CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE (CCJP) AND THE RESEARCH AND SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL

JOINT MEDIA AND ADVOCACY STATEMENT

FROM

THE CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE (CCJP) AND

THE RESEARCH AND SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

OF

THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF MALAWI

ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL

1.0. PREAMBLE

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) which is a social justice and advocacy arm; and the Research and Social Commission which is the communication arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, an umbrella body of the Catholic Bishops in Malawi, have noted with concern the current updates provided by the Malawi Government on the status of Access to Information Bill (ATI). So far, the updates provided by the Leader of Government Business,  Honorable Francis Kasaira and Minister of Information, Honorable Jappie Mhango, whilst they have more details; lack precision, timeliness and are far from bringing about the much needed enabling legal framework of access to information highly needed by Malawian citizenry, CSOs and the media. We, therefore, kindly request government and especially cabinet to expedite ‘’the VERY advanced stages’’ of the ATI Bill so that this bill is soon enacted into law. In any case, we are convinced as per the DPP February, 2014 Manifesto commitment made on chapter 30, page 57 and paragraph 4 that the DPP led government is already committed to seeing this bill legislated and in operation.

2.0. OUR APPRECIATION

We, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Research and Social Communication Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, in this discourse for the enactment of the Access to Information Bill appreciate the following:

1. That government and other relevant stakeholders that value this relevant bill have already shown high levels of commitment and effort to bring this bill into existence
2. That most political parties showed commitment to this bill by highlighting it as a priority in their 2014 manifestos
3. That presently Access to Information Bill continues to dominate national discourse further highlights the importance Malawians accord this bill.

3.0. OUR CONCERNS

We, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Research and Social Communication Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, while we appreciate the clarification made by Government of Malawi through a media statement released on Friday, 6th November, 2015 by the Minister of Information, would like to raise the following concerns:

1. The ATI Bill has been outstanding spanning four political regimes from Dr. Bakili Muluzi’s Administration (1994-2004) and later Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration (2004-2012), Dr.Joyce Banda’s administration (2012-2014) and the current Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s administration. The length of time that the bill has taken before enactment is raising suspicions as to the lack of sustained political will to expedite the process by all regimes.
2. We note that while Government indicates that the bill is at an advanced stage, it, however, does not provide an indicative time frame that the bill has to go through before being presented in Parliament. Considering the serious delayed and sluggish history of the bill, the recent update from Government is wanting as it is devoid of specific time frames.
3. As noted above in this statement, the DPP manifesto outlined the ATI Bill as a priority. On the contrary though, it is disheartening that 5 parliamentary sessions have gone by without tabling the bill; instead what the nation gets are mere assurances that the bill will be tabled. We are therefore worried that this might be a continuation of the established trend whereby administrations come and go without enacting the ATI when they promised so during their campaigns.

4.0. OUR APPEAL

We, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Research and Social Communication Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, would like to make the following appeal to the following key stakeholders:

1. The President and Cabinet: To ensure that the process gets political backing and support at all levels and that cabinet prioritizes the bill in their most immediate meetings.
2. The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Information: We are imploring them to expedite the process that will lead to the passing of the bill in Parliament.
3. CSOs, the Media and General Public: To be vigilant, proactive and intrusive and to exercise active citizenship to ensure that our leaders live by the promise to pass the bill.

5.0. CONCLUSION

We, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Research and Social Communication Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, aware of the varying opinions, frustrations, fears among different interested stakeholders call upon Malawi Government to act with speed and honesty to ensure that the ATI bill is tabled before Parliament. Noting the relevance and the critical significance of the ATI, We, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Research and Social Communication Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi are releasing this advocacy media statement to contribute to the already existing efforts from other interested stakeholders for an expedited enactment of the ATI Bill. Since Malawi government joined the open government initiative, it is only prudent and logical that this ATI is in place to domesticate this global initiative. The legal enabling environment therefore is very key.

Signed by:

Carsterns Mulume, Director for Social Development Directorate

Chris Chisoni, National Secretary for Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace

Fr. Andrew Kaufa, National Secretary for Research and Social Communication Commission

Statement by His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi On The Occasion of The Opening of the 46th Session of Parliament on Friday, 6th November, 2015

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

STATEMENT

BY

HIS EXCELLENCY PROF. ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIKA

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

On the occasion of the

OPENING OF THE 46TH SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

LILONGWE

Friday, 6thNovember, 2015

• YOUR EXCELLENCY MADAME GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA, FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI;

• RIGHT HONOURABLE DR. SAULOS KLAUS CHILIMA, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI;

• RIGHT HONOURABLE RICHARD MSOWOYA, M.P., SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY;

• YOUR LORDSHIP HONOURABLE ANDREW NYIRENDA, SC, CHIEF JUSTICE;

• HONOURABLE DEPUTY SPEAKERS;

• HONOURABLE LEADER OF THE HOUSE;

• HONOURABLE CABINET MINISTERS AND DEPUTY MINISTERS;

• HONOURABLE JUSTICES OF APPEAL AND JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT;

• HONOURABLE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION;

• LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT;

• HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT;

• YOUR EXCELLENCY MADAM THANDIWE DUMBUTCHENA, DEAN OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS;

• MR. GEORGE MKONDIWA, CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT;

• DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS;

• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I am delighted to be here with you all to preside over the opening of the 46th Session of Parliament.

But first, let me extend my heartfelt condolences to you, the honourable members of this House and the bereaved family on the loss of Honourable Chizalo Peter Mangulenje, who until his time of death was a DPP Member of Parliament for Zomba Chisi. (May his soul rest in peace).

