Malawi was intended to deepen democracy, the report documents how old power allegiances and patronage have continued to subvert the intention of the reforms instead of improving services for people.
The reform process was also damaged by the suspension of local councils in 2005 - a move which this year's election will reverse.
The authors recommend that to make the most of this fresh start, Malawi's first newly elected councillors should receive support to fulfil their roles and functions.
There also needs to be a review of the legal framework for local government, to resolve some of the current confusion over power structures.
Offering incentives to improve performances at the local government level, reducing duplication and complex processes, and finding reforms that work in urban areas as well as rural areas with less infrastructure and capacity have also been recommended by ODI.
ODI is the UK’s leading think tank on development issues.
Ends -
To interview report co-authors Tam O’Neil (based in the UK) and Diana Cammack (based in South Africa) please contact ODI Media Officer Clare Price on +44 (0)7808 791 265.
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Friday, May 2, 2014
Centre for Social Concern Says: The Vulnerable, Especially Children, to Bear the Brunt of Budget Cuts
Centre for Social Concern March Urban Basic Needs Basket
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) is troubled by macro-fiscal framework indications that Malawi will have a tightened resource envelope over the medium term.
“While domestic revenue effort is expected to run on its continued rising trend,
grants are to be reduced from their seemingly peak level in 2012” [Public Expenditure Review (PER 2013)]. Thus, a tight macroeconomic and fiscal framework coupled with a high level of non-discretionary spending is seen by the Ministry of Finance [MoF] as leaving little fiscal space for funding new policy and strategic initiatives. It is the government’s expectation that policy responses must restrain and prioritize expenditures and improve efficiency while meeting the objectives of growth and social protection.
This is an alarming situation as it signals cuts in budget allocations and prioritization of resources including in the key social sectors. While CfSC appreciates the fact that Malawi is currently undergoing an economic turmoil, it is at the same time worried that it is children that will bear the brunt of the anticipated budget cuts because the sector has received very little attention in terms of budgetary allocations by the government of Malawi.
Children make up the biggest proportion of Malawi’s population and yet they represent the poorest segment of Malawi’s population due to their disadvantaged position and policy skew against them. The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS), the country’s overarching development policy tool recognizes that investing in child and youth development and empowerment is one of the pillars of the country’s development programmes. Malawi is a signatory and a party to several conventions, declaration and human rights instruments regarding children however the resource allocation to child needs shows that despite having in place the policy framework, implementation remains a challenge.
Experiences on the ground indicate that as the resource envelope is shrinking it is the child activities and similar social sectors that are negatively affected by budget cuts while non-MGDS areas priority areas get more resources.
Of particular concern is the reality that for a long time, government has relegated the support that its children require in the hands of the donors. Thus, with the donors pulling off the plug, it means that Malawi’s children are currently in a state
of utmost vulnerability. Donor over reliance puts the welfare of children in uncertain territory, and this was confirmed when Global Fund reduced its support to Malawi government in the sector of HIV and AIDS, a situation which led to many
children missing out on education support which was being provided through NAC.
In the light of the current economic situation, CfSC recommends the following:
1) Malawi government to scale up its contribution to development budgets that are intended to provide social support and cash transfers to children and to households with OVCs. Key allocations to children in the budgets have a heavy donor over-reliance which affects ownership and continuity when donor funding delays or are
suspended.
Such dynamics can affect progress in the implementation of policies and laws that promote the welfare of children and OVC.
2) The need to gradually reduce donor dependence in children and OVC programs:
3) Translate the Child Care, Protection and Justice Act 2010 into the annual budgets: Since the enactment of the law, the budgets have not allocated considerable sums of money for the meaningful realization of the rights of children and those of OVC enshrined in the Act. Much of Government operations have taken a business as usual
attitude. Continued lack of willingness to finance the provisions of the Act will render the law ineffective as it will offer no meaningful protection to children.
4) Strengthening Sectoral Coordination: The Children and OVC sector has its activities being implemented by various Government ministries and departments. Each department is guided by its own set of policies and guided by unique set of priorities. Lack of coordination among the line ministries will result into inefficient use of resources and will lead to low results in the children and OVC sector.
5) Budgets for departments and ministries responsible for implementation of OVC laws and policies should be increased and protected: Small budgets are allocated to Government ministries and departments which are instrumental to the implementation of children and OVC laws and policies. These include the Department of Administrator General, Legal Aid, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, and the National Registration Bureau under OPC.
The annual allocations to these offices are less than adequate compared with the responsibilities placed upon them by the laws and policies.
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) monitors the cost of living for the four cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu and the peri-urban districts of Mangochi and Karonga on a monthly basis.
The results of these surveys indicate an ever increasing cost of living in the midst of the galloping inflation and the dwindling household’s incomes and purchasing power. The negative impact of such unaffordable cost of living on children is enormous and its consequences are noted to take a number of years to be appreciated.
In the month of March 2014, however, the cost of living has slightly reduced
by 0.5%, 2.8%, 4.1% and 5.4% for Lilongwe, Zomba, Blantyre and Mzuzu respectively. The decrease is on the account of a reduction in maize prices as Malawi begins her harvesting season.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
CONCERNS ON THE ROAD TO 20TH MAY TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS AND OUR CONTINUED WORRIES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF MALAWI REGARDLESS OF THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
CSO GRAND COALITION ISSUE PAPER
CONCERNS ON THE ROAD TO 20TH MAY TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS AND OUR CONTINUED WORRIES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF MALAWI REGARDLESS OF THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
PREAMBLE
We, members of the CSOs Grand Coalition under the leadership of CONGOMA are making this public statement to express our serious worries, anxiety and concerns over some emerging trends and challenges in some processes related to the electoral events on the road towards the 2014 tripartite elections.
