Hopes, Broken Dreams of Mwanza Communities

An imposing transformer, replete with shiny copper wires, stands against the darkness at Mtsamika Trading Centre in Mwanza, some nine kilometres from Mwanza District Council offices. More than anything else , however, the transformer and copper wires are nothing more than a promise: they have been there for two years without being useful to the people of Kapisi 1 and Kapisi 2 villages in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthache area.

“When Escom officials erected the polls, they promised that they would connect us to the national hydro-electric power grid within two months. It’s now two years,” says Michael Sambo, a motorcyclist I hired to take me to Kapisi 2 Village, which serves as the border between Malawi and Mozambique in Mwanza Central Constituency.

Still, in spite of the fact that the transformer and copper lines serve as both a promise, and symbol of the broken dream of hydro-electric power to the people of Mwanza Central Constituency, the transformer still shone against the moonlight last Sunday evening. The sight was mocking to the eye as, instead of transforming its own power and supplying it to the people, the transformer could only shine against the light emanating from the moon.

Ironically, the constituency is the abode of some of the country’s political heavyweights, namely Davis Katsonga — the current Member of Parliament — and Nicholas Dausi, the National Intelligence Bureau director.

Indeed, one can see Dausi’s village, and the iron-roofed houses that adorn it, from Kapisi 2. The iron sheets shone brightly against the noon-day sun. The fact, however, is that the houses are not connected to the national hydro-electric power grid. The transformer that imposes itself against the darkness at Mtsamika Trading Centre serves as the last line between darkness and hydro-electric power.

“They use their own power [in Dausi’s village]. You talk of solar power and the like,” Sambo informs me.

But electricity is not the only issue here. Health wise, the act of accessing healthcare services is akin to sacrifice.

“Expectant women bear the brunt of public service neglect here. To access public medical services, they face the choice between a rock and a hard place. For example, they either have to go to Kunenekude Clinic, which is located between seven and nine kilometres from here, or Mwanza District Hospital, which is reachable across steep slopes and mountainous areas,” says Patrick Thukuta, one of the chief’s advisors in Kapisi 2 Village.

“Either way, it’s hard for women, and for all of us. We, really, need health facilities that are accessible,” he adds.

One of the women in Kapisi 1 Village, who identifies herself as Mayi Chatsika, says women are sometimes compelled to rely on herbal medicine for diseases such as Malaria, pneumonia, influenza, among others.

“Sometimes, especially with malaria, things get out of hand and some women are forced to go to either Kunenekude clinic on Mwanza Health Centre because of deteriorating situations. People often die of Malaria plus-plus here because, surrounded by mountains that are rich in natural forests, the temptation to forsake scientific medicine and opt for herbal medicine is high,” says Chatsika.

And, against these precarious health conditions, and, even when hydro-electric power remains a dream for the people of Kapisi 2, comes the problem of refugees.

People fleeing the conflict in Monjo, Mtengechiti, Chisanja, Chinyanje, among other areas, in Mozambique have found refugee in the so-called shortfalls of Kapisi 2. Only four families out of the 18 families I found last Sunday only had medicine for health ‘troubles’ such as headache, pneumonia, but not for Malaria and other diseases.

But, at least, they found the smiles and warm-heartedness of the Malawians in Kapisi 2 Village comforting and, perhaps, beyond the fear of ill health and darkness at nightfall. After all, the darkness and shortage of medical drugs are less lethal than the swiftness of the bullets they have fled back home.

“You see, things are getting worse back home. Unknown people are now torching people’s houses and killing those they find in the houses. Things have become worse since warring factions heard that some people have started fleeing to Malawi. So, we accept whatever situation we find ourselves in,” says one of the female refugees from Mozambique.

She speaks typical Chichewa. She understands Chichewa. Malawi must be home, her second home.

“That’s the most important thing; being safe, being free from fear. The other things will definitely fall into place,” she adds.

While healthcare delivery and the provision of hydro-electric power remain a challenge, however, the same cannot be said of schools. From Mwanza District Hospital to Kapisi 2 [along the paved, dusty road, that is], one comes across three primary schools, including the one at Mtsamika Trading Centre close to the Catholic Church.

“We cannot lie about education challenges; we have schools, we have teachers, and we have willing pupils. Just recently, the government posted teachers to Mtsamika,” says Thukuta.

Same district, different challenges

While T/A Nthache’s subjects hope against despair that things will one day change for the better, those under other traditional leaders grapple under a different challenge: stalled development projects.

For instance, Sub-T/A Govati last year complained that the rate at which development projects were being abandoned was alarming.

“We have a lot of white elephants in Mwanza. From Thambani, which falls in my area, and other faraway places, we simply have so many of these. Politics seems to be perpetuating the trend,” Govati says, adding:

“We had a situation at Thambani (Trading Centre) where two houses meant for health workers remained uncompleted for years. Again, at Kalanga Primary School, a teacher’s house built through the efforts of the Area Development Committee (ADC) did not reach window level some three, four years after the project begun.”

Govati is not alone in the situation, though. T/A Kanduku recently raised concerns about the same issues.

“For example, we have the case of Futsa Community Day Secondary School. Construction of a school block, courtesy of the European Union, started in 2009 but, up to now, nobody knows when the school will open its doors to our children because there is no tangible progress. In fact, some people are using the school block as a hall,” Kanduku says.

As a result, pupils bear the brunt of the neglect. For instance, those from neighbouring areas such as Tulonkhondo have to cover a distance of more than eight kilometres to access education facilities at Thawale Community Day Secondary School in the district.