Mr. Speaker Sir, the theme of my address today is Building Resilience for Sustainable Development. This nation has walked a long path of challenges. For decades, our people have suffered in poverty. Many Malawians are still struggling to survive we speak. With the floods, the destruction of houses; the drought and the hunger that has followed, let us understand our people’s suffering.

But hard times should teach us hard lessons for lasting solutions. The tougher the times, the tougher we must be. And we can turn our challenges into stepping stones for building a resilient economy.

Mr. Speaker Sir, Malawi is at a very critical stage. When we proudly fought for Independence more than half a century ago, we fought for political freedom and economic sovereignty. For years, we have relied on budgetary aid while dependency mentality deepened and our poverty rose. Now, there is no more budgetary support. The age of donor aid seems to be gone. Our developing partners remain with us only with support outside the budget. More than ever, we need economic prudence and innovation. Malawians must understand the changing times we live in. We must work and endure our painful path to economic sovereignty. And we must do what it takes to end the suffering of our people.    

Mr. Speaker Sir, this is the time for us to shape our destiny with a common mindset. But sadly our democracy seems to have taken away our national duty and sense of responsibility. Our freedom of speech has become a celebration for blaming and counter-blaming one another. We are wasting precious time. Our style of democracy seems to be our curse more than a blessing for us. But our children will never forgive us for wasting time and failing to develop Malawi now. History will never forgive us!

Mr. Speaker Sir, let me now turn to the present status of the economy. Our economic growth is slowing down. Our projections are now revised downward to 3 percent in 2015, and 4.5 percent in 2016. The floods we suffered and the prolonged dry spells early this year are part of the causes. Yet, slow economic growth is not peculiar to Malawi. The IMF has actually reduced the global real GDP growth projection. The Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth has been revised downwards as well. Malawi is not an exception. 

Mr. Speaker Sir, our headline inflation rate has been persistently high in recent years. As we speak, we have not recovered from the effects of two consecutive problems: the wanton looting of public resources during cashgate and the natural disaster that has caused hunger. Now we have high food inflation. Notably though, food inflation is higher compared to the non-food inflation.

The Malawi Kwacha has depreciated by about 30 percent during the second and third quarters of 2015. This has exerted further pressure on inflation and the execution of the budget. The Reserve Bank of Malawi has introduced strict measures that have slowed down depreciation.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I wish to report that the IMF mission has undertaken the seventh review of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement and examined our country’s macroeconomic context. The mission commended the Government for actions taken to bolster the financial sector, including the action on recapitalization of locally-based banks to significantly reduce vulnerabilities in the financial sector. The IMF also confirmed that Malawi has met most of the program targets, including Net International Reserves and Net Domestic Assets of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

This is important because some have given our people a false impression that the entire economy is off-track. The fact is, we met all the quantitative targets except for the target of Central Government net domestic borrowing. We had an over-expenditure of 2% of GDP in the second half of the 2014/2015 year in wage bill. The country also delayed the implementation of structural improvements in the Public Finance Management. These are the ones that led to a conclusion that the EFC programme is off-track. But all is not lost.

Mr. Speaker Sir, it is important to reiterate that the over-expenditure was largely due to revenue under-collection, low grant inflows during the 2014/15 financial year; and the obligated MK40 billion payment on security requirements for the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defense Force that was committed by the previous Government. It must be remembered that Government has committed obligations we cannot escape even in hard times.

Mr. Speaker Sir, in order to address the outlined challenges, Government will continue to contain expenditure by cutting down expenditure. The budget needs to reflect available resources. We will also continue to restore confidence in the public finance management system. We will continue upgrading the Integrated Finance Management and Information System (IFMIS) and other related systems to guard against any mismanagement of the public resources.

In this regard, Independent Audit Committees have been constituted and the establishment of an Inspectorate is at an advanced stage. We have also launched a head count of public employees to eliminate ghost workers who are inflating the wage bill. We will aggressively pursue those civil servants who are creating ghost workers and bring them to justice. They cannot escape; and they cannot hide from the eyes of the law.

Additionally, we will continue to implement sound monetary policy. We need to reduce inflation and interest rates in the shortest period possible. And we will maintain the market determined exchange rate regime and automatic fuel pricing in order to create a stable macroeconomic environment.

Mr. Speaker Sir, and Honourable Members

We all know that we have produced less maize due to floods and drought. Production of other major food crops did not do well either. About 2.8 million people in 25 districts of the country are not able to meet their food requirements. This represents 17 percent of the country’s total population, which we cannot allow to suffer.

Mr. Speaker Sir, to address the food shortage, Government allocated MK8 billion in the 2015/2016 budget for restocking the Strategic Grain Reserves.

Government has developed a Food Insecurity Response Plan to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people. The response plan requires a total of US$146.38 million. I am pleased to report that so far, the World Bank, the European Commission, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, and Italy, have provided assistance amounting to US$40.86 million. Through this Parliament, we wish to register our thanks to the above mentioned development partners. With this support, the resource gap is now US$105.52 million. I reiterate the Malawi Government’s further appeal for humanitarian assistance.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased to inform this august House that out of the targeted figure of about 50,000 metric tons of maize needed, the Government has so far procured over 30,000 metric tons. And procurement is still ongoing. In addition, using our own resources, we are buying 26,000 metric tons of maize through ADMARC at a cost of K3.5 billion locally. We have also bought 30,000 metric tons of maize from Zambia. Further, the National Food Reserve Agency is procuring 25,000 metric tons to supplement the 66,000 metric tons it already had. Mr. Speaker Sir, we will have enough food for our people.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, as recommended by Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee, food distribution started on 1st October, 2015 and will continue until March, 2016. We will reach the food insecure people either with actual food or cash transfers. The World Food Programme and others are on the ground assisting Government in this humanitarian cause.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

We will continue to equip, provide for, and empower our farmers in the coming growing season. We will continue to subsidize our farmers. This year, farmers will now contribute MK6,500 towards the market price for fertilizer and MK500 per bag for the legume seed. Government has done this despite the resource constraints currently facing our budget. We need to work towards a better harvest this year. Further, Government has insured the maize crop against severe drought covering the 2015/2016 agriculture season.