As Malawian CSOs, we seek to inform Malawian citizens and raise awareness to various stakeholders and the general citizenry in the governance processes of the elections to our noted concerns so as to generate debate and honest dialogue that will ensure credible, free, fair, transparent and peaceful electoral processes before, during and after May 2014.
We make this statement realizing our enormous responsibility on the governance of the elections and on the general governance of this country. Further, we cannot and shall not remain silent when injustices, acts of intolerance, acts of imbalances, actions of omissions and commissions, among many other issues are crippling the electoral processes leading to seemingly shrinking prospects of having free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. We, also confirm our understanding about the significance of the 2014 tripartite elections in relation to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Ours is a continued commitment to giving a platform to the voiceless since we continue to note that Malawians especially those in the rural areas cannot speak out their concerns on the way elections preparations are being handled just like their voices are not well organized to be heard by those in leadership positions.
MAJOR CONCERNS ON THE ROAD TO 20TH MAY TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS
Unsettled voters’ registration figures/ statistics. MEC has received complaints in numerous NECOF meetings to harmonize figures and provide justification to the total of 7, 500,000 registered voters. Many stakeholders feel this figure is on the higher side and may imply deliberate bloating of the figures to the advantage of someone or some political party. Furthermore, recent media reports still show that this is remaining a contentious issue; if unresolved, it leaves a lot to speculation as to what the real figures are , and if bloated, what the intention is. This may translate into some electoral stakeholders failing to accept results. We therefore propose that there is time for MEC to conduct voters roll audit to authenticate this unsettled figure.
Unconvincing voter verification exercise: Malawians deserve more quality work and approach to the voters roll verification exercise. With minimal and limited publicity of the process coupled with the postponement of the process and its subsequent resumption without concrete reasons given to the public; poor organization and poorly managed verification exercise will affect the acceptability of anticipated polling results. Missing details of many people will further disfranchise the voters. This we, note, is critical for more reflection by MEC to sustain trust and confidence in the electoral preparatory processes.
Unequal playing field through the abuse of the public broadcasters favoring PP; Use of public resources conducting political rallies under the banner of development rallies whilst we observe that public resources which are supposed to serve government assignments are being used in political rallies across the nation.
Government motor vehicles and human resource have been spotted in political rallies some of which have their number plates replaced with ordinary number plates for the public not to recognize them. The abuse of public resources and power is not only uncalled for but also gives an added advantage to the ruling party while other political parties do not have similar privileges.
MEC’s statement that all people that have voters ID will vote is our concern especially when fake voter IDs have been produced as evidenced by numerous cases reported in the media. Similarly, the MEC’s mobilization message that those that need help in casting their ballot on the polling day shall be assisted by MEC officials is out rightly false and must be stopped right away. Such voters in need of help shall be assisted by people of their choice as the laws indicate.
It’s also worrisome that there is an emergence of government oriented NGOs (GONGOs) like Forum for National Development that is accorded lump sum of airtime on TV and radio to castigate other accredited CSOs, other political players including MEC itself. This shows that such a grouping is financed by government to deal with its perceived enemies or political competitors. It is proper that CSOs or NGOs should not be abused by being enticed to abandon their own code of conduct for the sake of providing political mileage to any given political party.
We further note that there is deliberate propaganda to undermine the leadership of the Malawi Electoral Commission through fake bank deposit slips stories. We assume those writing these stories and sources of such stories would want to discredit the enormous work being done by MEC, regardless of its challenges here and there. Those behind such incidents should be ashamed and allow for independence of MEC to run the elections freely.
We are also worried that MEC has opted to adopt additional but peripheral roles to the electoral processes like organizing national prayers when it has essential core functions (like cleaning up the voters roll) that they can concentrate their resources and energies on. Despite that we all know that Malawi is God fearing nation, in many people, this is creating the perception that MEC within its over-stretched personnel and resources would have left this task to Faith institutions and that it would have concentrated its energies in sorting out challenges dogging the voters roll verification exercise not overlooking other contemporary burning electoral issues.
Political parties’ campaign manifestos have been launched by many political parties. This consolidates the intended issue-based campaign and issue-based civic education processes. However, not all political parties contesting have made their manifestos public; we also doubt that some development success stories proclaimed by some party manifestos like the PP are indeed belonging to their regime achievements. Issues like Karonga road, BICC, and many others are being politicized for cheap propaganda; we further note that some pockets of political violence are due to not aligning the campaign massages to the political parties’ manifestos, a sad development that takes away our trust in believing that these leaders, once elected, will ever live the lives of their manifestos.
Declaration of presidential candidates indicating that they will surely win elections and insinuating that a ruling party never loses is a worrisome trend. PP through its Secretary General, in the last NECOF meeting assured all electoral stakeholders that PP will never use this slogan, but Alas! Many PP party leaders are daily using this slogan. PP’s spokesperson defended this slogan; and the 23rd April Nation Newspaper article by Mavuto Banda quotes the president of PP in an overconfident mood of winning the May 20 elections seemingly to corrupt the mindset of Malawians. This is further anchored by false and fake opinion polls conducted on social media links showing PP winning notwithstanding MBC using this anonymous poll to the public. Please let us desist from corrupting the citizens’ minds so that they vote with a clean conscience for their leaders of next five years.