Turning to public health, Mr. Speaker Sir, we acknowledge the challenges the health sector has been facing. There has been low availability of drugs, delays in procurement of medicine, slow payment to suppliers and pilferage of drugs. But we are now taking aggressive measures to address the problems.

We are providing resources to Central Medical Stores Trust on a quarterly basis to enable the Trust process tenders in planned time. We have empowered hospital and health advisory committees to ensure community ownership of supplies to reduce pilferage.   We are also arranging to amend The Pharmacy, Medicines and Poison Act (1988) in order to strengthen the legal framework for punishing those who steal drugs and cause untold suffering and death of innocent souls and law abiding citizens. Time for stealing medicine is over!

Mr. Speaker Sir, I must report that Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has 80 per cent of the “MUST HAVE” medicines and 56 per cent on the overall catalogue. Drug shortage is now on the decline.

Mr. Speaker Sir, there is good news that finally, after a long negotiation on resources to fight HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, government has secured US$616 million-the highest allocation so far from the Global Fund. We are grateful to them. Everyone must work to ensure that the resources are used correctly and with transparency and accountability.

There is also good news related to progress on the Public Service Reforms program. Government has commenced the process of issuing National Identity Cards. We intend to issue the first 5,000 ID cards by February 2016 on a pilot basis. The issuance of ID cards to all citizens will be rolled out in 2017. Malawi has waited for this important facility for too long.

Other notable reforms being implemented include: Configuration and integration of  IFMIS to all Government accounts; upgrading of the Malawi Traffic Information System (MALTIS); Power Market Restructuring (separating generation from transmission and distribution of electricity); Parastatal Reforms; establishment of the Green Belt Initiative (GBI) Holdings Limited; and the Doing Business Reforms.

We have also taken unprecedented steps in creating a conducive business and investment environment. The establishment of the One Stop Service Centre at the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre has significantly improved the process of investing in our country. The reforms are yielding positive results. Malawians may be pleased to note that our country has now risen on the World Bank Doing Business Index ranking for 2016. Malawi has jumped up with 23 places up the doing business ladder. This is a positive direction and we are determined to push our global ranking even further. We must claim our place in the world.

Every Malawian now knows that we are making good progress in attracting investors. We now have illustrative examples to show. We have a 300 Megawatts Kamwamba Coal-fired Power Plant Project coming up. Other big investment projects include construction of the modern Chileka International Airport and the National Identity Cards Project. Direct investment will create new jobs, create more businesses, create wealth, provide the best of services and turn Malawi into a predominantly producing and exporting nation. Yes, it is about time!

Mr. Speaker Sir,

The decisions we make here must always remember the plight of our people. I am glad that this parliament approved our Malata and Cement Subsidy Programme. I am pleased to report that 80 beneficiaries per constituency in all the 193 constituencies have been identified. Over 75 percent of materials to respective councils, housing development groups and the intended beneficiaries have been delivered. Now a total of 6,948 houses, representing 45 percent of 15, 440 of the targeted houses, have been iron-roofed, plastered and floored with cement. This is good progress.

With the progress in direct investment, skills development, Malata Subsidy and our efforts in empowering our farmers, we now know that we are moving towards a Malawi with decent housing, new jobs, new businesses, and food security.

Malawi must be a society living free from fear. This Government will not relent from safeguarding security, justice and governance. I am aware of the spreading concern, panic and fear around the state of security. Mr. Speaker Sir, contrary to the created perception based on a few known cases, actual official statics actually indicate declining crime rate. We will continue to ensure public security by deploying officers accordingly and equipping them more than ever.

We are also enhancing security by empowering private security companies. Government has started developing the Private Security Companies Policy and Private Security Companies Guidelines in order to control and coordinate the management of the sub-sector. This will be supported by complementing security policies which, I know, this house will be happy to pass when time comes. 

Mr. Speaker Sir,

Let me now indicate the general policy direction Malawi is taking. We are reviewing the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II and the preparing its successor. This comes after the word’s adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which Malawi is committed. Therefore, Malawi will localise the SDGs through the National Development Strategy. This will ensure that SDGs are supported using the national budget and other local development processes. But a proper coordination of our development agenda is critical. I am, therefore, pleased to report that the process of establishing a National Planning Commission, as pledged in the DPP Manifesto, is currently under way.

As I speak, Government has made progress and recently approved a number of policies, including the National Gender Policy and the National Social Welfare Policy. Now we are moving to finalise the preparation of a number of policies. These include the National Policy for Older Persons; National Climate Change Policy; National Industry Policy; National Irrigation Policy; the National Housing Policy, National Trade Policy; National Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Policy; National Education Policy; National Agriculture Policy and the Revised National Forestry Policy.  The implementation of these policies will be part of our victory in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this sitting or Parliament will play a very critical role recreating our policy framework. You will pass very important bills that Malawians are waiting for. Some of the bills to be tabled during this Session include the long awaited Access to Information Bill; Communications Bill; the Credit Reference Bureaux Bill; the Land Bill; the Customary Land Bill; and the Payment Systems Bill. I am certain that it is in our interest to support and pass these bills because Malawi, our country needs them.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker Sir, and all Honourable Members

We are driven by the strong conviction that our challenges are not insurmountable. We are making the right decisions. All we need is the unity of purpose to work together to implement our national agenda. Let us today make binding decisions and take enduring actions that will last for us and our children.

Mr. Speaker Sir, it is now my singular honour to declare the 46th Session of Parliament, officially open.

God bless you all; and God bless Malawi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir and all Honourable Members.

Press Statement in Respond to the Story Carried in The Malawi News of 31st October 2015 Headlined 'Obsession with Jet Travel'

For immediate release
Ministry of Information, Tourism and Civic Education
October 31, 2015
Lilongwe
Malawi


PRESS STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE STORY CARRIED IN THE MALAWI NEWS OF 31ST OCTOBER 2015 HEADLINED; “OBSESSION WITH JET TRAVEL.”

The Malawi government has learnt with shock and disappointment through an article in the Malawi News dated 31st October, 2015 that His Excellency the State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and his government have plans to purchase another Presidential Jet once the economy is back on track.

The article on the front page of the Malawi News quoting Presidential Press Secretary Mr. Gerald Viola, alleges that it is the wish of the Mutharika administration to procure another presidential jet once the country’s economy is back on track.

The Malawi government would like to clarify and dismiss the article in its entirety as follows;

Neither the State President nor any Ministry or any government agencies have these alleged plans to procure any presidential jet now or in future.
The State President’s commitment in exercising financial prudence and cutting down on unnecessary expenditure remains as ever before.
Malawi Government wishes to inform all Malawians that it is the State President that makes appointments through a process that involves submission of at least three proposed names to a position complete with CVs by the Chief Secretary from which His Excellency makes the appointments after thorough scrutiny of the individuals.
The government of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika remains committed in supporting the freedom of the press.



HON. JAPPIE MHANGO, MP.

MINISTER OF INFORMATION, TOURISM AND CIVIC EDUCATION & GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

Press Statement on Allegations of Treason Against Fomer President Joyce's Banda's Son, Geoffrey Kachale Banda

PRESS STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF TREASON

AGAINST GEOFFREY KACHALE BANDA

1. INTRODUCTION

1. I would like to express my deep disappointment over reports that appeared in The Daily Times of October 22, 2015 and other news outlets that said the DPP government, through a National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) report, has implicated my son, Geoffrey Kachale Banda, in an alleged plot to bring down government through unconstitutional means.

2. The report also implicates other distinguished Malawians such as President of the Malawi Congress Party and Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, civil society leaders and health rights campaigners Ms. Martha Kwataine and Mrs. Dorothy Ngoma, among others.

2. WITCH-HUNTING & POLITICAL PERSECUTION

1. I have taken the liberty to issue this statement, as a mother, with a view to challenge the NIB and the DPP government to substantiate these allegations and many other allegations against me and my family. I have personally endured untold political persecution and abuse in the past year and half at the hands of the DPP government and I would not sit back and look at some misguided government institutions and individuals transfer that misery onto my children.

2. Geoffrey is an entrepreneur who lives abroad. As far as I know him, he has never expressed any interest in politics and any attempts to link him to politics are as futile as they are ridiculous.

3. I wish to state, categorically and without fear of contradiction, that the alleged NIB report as quoted in the media is not based on any proven facts but mere conjecture and political witch-hunting. 

4. The allegations against my son are not only false and malicious but a desperate attempt by the DPP government to further pursue a hate-campaign against me, personally, and my entire family. These allegations are devilish and unfair; purely intended to damage and injure Geoffrey’s personal character, reputation and standing in society.

5. Memories are still fresh that on December 4, 2014, the DPP government alleged that they had handed over CCTV footage to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) that captured meetings between chief cash-gate suspect, Mr. Oswald Lutepo and me. This was an apparent attempt to implicate me in the cash-gate scandal.  However, State House security officers have confirmed that CCTV cameras at all state residences have not been functional since the time of the former President late Bingu wa Mutharika. The ACB has been demanding for the alleged CCTV footage for five times without any success.

6. President Peter Mutharika himself has also made serious allegations to the effect that I had planned to kill him when he was arrested on alleged coup plot charges in March 2013.

7. President Mutharika claimed “fake doctors” had been hired to poison him while in police custody and that he has sworn affidavits of the alleged ‘fake’ doctors. President Mutharika further said he would use this information when the right time comes.

8. On May 9, 2015, at the memorial of late President Bingu wa Mutharika at Ndata Farm in Thyolo, the DPP government claimed they had evidence that I had killed President Bingu wa Mutharika and that I must therefore be taken to court. These claims are extremely serious and expose me to serious danger.

9. It is shameful that the DPP government has chosen to abdicate on its constitutional duty to govern the country and that it has chosen to pursue a cheap political vendetta against perceived political enemies. It is sad that the whole government has decided to use state machinery and resources to victimize its innocent and vulnerable citizens.

10. I wish to state that my family and I will hold His Excellency President Mutharika and his government responsible should anything harmful happen to my son, Geoffrey, and any member of my family.
11. I wish to call upon the civil society, the clergy and the diplomatic community in Malawi to keep a watchful eye on the DPP government to deter any attempts to return the nation to dictatorship through disrespect for human rights and bad governance.

12. Our memory is fresh of people who have been mysteriously killed and their cases have never been investigated. These include an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) top official, Issa Njaunju, who was brutally murdered in early July 2015; Cassim Julius, a policeman on duty in March 2013 in President Mutharika’s area at Goliati in Thyolo; 20 people killed in cold blood on July 20, 2011; Emanuel Kafere, an entrepreneur killed in Zomba in March 2012; and student activist Robert Chasowa in September 2011, among others. 

13. Since we attained our democracy in 1994, Malawians have displayed admirable resilience and remarkable ability to resist any dictatorial tendencies by previous leaders and governments.