Violence going unpunished as perpetrated in Karonga central and other places. The role of MEC and police in this takes away the confidence in decisively dealing with electoral related violence. Specifically in Karonga, we have heard starting from when primary elections were conducted, violence scenes till now during the official campaigning period. Michael Usi’s disrupted public lecture and many other politically oriented abductions and public threats going on are worrisome.
Endorsement of presidential candidates especially the ruling PP candidate by Chiefs during the so called development rallies is a worrisome situation considering that chiefs are supposed to be apolitical.
The recent report from MACRA that almost 83% of print and electronic private and public media houses are covering PP is worrying considering the existence of other political players. If true, this may imply that there is a heinous plan between PP and media houses to eclipse the other political parties. This further deepens the wider speculation about possible collusion between different media house, CSOs and PP on infecting the nation with only PP propaganda and news. A level playing field is needed and this can be achieved, in part, through balanced media coverage to all political parties contesting in these elections.
2.1. THE EMERGING PICTURE
What we are seeing on this road to 20th May tripartite elections is a clumsy picture with the following pointers:
There are serious doubts about the authenticity of the 7,500,000 registered figures, yet a poor voters’ roll verification exercise notwithstanding, nothing by authorities is happening to authenticate this. Are the registered figures not a launch-pad for rigging? There is no responsibility being taken to address this. As already said, this has an implication on the acceptability of electoral results.
There is a questionable capacity of MEC in handling tripartite elections processes as from registration process, equipment and data capturing have been faulty till the voter verification process. If not deliberate to aid a rigging process, we have serious doubts to the efficacy and effectiveness to deliver credible electoral results.
Cases of buying and selling or photocopying of voters ID cards on the increase in Chikwawa, Mangochi, Kasungu, Lilongwe-Kawale, Lilongwe- Kiboko hotel (According to media reports)- these have not been dealt with completely. If police and MEC cannot conclude these cases, then people are very worried such occurrences may be consolidating the fears of rigging which is a recipe for unacceptability of electoral results.
If MEC is failing to deal with registration data that they captured sometime back without pressure, how do they manage polling data that is needed to make a decision within limited time of 8 days.
2.2. IMPLICATIONS
In view of the above picture, we believe MEC and other key stakeholders need to know that:
Credibility of elections is not a one off thing but it must be seen in all the preparatory processes ending up in announcing the results.
With shrinking confidence in the elections management body, it could be a recipe for voter apathy or for post electoral violence.
Loss of confidence and trust in the elections management body means acceptability of results will be a challenge and can sometime be a source of civil unrest.
Key electoral stakeholders like opposition parties can demand MEC to account for certain actions before their participation in the polling processes in so doing delaying what would have been a smooth and time bound process.
2.3. OUR DEMANDS ON ELECTORAL ISSUES/ CHALLENGES:
We members of the Civil Society Grand Coalition strongly demand that drastic and punitive measures should be put in place in order to wake up from the lethargy those responsible leaders that appear to be sleeping. As such, we call for immediate updated information on the voters roll verification exercise, the cleaning of the voters roll and its subsequent publication and dissemination to the public, MEC to conduct the audit of the voters roll to regain credibility. We also call upon MEC to ask the police and judiciary to expedite the investigations of rumours of voter ID purchases or photocopying and conclude them so that the nation knows what actually was happening before polling. We further call upon political parties, if need be, to seek legal mitigation measures to reinforce MEC to comply with best practices in ensuring a leveled playing field and stop the abuse of state resources; among many other possible avenues.
OUR WORRIES REGARDLESS OF THE FORTHCOMING TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS.
Whilst the nation is gripped with elections fever, we members of the CSO Grand Coalition further note that processes for ensuring transparency and accountability by various stakeholders are being buried in the ground. But we would like to remind the nation and the general citizenry that despite the elections, as a nation, the challenges below keep on dogging our nation’s economic development and political sovereignty. We reiterate that these issues remain worrisome concerns not to be forgotten, no matter what.
There are still challenges on principles of Transparency and accountability e.g. In cashgate, jetgate where details are scanty, contradictory, hidden and no tangible progress seems to be made. These two issues involve our public money and we must continue to get concerned.
The role of parliament in ensuring accountability and transparency got diminished by choosing to dissolve parliament without discussing these two issues and other issues concerning the nation. If the role of parliament is compromised, then the essence of representative democracy is taken away.
The role of the judiciary in promoting transparency, accountability and justice for all in case of cashgate is noted to be not clear and ambiguous in part. Whilst courts cannot be pushed to conclude cases in the context of non interference, we rather are seeing a scenario in which court cases like cash-gate ones, are handled with intentions to take ages before they are concluded. We need responsiveness in the justice and judiciary sector as justice delayed is justice denied.
Constitutional provisions and the failure to respect them i.e. Section 65, Section 64, poor weak legislative levels of parliament leading into few laws those sponsored by government continuing to see the light in parliament whilst many other bills are gathering dust because the executive is not committed. There is still more work to be done here.
The role of the executive in muzzling spaces for effective and meaningful engagement towards transparency and accountability as it is co-opting CSO leaders into its systems and structures that subsequently become silent, the recruitment of members of parliament into the same especially those from the opposition so that government has majority voice on all issues is a continuing sad development of our country.