14. I call upon Malawians to continue that spirit to fight for freedom and democracy. As a country, we must say NO to the use of force and state machinery to persecute opposition leaders and citizens.

15. As Malawians, we genuinely believed that we had turned the page and gone beyond the brand of politics where politicians or their agents would just pick and choose to slander and victimize individuals they did not like based on political expediency.

16. Concocting serious criminal charges against perceived political adversaries is simply retrogressive and it only serves to worsen Malawi’s ailing political, social and economic situation.

3. HEALING THE ECONOMY

1. Instead of implicating my children; my entire family and other distinguished members of society in imagined crimes, His Excellency President Peter Mutharika and his government must consider a serious introspection exercise.  

2. His Excellency President Peter Mutharika and his government must, instead, channel their energy on addressing the many pressing issues affecting Malawi, especially the rising insecurity and crime; impending hunger; water and electricity shortages; and the collapsing economy.

4. CONCLUSION

1. Government should be aware that Malawians are eager to see a forensic audit finally instituted into the MK577 billion financial scam that occurred between 2009 and 2012 during the previous DPP government of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika.

2. As the case is now, President Mutharika’s government has shown no interest to expedite the audit even after the German government committed millions of Kwacha to facilitate the forensic audit.

3. Recently, robbers broke into the residence of a German envoy and stole documents containing information about the MK577 billion Kwacha forensic audit. In the midst of calls for a speedy forensic audit into the MK577 billion financial scandal, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) top official, Issa Njaunju, was brutally murdered in early July 2015. Since that time, no concrete investigations have been carried out to bring the perpetrators to book.

4. Malawians are keen to know who stole the documents at the German envoy’s residence. Malawians deserve to know who killed Mr. Njaunju. Malawians are still disturbed by government’s ‘failure’ to track down the people that burnt down a Malawi Electoral Commission warehouse containing ballot papers and other election materials one year down the road.

5. Government’s plate is already full and Malawians are demanding solutions to their daily problems. My request is that government must find a way of getting donor aid back to Malawi.

6. Government simply has to comply with some of the issues that the donors want us, as a nation, to do. Government needs to institute a forensic audit into the K577 billion ‘cashgate’.

7. Malawians remember that donors had walked away during the final years of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. When President Bakili Muluzi came in, he negotiated with the donors to return and they did.  Donors left again during President Muluzi’s second term.

8. When Mutharika came in 2004, he brought the donors back. During his second term, the donors left again because of a myriad of governance issues that haunted his government. For instance, the British withdrew aid because he had proceeded to buy a private presidential jet while people were dying due to hunger; the human rights record was getting worse; and government had deported the British High Commissioner to Malawi, among others.

9. Malawi was off track with IMF; two (2) million people were food insecure. When I became Head of State, I worked hard to bring the donors back.

10. After cashgate was unearthed, donors withdrew aid and demanded that as a nation, we ought to implement several things to correct the situation.  As we all know, the K577 billion (US$1.2billion) scandal was the genesis of the subsequent abuse of public funds as discovered in September 2013.

11. It is therefore imperative that the MK577 billion scandal is also thoroughly investigated. Donors are saying we must deal with it through a forensic audit. Donors will only return when they are satisfied that all their concerns have been addressed.

12. We might also just find that people already convicted on cashgate charges of 2013 may also be linked to the 2009-2011MK577 billion ‘cashgate’.

13. President Mutharika and his government must stop blaming the previous government for his failures as the three Presidents before him worked hard to normalize the situations instead of blaming their predecessors.

14. 16 months have elapsed since DPP came to power and it is only prudent for President Mutharika to come up with a clear plan of action detailing how he wants to recover the economy that has collapsed under his watch.

15. The DPP government must stop imagining that these problems can merely be wished away or that political witch-hunting is the solution. Malawians know the truth.

Joyce Banda

FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

& PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE’S PARTY (PP)

October 23, 2015

TEN WAYS HOW SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROJECTS HAVE CHANGED LIVES IN MALAWI

By Humza Yousaf*

Today I am travelling to Malawi, for my second visit to that beautiful country.

I’m travelling there because next month marks the tenth anniversary of the Cooperation Agreement signed by the Governments of Malawi and Scotland, and while I am there, as well as meeting with a number of Government Ministers, I will visit some of the projects funded by the Scottish Government, and delivered by Scottish organisations.

It’s a great chance for me to see first-hand the enormous difference that the partnership between Scotland and Malawi makes to the lives of Malawians, and to meet some of the people who have benefited from the projects we support, and to hear of the impact that this work has had upon their lives.

Scots should be very proud of the work we’ve done with Malawi, and after ten years it’s very easy to see the real difference that has been made thanks to the cooperation between our two countries.

To mark the ten years of partnership, here’s ten ways Scottish Government funded projects have changed lives in Malawi.



1. Medical training

Since 2006, the Scottish Government has funded the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh to build capacity and strengthen teaching and learning at the College of Medicine in Blantyre. A combined total of over £2.4 million has been spent on 9 projects through which medical academics and professionals have contributed to the quadrupling of the annual number of medical graduates in Malawi from 16 to over 100.

St Andrews and Edinburgh have worked in close partnership with the College of Medicine to improve technology and improve the general quality teaching and learning, using Scottish expertise to make a profound contribution to Malawi’s only medical school.

2. Renewable Energy

The Scottish Government’s £2.3m flagship Malawi Renewable Energy Acceleration Programme (MREAP) is our single biggest International Development project to date, and has brought new energy access to almost 80,000 people in rural Malawi through a range of technologies including solar, micro-hydro, biogas and fuel efficient cookstoves. MREAP took a unique approach, with intensive levels of community engagement supporting the communities themselves to take decisions on their own energy priorities.