Lack of responsible and active citizenry. We sadly continue to see citizens that still await CSO leaders, Faith leaders and few Opinion leaders to champion their cause for fighting injustices. If only few leaders are left to do the work, it will not be possible to champion the cause for justice; therefore, all citizens must take up their mantle and get involved and engaged in the work on justice and better governance for mother Malawi.
Impact of cash-gate scandal on institutions of service delivery is all there for all to see. Drug shortages, dysfunctional health facilities, and almost a grounded government operating structure. We cannot sit idle while manmade poverty is taking peoples’ lives yet some few Malawians are getting richer at our expense. So Malawians must wake up to challenge this practice and behavior.
Constitutional reforms are needed to revise the following Acts so that they resonate with the current political discourse: MBC act, Political Party funding Act, MACRA Act, the Chiefs Act, the extractives legal framework among many others.
Careless selling of land to foreign companies and individuals is taking away our land forever. It is critical to put mechanism on how Malawian land can be sold to other people to avoid regretting in the nearest future.
Over-reliance on donors and multilateral financial institutions still remains a menace in our politics and needs to be considered as an old model of running national governments. We need to push for the radical change of perception and change of direction.
EMERGING PICTURE:
Due to these issues above, we note the following picture starring at us: Resigned to fate citizens with little activism, government becoming insincere and non responsive to the demands of citizens and CSOs, opposition parties seem to get satisfied with peoples support without doing serious home work on alternatives to current processes; economic and livelihoods of people are getting worse and eroded away. It seems instead of building the systems and structures of governance that ought to anchor self realization and reliance, we are consolidating politics of the belly and of handouts to continuously trap the poor in abject poverty.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD
Malawians must collectively take up their rightful role as citizens of this nation to engage leaders in different institutions to ensure responsiveness and activism on the main challenges facing this country; similarly, the elections issues must be ardently tackled to restore confidence levels and credibility of the anticipated electoral results. We have one Malawi and as our only nation, we must come together and work together to build one nation where peace, justice, truthfulness and responsiveness reign.
CONCLUSION
The Grand Coalition of CSOs in Malawi under the banner of CONGOMA we, would like to support the initiative by Malawi Electoral Support Network on its efforts to observe Tripartite elections through the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), the long term and short term observer observation and the Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIEC) Projects. We call upon all election stakeholders especially MEC and Political parties to support these efforts as well.
Finally we, categorically raises these issues to demand dialogue, debate and action on these issues. Better governance is a recipe for a socio-economically developed nation just like better management of elections processes, is a recipe for a legitimate government for all. Long live Malawi, long live peace!
Signed on behalf of the CSO Grand Coalition by:
Mr. Voice Pearson Mhone
CONGOMA Chairperson 25/04/14
CONCERNS ON THE ROAD TO 20TH MAY TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS AND OUR CONTINUED WORRIES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF MALAWI REGARDLESS OF THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
PREAMBLE
We, members of the CSOs Grand Coalition under the leadership of CONGOMA are making this public statement to express our serious worries, anxiety and concerns over some emerging trends and challenges in some processes related to the electoral events on the road towards the 2014 tripartite elections.
As Malawian CSOs, we seek to inform Malawian citizens and raise awareness to various stakeholders and the general citizenry in the governance processes of the elections to our noted concerns so as to generate debate and honest dialogue that will ensure credible, free, fair, transparent and peaceful electoral processes before, during and after May 2014.
We make this statement realizing our enormous responsibility on the governance of the elections and on the general governance of this country. Further, we cannot and shall not remain silent when injustices, acts of intolerance, acts of imbalances, actions of omissions and commissions, among many other issues are crippling the electoral processes leading to seemingly shrinking prospects of having free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. We, also confirm our understanding about the significance of the 2014 tripartite elections in relation to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Ours is a continued commitment to giving a platform to the voiceless since we continue to note that Malawians especially those in the rural areas cannot speak out their concerns on the way elections preparations are being handled just like their voices are not well organized to be heard by those in leadership positions.
MAJOR CONCERNS ON THE ROAD TO 20TH MAY TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS
Unsettled voters’ registration figures/ statistics. MEC has received complaints in numerous NECOF meetings to harmonize figures and provide justification to the total of 7, 500,000 registered voters. Many stakeholders feel this figure is on the higher side and may imply deliberate bloating of the figures to the advantage of someone or some political party. Furthermore, recent media reports still show that this is remaining a contentious issue; if unresolved, it leaves a lot to speculation as to what the real figures are , and if bloated, what the intention is. This may translate into some electoral stakeholders failing to accept results. We therefore propose that there is time for MEC to conduct voters roll audit to authenticate this unsettled figure.
Unconvincing voter verification exercise: Malawians deserve more quality work and approach to the voters roll verification exercise. With minimal and limited publicity of the process coupled with the postponement of the process and its subsequent resumption without concrete reasons given to the public; poor organization and poorly managed verification exercise will affect the acceptability of anticipated polling results. Missing details of many people will further disfranchise the voters. This we, note, is critical for more reflection by MEC to sustain trust and confidence in the electoral preparatory processes.
Unequal playing field through the abuse of the public broadcasters favoring PP; Use of public resources conducting political rallies under the banner of development rallies whilst we observe that public resources which are supposed to serve government assignments are being used in political rallies across the nation.
Government motor vehicles and human resource have been spotted in political rallies some of which have their number plates replaced with ordinary number plates for the public not to recognize them. The abuse of public resources and power is not only uncalled for but also gives an added advantage to the ruling party while other political parties do not have similar privileges.
MEC’s statement that all people that have voters ID will vote is our concern especially when fake voter IDs have been produced as evidenced by numerous cases reported in the media. Similarly, the MEC’s mobilization message that those that need help in casting their ballot on the polling day shall be assisted by MEC officials is out rightly false and must be stopped right away. Such voters in need of help shall be assisted by people of their choice as the laws indicate.
It’s also worrisome that there is an emergence of government oriented NGOs (GONGOs) like Forum for National Development that is accorded lump sum of airtime on TV and radio to castigate other accredited CSOs, other political players including MEC itself. This shows that such a grouping is financed by government to deal with its perceived enemies or political competitors. It is proper that CSOs or NGOs should not be abused by being enticed to abandon their own code of conduct for the sake of providing political mileage to any given political party.
We further note that there is deliberate propaganda to undermine the leadership of the Malawi Electoral Commission through fake bank deposit slips stories. We assume those writing these stories and sources of such stories would want to discredit the enormous work being done by MEC, regardless of its challenges here and there. Those behind such incidents should be ashamed and allow for independence of MEC to run the elections freely.
We are also worried that MEC has opted to adopt additional but peripheral roles to the electoral processes like organizing national prayers when it has essential core functions (like cleaning up the voters roll) that they can concentrate their resources and energies on. Despite that we all know that Malawi is God fearing nation, in many people, this is creating the perception that MEC within its over-stretched personnel and resources would have left this task to Faith institutions and that it would have concentrated its energies in sorting out challenges dogging the voters roll verification exercise not overlooking other contemporary burning electoral issues.
Political parties’ campaign manifestos have been launched by many political parties. This consolidates the intended issue-based campaign and issue-based civic education processes. However, not all political parties contesting have made their manifestos public; we also doubt that some development success stories proclaimed by some party manifestos like the PP are indeed belonging to their regime achievements. Issues like Karonga road, BICC, and many others are being politicized for cheap propaganda; we further note that some pockets of political violence are due to not aligning the campaign massages to the political parties’ manifestos, a sad development that takes away our trust in believing that these leaders, once elected, will ever live the lives of their manifestos.
Declaration of presidential candidates indicating that they will surely win elections and insinuating that a ruling party never loses is a worrisome trend. PP through its Secretary General, in the last NECOF meeting assured all electoral stakeholders that PP will never use this slogan, but Alas! Many PP party leaders are daily using this slogan. PP’s spokesperson defended this slogan; and the 23rd April Nation Newspaper article by Mavuto Banda quotes the president of PP in an overconfident mood of winning the May 20 elections seemingly to corrupt the mindset of Malawians. This is further anchored by false and fake opinion polls conducted on social media links showing PP winning notwithstanding MBC using this anonymous poll to the public. Please let us desist from corrupting the citizens’ minds so that they vote with a clean conscience for their leaders of next five years.
Violence going unpunished as perpetrated in Karonga central and other places. The role of MEC and police in this takes away the confidence in decisively dealing with electoral related violence. Specifically in Karonga, we have heard starting from when primary elections were conducted, violence scenes till now during the official campaigning period. Michael Usi’s disrupted public lecture and many other politically oriented abductions and public threats going on are worrisome.
Endorsement of presidential candidates especially the ruling PP candidate by Chiefs during the so called development rallies is a worrisome situation considering that chiefs are supposed to be apolitical.
The recent report from MACRA that almost 83% of print and electronic private and public media houses are covering PP is worrying considering the existence of other political players. If true, this may imply that there is a heinous plan between PP and media houses to eclipse the other political parties. This further deepens the wider speculation about possible collusion between different media house, CSOs and PP on infecting the nation with only PP propaganda and news. A level playing field is needed and this can be achieved, in part, through balanced media coverage to all political parties contesting in these elections.
2.1. THE EMERGING PICTURE
What we are seeing on this road to 20th May tripartite elections is a clumsy picture with the following pointers:
There are serious doubts about the authenticity of the 7,500,000 registered figures, yet a poor voters’ roll verification exercise notwithstanding, nothing by authorities is happening to authenticate this. Are the registered figures not a launch-pad for rigging? There is no responsibility being taken to address this. As already said, this has an implication on the acceptability of electoral results.
There is a questionable capacity of MEC in handling tripartite elections processes as from registration process, equipment and data capturing have been faulty till the voter verification process. If not deliberate to aid a rigging process, we have serious doubts to the efficacy and effectiveness to deliver credible electoral results.
Cases of buying and selling or photocopying of voters ID cards on the increase in Chikwawa, Mangochi, Kasungu, Lilongwe-Kawale, Lilongwe- Kiboko hotel (According to media reports)- these have not been dealt with completely. If police and MEC cannot conclude these cases, then people are very worried such occurrences may be consolidating the fears of rigging which is a recipe for unacceptability of electoral results.
If MEC is failing to deal with registration data that they captured sometime back without pressure, how do they manage polling data that is needed to make a decision within limited time of 8 days.
2.2. IMPLICATIONS
In view of the above picture, we believe MEC and other key stakeholders need to know that:
Credibility of elections is not a one off thing but it must be seen in all the preparatory processes ending up in announcing the results.