3. Cervical screening

A project in Malawi delivered by NHS Lothian in partnership with Nkhoma Hospital and funded by the Scottish Government has provided cervical screening to more than 10,000 women and raised awareness on the importance of screening among 33,000 people.

4. Meningitis awareness

Training delivered by the Meningitis Research Foundation is helping medical professionals in Malawi spot the early signs of meningitis in children. Thanks to the scheme health care workers are better able to spot the early signs of the disease and nearly 140,000 children attending primary health care were priorities for treatment by clinicians and received timely emergency treatment and referral to hospital when severely ill.

5. Vocational education

A project run by the Global Concerns Trust has given 106 adults with disabilities training in carpentry or tailoring and given 57 the tools they need to start up their business. Thanks to the scheme, 21 primary schools now offer extra-curricular vocational training, all within rural areas, with approximately 40% of participants being girls and at least 560 pupils have received some vocational training over the three years of the scheme.

6. Helping people earn a living

Another Global Concerns Trust project has given  62 people with disabilities vocational training, as well as training in business skills and HIV/AIDS. This training has helped people to earn a living, with an average more than fivefold increase in income for those trained.

7. Improving educational standards 

Link Community Development Scotland have been working with the Malawian Department of Inspection and Advisory Services (DIAS) to establish the new National Education Standards (NES) to support education inspection and advisory services in Malawi.

8. Improving the treatment of mental illness

Since 2010, the Scotland Malawi Mental Health Education Project has worked to improve the treatment of mental illness through the education and training of mental healthcare professionals in Malawi, particularly focussing  on improving the identification and treatment of maternal depression and post natal depression.  Its flagship achievement was to establish Malawi’s first ever Masters in clinical psychiatry at the College of Medicine in Blantyre. Further funding has enabled SMMHEP to roll this training out to community level. District Mental Health Teams that have so far trained over 100 primary healthcare workers to improve mental health in communities in 2 districts of Malawi.

9. Helping smallholders boost crops.

The James Hutton Institute has been delivering a project helping rural smallholders face up to climate change, establishing 100 Climate Smart Agriculture clubs which planted out 85,000 trees. As well as this, 2,000 banana plants were distributed to smallholders, and the project established of 480 home gardens and gave 30 farmers seeds which would thrive under changing climates.


10.  Scotland Malawi Partnership and Malawi Scotland Partnership

The Scottish Government has supported the Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) and its sister organisation the Malawi Scotland Partnership (MaSP), based in Malawi, for over a decade. Since then, the SMP’s membership has grown to more than 700, including  local authorities, universities and colleges, schools, churches, hospitals, businesses, charities, NGOs and community-based organisations all over Scotland.

Through the two organisations, more than 94,000 Scots and 198,000 Malawians work in partnership together each year, and each year more than 300,000 Scots and 2 million Malawians benefit from the activities of the SMP, MaSP and their members.

And that last example is important, because it underlines the partnership approach that lies behind Scottish development work, based on people-to-people to links supported through Scottish organisations.

We benefit enormously in Scotland from our relationship with Malawi. For example, our recent Hydro Nation project has seen officials from both Governments working together and learning from each other on water management, governance and legislation. This knowledge sharing has informed new, updated legislation in both countries. Both Scotland and Malawi share an interest in water resource management, community management of assets and increasing public engagement, and we are learning from each other in these areas.

This unique partnership approach means Scotland will continue to learn from Malawi, at the same time as we share our expertise.


These ten achievements demonstrate ten years of benefit in health, in education and in energy. Many challenges still exist, but by working together we can help to eliminate poverty in Malawi.

*The author is Scottish Government Minister for International Development

Legislators’ Political Balancing Act

It promises to be a tasking five years in Parliament.

The legislators gave us a taste of what to expect in the just ended Parliamentary sitting,  as shown by Malawi’s new breed of legislators,  the likes of Juliana Lunguzi and David Bisnowaty, who tailored their measured speeches in such a way that their constituents may have shared their mental struggles and missteps along their way to a well-mapped out political path.

For example, Bisnowaty, the Lilongwe City Central Constituency Member of Parliament said there was need to conduct a thorough forensic audit at the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education Training Authority (Teveta) before the government could oil the financial wheels of the institution. That was in response to Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister, Goodall Gondwe’s proposal that the government be allowed to secure a loan amounting to K18.9 billion from the International Development Association of the World Bank.

Gondwe said the aim of the loan was to increase access to higher education through a Skills Development Project targeting Teveta, Mzuzu University, University of Malawi’s Chancellor College and The Polytechnic, and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar).

But, looking at Cashgate, the observation was reasonable. And Bisnowaty’s observation that Teveta cannot be funded through a loan because of the commercial nature of its activities is a spot-on observation.

Teveta collects millions from willing and unwilling companies and should not milk us dry!

Lunguzi, on the other hand, wondered how Malawi has remained underdeveloped 50 years after independence, lamenting that the only shining thing about Malawi was its stamp of poverty. It is a chilling, yet spot-on observation, yet again.

And there is legislator-cum-musician Lucius Banda! He seems to have come back to the august House with new ideas, telling the media the other day that he would not fly higher than the artificial wings of Parliament could permit him, and, this time around, asking members of the public to censure him should he go astray.

That is the way to go.  May be the Balaka musician is set to have his day in the political fields. He should have learned, during those would-have-been years he was no longer MP, that, even in our absence, the world still turns and that, when we have come back to ourselves, we discover that we have developed a greater depth of understanding and a sparkle of understanding that enriches the life of others.

Banda has turned to that old place, Parliament, with a sense of fragile newness. But he does not look at the Parliament building through the lenses of old eyes (after all, the legislators have moved from the old Parliament building that was the New State House and moved to the Chinese-built Parliament); he sees his new world freshly. It is an experience that has the potential to sooth his battered Parliamentary past and makes him an asset in the august House. 

Taming excitement

While the signs, from these early days, are that the legislators have started, somewhat, impressively, they must bear in mind that  being a representative of people with varying degrees of political, cultural, religious and sports affiliations is akin to a soliloquy- one man (use is generic, meaning, man and woman) on a bare stage watched by thousands of over-demanding constituents.

They (the constituents) will merely watch, and not participate, as the lone Parliamentarian stands in the big spotlight that is Parliament and the public broadcaster [MBC television] to tell us why he is there, who he is and what he wants and how he will get it and what it means that he wants it and what it will mean when he does or does not get it.

This is no mean task. It is part personal grandstanding, part theatre, part reality, but largely a political postulation exercise: a lie here, a truth there. Just like that.

But it will be a big mistake if our current crop of legislators falls into the trap of political postulation because, as experience has shown, Malawians are not as shallow-minded as previously thought. That is why they (Malawians) have voted the likes of United Democratic Front (UDF)’s Lilian Patel in (Parliament) again.

As one of the stand-out legislators during the hay days of the UDF, nobody thought her constituents would show her the back-door of Parliament through the ballot. But it happened, to the chagrin of the UDF.

And, again, against all expectations, her constituents have given her yet another chance. The hope, therefore, is that she has learned from experience, and new comers in Parliament can draw lessons from her experience and become representatives of their constituents, and not representatives of themselves.

Of course, it is not wrong to represent oneself; one just needs to strike the proper balance between representing oneself and representing the wishes of those one represents.

However, the issue of whether the new legislators will be able to strike the necessary balance has, meanwhile, been left in the hands of the Court of Time, and, due to case backlog in the Court of Time at the moment, the ruling and judgement are expected five-year time!  

Wanted: bass guitarist-cum-lead vocalist

Granted, it takes collective effort to generate the smoke of fire called music. This applies when one comes up with a song, the arrangement, or track.
In the book, The Poetics of Rock, author Albin Zak defines a song as “melody, harmony and lyrics, the components that can be notated and copyrighted. This is what is traditionally considered to be the ‘composition’; the arrangement as “the specific combination of instruments and singers used to realise the song in the studio”; and the track as “the timbre and space of the recording itself. Recordings can be copyrighted, but they’re separate intellectual property from the song”.
Once in a while, however, there emerges an individual who plays a number of instruments, including the lead, rhythm or bass guitar, while leading the vocals.
While the figure of a rhythm or lead guitarist providing leading or backing vocals has become a common sight in Malawi- bearing in mind the likes of Joseph Tembo, Paul Banda, Synoden Ibu, Collen Ali, among others- one hardly comes across a bass guitarist who strums the strings while playing the role of lead vocalist.
Snap surveys conducted by Weekender in the past five months have revealed that there is no well-known performer who plays the bass guitar while leading the vocals. From Alleluya Band, The Black Missionaries, Malawi Police Orchestra, Mathumela Band, Jupitters Band, Zembani Band, Heath Education Band to Adzukulu Band, the figure of a bass guitarist-cum-lead vocalist is a rarity.
Is this a national crisis?


Rare breed
Gospel musician Sweeny Chimkango suggests that playing the bass guitar while doubling as a lead vocalist is no mean feat, and that only rare breeds successfully execute such a task.
“However, the situation (lack of bass guitarists-cum-lead vocalists) is not only prevalent in Malawi. You will rarely come across multi-talented people who can ably do that the world over. Not that such people do not exist; they do. I have Cameroonian jazz artist Richard Bona in mind,” says Chimkango.
According to the Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians, www.jazz.com, Bona is a bassist who combines the music of his native Cameroon with reggae and jazz to create a personal hybrid.
“His virtuoso technique and smooth sound are reminiscent of Jaco Pastorius, and his playing is often accompanied by his light and airy singing voice,” reads a description of the 47-year-old Cameroonian on the website.
Bona was born on October 28, 1967 in Minta, a small village in Eastern Cameroon, and has performed alongside well-known African musicians such as Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and Malian singer Salif Keita.
Chimkango says the fact that Bona is appreciated wherever he performs bears testimony that people appreciate his talent.
“I have watched his performances and they leave me lost for words. The guy is multi-talented and it’s not often that you come across such talent,” says Chimkango.
Veteran musician Synoden Ibu acknowledges that it is not often that one comes across a bass guitarist-cum-lead vocalist.
“I play all a range of instruments myself, but I feel at home when playing the rhythm guitar while doubling as a lead vocalist. Otherwise, I have a younger brother, Jameson, who can do that,” says Ibu.


Matter of taste
However, Ibu says not all artists can become bass guitarists-cum-lead vocalists due to a number of factors.
“People learn how to play instruments differently and this determines what they become. Secondly, people have different motivations when joining the music industry and not everyone wants to become a bass guitarist-cum-lead vocalist,” says Ibu.
Veteran musician Joseph Tembo seems to concur with Ibu. He says performers should not only be lauded when they can combine tasks such as playing the bass guitar and serving as lead vocalists.
“First of all, let me say that I used to play the bass guitar while playing the role of lead vocalist at church. So, doubling as bass guitarist and lead vocalist is not as difficult as we would want to portray it. At the same time, we need to realise that talents come in different forms. For example, it is a special gift being the lead singer; just as it is a special gift to be a bassist,” says Tembo.
He adds: “I know some foreign musicians who can play the drums or other instruments while leading the vocals. I have in mind Alick Macheso from Zimbabwe and Awilo Longomba from The Democratic Republic of Congo who used to play the drum before the world discovered that he had a powerful voice.”
Former Alleluya Band leader and music scholar, Charles Sinetre, says he cannot say much about what it takes to be a bass guitarist-cum-lead vocalist because the bass guitar is not his preferred instrument.
“My greatest instrument is my voice. People often forget that the voice, too, is an instrument. But I think it (playing the bass guitar and offering leading vocals) depends on one’s flexibility,” says Sinetre.
Sinetre, who can provide both backing and leading vocals, apart from playing a range of instruments, says every art can be perfected through relentless practice.