With shrinking confidence in the elections management body, it could be a recipe for voter apathy or for post electoral violence.
Loss of confidence and trust in the elections management body means acceptability of results will be a challenge and can sometime be a source of civil unrest.
Key electoral stakeholders like opposition parties can demand MEC to account for certain actions before their participation in the polling processes in so doing delaying what would have been a smooth and time bound process.
2.3. OUR DEMANDS ON ELECTORAL ISSUES/ CHALLENGES:
We members of the Civil Society Grand Coalition strongly demand that drastic and punitive measures should be put in place in order to wake up from the lethargy those responsible leaders that appear to be sleeping. As such, we call for immediate updated information on the voters roll verification exercise, the cleaning of the voters roll and its subsequent publication and dissemination to the public, MEC to conduct the audit of the voters roll to regain credibility. We also call upon MEC to ask the police and judiciary to expedite the investigations of rumours of voter ID purchases or photocopying and conclude them so that the nation knows what actually was happening before polling. We further call upon political parties, if need be, to seek legal mitigation measures to reinforce MEC to comply with best practices in ensuring a leveled playing field and stop the abuse of state resources; among many other possible avenues.
OUR WORRIES REGARDLESS OF THE FORTHCOMING TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS.
Whilst the nation is gripped with elections fever, we members of the CSO Grand Coalition further note that processes for ensuring transparency and accountability by various stakeholders are being buried in the ground. But we would like to remind the nation and the general citizenry that despite the elections, as a nation, the challenges below keep on dogging our nation’s economic development and political sovereignty. We reiterate that these issues remain worrisome concerns not to be forgotten, no matter what.
There are still challenges on principles of Transparency and accountability e.g. In cashgate, jetgate where details are scanty, contradictory, hidden and no tangible progress seems to be made. These two issues involve our public money and we must continue to get concerned.
The role of parliament in ensuring accountability and transparency got diminished by choosing to dissolve parliament without discussing these two issues and other issues concerning the nation. If the role of parliament is compromised, then the essence of representative democracy is taken away.
The role of the judiciary in promoting transparency, accountability and justice for all in case of cashgate is noted to be not clear and ambiguous in part. Whilst courts cannot be pushed to conclude cases in the context of non interference, we rather are seeing a scenario in which court cases like cash-gate ones, are handled with intentions to take ages before they are concluded. We need responsiveness in the justice and judiciary sector as justice delayed is justice denied.
Constitutional provisions and the failure to respect them i.e. Section 65, Section 64, poor weak legislative levels of parliament leading into few laws those sponsored by government continuing to see the light in parliament whilst many other bills are gathering dust because the executive is not committed. There is still more work to be done here.
The role of the executive in muzzling spaces for effective and meaningful engagement towards transparency and accountability as it is co-opting CSO leaders into its systems and structures that subsequently become silent, the recruitment of members of parliament into the same especially those from the opposition so that government has majority voice on all issues is a continuing sad development of our country.
Lack of responsible and active citizenry. We sadly continue to see citizens that still await CSO leaders, Faith leaders and few Opinion leaders to champion their cause for fighting injustices. If only few leaders are left to do the work, it will not be possible to champion the cause for justice; therefore, all citizens must take up their mantle and get involved and engaged in the work on justice and better governance for mother Malawi.
Impact of cash-gate scandal on institutions of service delivery is all there for all to see. Drug shortages, dysfunctional health facilities, and almost a grounded government operating structure. We cannot sit idle while manmade poverty is taking peoples’ lives yet some few Malawians are getting richer at our expense. So Malawians must wake up to challenge this practice and behavior.
Constitutional reforms are needed to revise the following Acts so that they resonate with the current political discourse: MBC act, Political Party funding Act, MACRA Act, the Chiefs Act, the extractives legal framework among many others.
Careless selling of land to foreign companies and individuals is taking away our land forever. It is critical to put mechanism on how Malawian land can be sold to other people to avoid regretting in the nearest future.
Over-reliance on donors and multilateral financial institutions still remains a menace in our politics and needs to be considered as an old model of running national governments. We need to push for the radical change of perception and change of direction.
EMERGING PICTURE:
Due to these issues above, we note the following picture starring at us: Resigned to fate citizens with little activism, government becoming insincere and non responsive to the demands of citizens and CSOs, opposition parties seem to get satisfied with peoples support without doing serious home work on alternatives to current processes; economic and livelihoods of people are getting worse and eroded away. It seems instead of building the systems and structures of governance that ought to anchor self realization and reliance, we are consolidating politics of the belly and of handouts to continuously trap the poor in abject poverty.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD
Malawians must collectively take up their rightful role as citizens of this nation to engage leaders in different institutions to ensure responsiveness and activism on the main challenges facing this country; similarly, the elections issues must be ardently tackled to restore confidence levels and credibility of the anticipated electoral results. We have one Malawi and as our only nation, we must come together and work together to build one nation where peace, justice, truthfulness and responsiveness reign.
CONCLUSION
The Grand Coalition of CSOs in Malawi under the banner of CONGOMA we, would like to support the initiative by Malawi Electoral Support Network on its efforts to observe Tripartite elections through the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), the long term and short term observer observation and the Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIEC) Projects. We call upon all election stakeholders especially MEC and Political parties to support these efforts as well.