Stuck
Musicians Union of Malawi president, Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango, observes that countries such as South Africa are not short of artists who can strum the bass guitar while captivating the audience’s attention with a melodious leading voice.
He cites Joyous Cerebrations, a South African outfit, as one such group.
“So, this is not something that cannot be done. It just takes people who want to become versatile. At the moment, I just feel like many instrumentalists are stuck on [specific] instruments. By this, I mean that people have settled for one set of equipment and decided that that’s what they will pay attention to. In music school, voice is regarded as an instrument, too,” says Mhango.
Mhango backs his point by pointing at a number of local musicians. He says Lulu can play the lead guitar while serving as the lead vocalist, and that Skeffa Chimoto is a vocalist who knows how to play the guitar.
“In gospel music, however, you will find that artists such as Mlaka Maliro, King James Phiri, Allan Chirwa, Ethel Kamwendo Banda are at their best when they are the lead vocalists and others are playing the instruments. So, it depends. It is something to do with choice, other than lack of education,” says Mhango.



Future of the guitar
Ibu says while computer programming threatens to steal the limelight from the guitar, the instrument is billed to remain an integral part of music in the country.
“A lot of people are running away from the guitar but, fortunately, we have a few people who cannot imagine life without the guitar. These are the people who will sustain the legacy of the guitar in the country. It is unfortunate that we rush for the latest technology that is introduced, abandoning things we have held dear for years,” says Ibu.
Balaka-based Sinetre does not feel that the guitar is under threat, too.
“The tendency to use studio software, where musicians depend on keyboard-facilitated bass, can best be described as laziness and childish. I, therefore, see the guitar maintaining its place in music,” says Sinetre, adding:
“The decision to use the guitar or not depends on the genre. In jazz and traditional music, you cannot do without the guitar. In fact, it’s hip hop artists who are relying too much on software. Otherwise, I believe most people still believe in the role of the guitar.”
As computer software continues waging a war against the conventional guitar, Mhango sees a long-drawn draw game.
“All instruments are important, and their use depends on the circumstances,” he says.
It will surely take a great amount of software effort, it seems, to displace the guitar from the stage.

Churches Should Give To Ceasar, Too!

Politics has been one of our major preoccupations, sometimes to the detriment of productive talk.
One consequence of the increased discussion of politics since the marriage between Malawians and politics in 1994 is that significant ideas about religion occasionally become glossed over with the unexamined justification that the Gospel is universal, and spirituality should be left to govern itself.
The consequence: Fear and myopic thinking have quickly replaced careful analysis.
But, the truth be as clear as a cloudless sky, all self-serving religious leaders should be confronted with the inexorable fact that money belongs to Caesar, even if it’s done to achieve a general good, and that, even when generated for God’s purposes, part of it should go back to Caesar.
What am I driving at? Well, that time has come for tithes and funds generated by religious groupings to be taxed!
You see, it’s funny that religious groups, which teach us about how good life shall be beyond the veil of this life, are treated by our governments as if they are already in, eer, for lack of a better word, the heavens.
We all know that the central theme of religious thought and practice is the idea of eternal rest. What the church suggests, subtly of course, is that we all have one general problem: the chance of missing out on eternal rest.
The church, then, cleverly, suggests that the solution to this problem is ‘discovered’ by either getting initiated into religious doctrine so that our souls may be extricated from their self-imposed corruption through spiritual rebirth, or discarding prospects of a good here-after by embracing worldly things.
Predictably, human beings have been hooked to the first option and abandoned rational thinking at the slightest mention of hell. I think the fear of hell has left our policy-makers so thoughtless that they can only watch as some religious groupings become obscenely rich without suggesting that, perhaps, it is high time these institutions started contributing tax to the national pulse.
That is why, I guess, they don’t pay taxes from money generated through tithes and other offerings. The truth, however, is that the religious institutions and Malawi (as a country) are tied together in our awareness of personal existence.
Actually, the heavens and the earth are not two extreme, irreconcilable opposites. The relationship between the two is organic because their focus is on the human being, the very same human being whose main weakness is to go bad when not embalmed.
Our location and the location of the religious institutions are inseparably fused. But I fail to understand why these simple truths are scarcely understandable by us today. By this, I mean our policy-makers.
Come to think of it. Why should a bachelor like me, too resource-whipped to manage a girlfriend, be over-taxed when religious institutions, with their buildings and vehicles and tonnes of funds generated through tithes and other coerced offerings, are left scot-free?
Are our policy-makers so cowardly that, in their fear that they may miss the train to the heavens, they have become blind to the mountain of banknotes piling up in religious institutions?
I think it high time they pulled the brakes on fear and embraced rationality; especially now that religion has become a medium-scale enterprise. Yes, enterprise. There is money in this ‘business’ as evidenced by hordes of Men of God driving fancy cars.
Six years ago, I laughed my lungs out when some church leaders suggested during budget consultation meetings that the government needed to re-introduce duty-free status on vehicles meant for church use. Why should religious organisations get everything for free yet obedience to their doctrines requires followers to contribute in cash and kind?
Your guess is as good as mine.
And there lies our problem. The burden of underdevelopment lies, in large part, on our obedience to fear. We focus too much on the unknown while neglecting the world around us.