Finally we, categorically raises these issues to demand dialogue, debate and action on these issues. Better governance is a recipe for a socio-economically developed nation just like better management of elections processes, is a recipe for a legitimate government for all. Long live Malawi, long live peace!
Signed on behalf of the CSO Grand Coalition by:
Mr. Voice Pearson Mhone
CONGOMA Chairperson 25/04/14
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
THE AU COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SOUTH SUDAN TO UNDERTAKE ITS FIRST FIELD MISSION TO JUBA
Press Release Nº075 /2014
Juba, South Sudan, 22nd April 2014: The African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan to undertake its first field mission to South Sudan from April 21st April to 1st May 2014 . This mission comes as part of AU efforts to end the conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, and ensure the emergence of an environment of sustainable peace that would enable a sustainable democratic culture to emerge in the country.
Headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the mission will include the Commission members namely; Professor Mahmood Mamdani, Ms. Bineta Diop, Professor Pacifique Manirakiza and Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo and AUC technical support team.
In its first mission, Commission intends to meet with President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, and other officials of the government including; Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Defense Minister, Chief of Staff, Ministers of Security, Interior, Gender, Child & Social Welfare, and Commander of Presidential Guard and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS.
The Commission will also meet with former Vice President Riek Machar and the opposition group. It will conduct wide-ranging meetings with stakeholders including: Chairman of South Sudan Human Rights Commission, Chairman of National Assembly Human Rights Committee, Chairman of South Sudan Committee for National Healing, Peace & Reconciliation, Civil Society Alliance, Church leaders, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization among others.
The Commission was established by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AUC Chairperson on 6th March 2014, in pursuant to decision of the 411th Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government held in Banjul, The Gambia. On 30 December 2013, the Commission was tasked with accountability investigation of the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan with the aim of guarantee healing for sustainable peace and security in South Sudan.
The Commission will submit its report within a maximum period of three (3) months to the AU Peace and Security Council.
It held its first and second meetings in Addis Ababa on 6th March and 2nd April 2014 respectively.
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia.
Juba, South Sudan, 22nd April 2014: The African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan to undertake its first field mission to South Sudan from April 21st April to 1st May 2014 . This mission comes as part of AU efforts to end the conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, and ensure the emergence of an environment of sustainable peace that would enable a sustainable democratic culture to emerge in the country.
Headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the mission will include the Commission members namely; Professor Mahmood Mamdani, Ms. Bineta Diop, Professor Pacifique Manirakiza and Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo and AUC technical support team.
In its first mission, Commission intends to meet with President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, and other officials of the government including; Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Defense Minister, Chief of Staff, Ministers of Security, Interior, Gender, Child & Social Welfare, and Commander of Presidential Guard and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS.
The Commission will also meet with former Vice President Riek Machar and the opposition group. It will conduct wide-ranging meetings with stakeholders including: Chairman of South Sudan Human Rights Commission, Chairman of National Assembly Human Rights Committee, Chairman of South Sudan Committee for National Healing, Peace & Reconciliation, Civil Society Alliance, Church leaders, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization among others.
The Commission was established by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AUC Chairperson on 6th March 2014, in pursuant to decision of the 411th Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government held in Banjul, The Gambia. On 30 December 2013, the Commission was tasked with accountability investigation of the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan with the aim of guarantee healing for sustainable peace and security in South Sudan.
The Commission will submit its report within a maximum period of three (3) months to the AU Peace and Security Council.
It held its first and second meetings in Addis Ababa on 6th March and 2nd April 2014 respectively.
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Mobile, Web Voter Verification Up and Running
BLANTYRE – 21 April, 2014
In a historical and electoral first for Malawi, prospective voters in the country are now able to verify their voter registration status using mobile phones. A web platform has also been created for the same purpose.
Registered voters in the upcoming Tripartite elections scheduled for 20 May, 2014 can now send a FREE short-message-service (SMS) to a designated short-code and instantly receive details of where they are registered to vote.
The MalawiElectoral Commission (MEC) in conjunction with the Malawi Election InformationCentre (MEIC) is rolling out this service, with technical assistance coming from SMAG Media UK, Ltd. and Code For Africa.
Registered voters in Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Nkhotakota, Salima and all districts in the Northern Region of Malawi will be the first to have access to the mobile verification platform when the second phase of voter verification commences today.
To verify your voter registration status, one must send an SMS with their voter identification number 5VOTE (58683). This SMS is FREE of charge on both Airtel and TNM networks.
To receive voter registration details in ChiChewa, for example, a registered voter will have to type CHE123456789 (CHE for ChiChewa + the voter’s nine digit ID Number) and send an SMS to 58683.
To receive voter registration details in ChiTumbuka, for example, a registered voter will have to type TUM123456789 (TUM for ChiTumbuka + the voter’s nine digit ID Number) and send an SMS to 58683.
To receive voter registration details in English, for example, a registered voter will have to type only their voter ID (example: 123456789) and send an SMS to 58683.
To verify your voter registration status online, one has to go to http://gottovote.malawivote2014.org and follow the instructions outlined.
Registered voters are able to verify their details up to three times. Those who find inconsistencies against their voter records are advised to contact their nearest MEC office for assistance as no corrections or queries regarding voter information will be accepted by the system.
Mobile and web verification is only available to registered voters belonging to constituencies where MEC will be conducting voter verification exercises ahead of the polls.
About MEC:
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is an independent, constitutionally-mandated and impartial institution, that works to professionally deliver credible, transparent, inclusive, efficient and cost-effective elections in order to promote and entrench democratic values and peace in Malawi.
About MEIC:
MEIC is a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) led by the Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) with common interests to collaborate on activities related to the 2014 Malawi Tripartite Elections, namely:
1) To support the Malawi Electoral Commission to manage the elections process to ensure its credibility and that the process is free, fair, and reflects the will of Malawians.
2) Provide the voter population with credible evidence-based information gathered by Observers on a real-time basis and send via a dedicated SMS service as events unfold on Election Day that will be used by experts to analyse existing situations at Polling Streams to keep the people informed and prevent rumour mongering that may result in violent behaviour – pre and post-election day.
3) To provide rapid response in elections emergency situations (i.e. informing MEC and the Police) that might affect the credibility of the electoral process.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Forged Bank Deposit Slip by Malawi Electoral Commission Staff
PRESS RELEASE
(for Immediate release 18/04/2014)
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) would like to express its utter disappointment with the act by unscrupulous individuals or bodies
that are peddling bank deposit slips with forged information about the Commission’s staff.
The Commission has been availed with bank deposit slip that has been provided to the media indicating details that it was made by a MEC staff member into a bank account for a political party.
This matter has been referred to the Fiscal Police who are investigating and treating the issue as a criminal matter. The
Commission is confident that the Police will do a professional job to bring the culprits to book.
The Commission finds this act not only defamatory but also malicious and being orchestrated by individuals or groups that are bent towards denting the image of the Commission as we prepare for the Tripartite Elections on May 20, 2014.
All electoral stakeholders are being assured of the highest commitment by the Commission to hold credible elections to the
satisfaction of all stakeholders.
Willie Kalonga,
Chief Elections Officer
POSTPONEMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN KANDEU AND LISANJALA WARDS
PRESS RELEASE
In pursuance of Section 39 of the Local Government Elections Act no. 24 of 1996 the Malawi Electoral Commission is informing all
stakeholders that Local Government Elections in the following wards have been stopped because of death of candidates:
. Kandeu Ward in Ntcheu North East where a United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate died;
. Lisanjala Ward in Machinga Likwenu in where a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate died.
The Commission will conduct by-elections in the two wards after the May 20, 2014 elections.
Candidates who were duly nominated for the cancelled polls will need to notify the Commission in writing of their intention to contest again when the Commission issues a notice to hold by-elections.
Dated at Blantyre this 19th day of April, 2014.
Willie Kalonga
Chief Elections Officer
Friday, April 18, 2014
Atupele Muluzi's Links To Blood Money From General Omar Al Bashir: A Threat To Democracy And Peace In Malawi And The Region
For Immediate Release
The Forum for National Development (FND) has been compelled as peace loving and national development conscious to come out in the open to question the purported alliance that has been cemented between the United Democratic Front (UDF) Presidential candidate, Mr. Atupele Muluzi, and the Sudanese Head of State General Omar Al Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Holland as discussed in the media.
This alliance is creating fear since General Al Bashir does not harbour noble's intentions and his interest by funding and bankrolling Muluzi may be aimed at spreading elements of terrorism as the USA noted in Sudan.
We are concerned that General Al Bashir is trying to create a base in Malawi. He is an international pariah after his involvement in the massacre of innocent people in Darfur and he is wanted for genocide and crimes against humanity.
We are calling on the public and the world at large that Malawi's peace and hard won freedom is at stake with millions of blood money being pumped in through Omar Al Bashir's cousin brother in South Africa.
Furthermore, we are appealing on Malawians to maintain the peaceful coexistence that has existed from time immemorial and we are fearful of the potential the alliance is risking the country's dignity for the sake of personal glory and vanity.
We are appealing on other notables players like the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Human Right Consultative Committee (HRCC), Public Affairs Committee and Faith Based Organizations to join the hands and fight General Omar Al Bashir's direct involvement in internal affairs of our country and elsewhere.
General Omar Al Bashir is a Persona non grata. Malawi as a nation is playing a meaningful role in the global village and should resist his infiltration of money, political and terrorism influence.
We call upon political parties and individuals aspiring leadership positions to desist from getting financing from sources that are linked to terrorism and
criminals against humanity that brings disrepute to Malawi as we are aware that every funding agency or individuals has special interest in doing so and we can only question the motive of such funding to a country like Malawi as it will do much harm in long run than doing good
Signed
Bright Kampaundi, CHAIRPERSON
Fryson Chodzi, NATIONAL COORDINATOR
Fr. Benito Kamoto Dies
18 April 2014
Death Announcement: FR BENITO KAMOTO
The Catholic Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi regrets to announce the death of FR BENITO KAMOTO , a priest of the ARCHDIOCESE OF BLANTYRE. He died during the night of the 17of April 2014.
While waiting for announcement of the arrangements for the burial, indications
are that he will be laid to rest on Easter Monday, 21 of April 2014, preceded by a
requiem Mass on the same day at Limbe Cathedral.
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT - ECM
Death Announcement: FR BENITO KAMOTO
The Catholic Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi regrets to announce the death of FR BENITO KAMOTO , a priest of the ARCHDIOCESE OF BLANTYRE. He died during the night of the 17of April 2014.
While waiting for announcement of the arrangements for the burial, indications
are that he will be laid to rest on Easter Monday, 21 of April 2014, preceded by a
requiem Mass on the same day at Limbe Cathedral.
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT - ECM
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