But this, as many other stories, could just be a tip of the iceberg.  

Festivals: Thin Line Between Too Much, Nothing

A ‘huge’ silence fills the air after the rolling of the last drum of festivals’ season, the silence lasting between one year and as long as two years.

Then, when one festival organiser opens the door, the ‘silent’ scene turns into a sea of activity: One great festival follows another, and another, and another within months so close to each other that the situation comes close to a motor race.

It is a situation akin to a beer-drinking party as it gives the impression that event organisers with concepts not very different from each other have started talking at once. It is like they are all talking at once, or one immediately talking after the other, without giving each other ample time for the message to sink in. It is, in a way, a confused case — no one hears the other out!

Maybe the organisers feel like, after one festival’s patrons have enjoyed the party, they feel drowsy, and that quickly organising another festival gives the patrons a chance to blink and feel fresh, more or less, again.

Whatever the case, those drunken moments are upon us, yet again. Between Friday, September 25, and Sunday, September 27, patrons from Malawi and abroad descended on the beaches of Lake Malawi at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi. It is a festival, one of Malawi’s international headline festivals, dubbed The Lake of Stars, a big place with three performance stages.

On these three stages, the past met the present as the likes of Fumbi Jazz Band rubbed shoulders with the Sonyes of this world. Fumbi is known for, among other songs, the hit ‘Tiyimbe Nyimbo Zotamanda’ while Sonye, real name Sonjezo Kandoje, is the brains behind the controversial hit ‘Tsika Msungwana’, which gender activist Emma Kaliya says demeans women.

The Moods Malawi, former Botswana Big Brother Africa representative Zeus and our own Lomwe, Tilinanu Children’s Choir, Lusubilo Band, Patrick Simakweli, Third Eye, Zimbabwe’s Mokoomba Band, Takula Band [featuring the likes of Peter Mawanga], Dikamawoko Dance and Drumming Troupe, EJ Von Lyric and bFAKE from South Africa, Rainmaker, Sally Nyundo are some of the artists and bands that had their turn to impress on the sun-smitten beach of Nkopola.

And, like all refreshing things, the festival came and went. 

Barely a week later — five days after the curtain closed on the Lake of Stars in Mangochi — some of the patrons who trooped to Mangochi met at the Blantyre Arts Festival (Baf) in the country’s commercial city. The venue is the Blantyre Cultural Centre, formerly French Cultural Centre.

The festival started with a carnival from Blantyre Old Town to Civic Centre, the headquarters of Blantyre City Assembly. The Black Missionaries and Anthony Makondetsa showed people that they are made of sterner music stuff on Friday, when the festival, which started as another joke in 2009 before taking its place as a serious affair over the years, opened its doors to the world. Ever-green South African gospel singer, Rebecca Malope, also performed on Saturday.

Other artists who jumped up and down the beach-less stage, while exhausting the reserves in their choral chords, included Tanzania’s Baba Watoto Acrobatics, the student of veteran Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi, namely Munya, Germany’s The Great Grandpot and Nonkhululeko from South Africa. Giddes Chalamanda did not miss out, just as Patience Namadingo, Waliko Makhala, Black Syndicate Band, Ethel Kamwendo Banda, Home Grown African, Dalma Theatre, Black Syndicate Band Agorosso and Muhanya also availed themselves.

In addition, poetry and drama shows, film screening, photography exhibitions and traditional dances spiced the event.

However, this does little to conceal the fact that Baf has come fast on the heels of the Lake of Stars; in fact, too close for the cash wallet’s sake.

But, according to the Malawian script of doing things, these festivals are not enough, despite one coming so fast after another that they nearly collided, literally— one falling on top of another.

Exactly 20 days after Baf— and less than a month after the Lake of Stars— comes a new festival-kid on the block: The Malawi Film Festival. The festival, a brain-child of the Film Association of Malawi (Fama), opens its doors to the world from October 23 to 25. The venue is the Capital City, Lilongwe.

Why should Malawian and foreign patrons ‘entertain’ a ‘huge’ silence [from the time people endure the situation where festivals are nowhere on the events’ calendar to the period when one festival comes so fast after another that they nearly collide, literally] and an overdose of happiness during the festivities’ season? Are festivals the only thing happening in people’s lives? 

The case for festivals

Baf executive director, Thom Chibambo, does not subscribe to the idea that, since Baf has come fast on the heels of the Lake of Stars, then, the act smacks of duplication.

“To begin with, the Lake of Stars and Baf have different target audiences. They [Lake of Stars] target international and local audiences and we court ordinary people; people like you and me. I am talking of people who cannot afford to go to the lake and camp there. We, therefore, make it possible for them to appreciate art without digging too much into the pocket. Patrons can come and return home,” says Chibambo.

Added Chibambo: “Secondly, we want to help Malawians appreciate the many dimensions of our culture through art. There are many ways of promoting culture and the arts industry is one of them, hence our focus on the arts. You may wish to know that Baf offers Malawi the opportunity to appreciate culture and traditional practices through dances, songs, poetry, among other artistic forms. So, I don’t think the fact that we had another festival may affect our objectives.”

Chibambo adds that, since Baf targets those who appreciate art at reasonable charges, even those who patronise other festivals may find it necessary to attend.

“Look, if someone could afford to spend a week at the lake, paying accommodation costs and the like, I don’t think they can fail to come to Baf and appreciate the performances,” argues Chibambo.

Chibambo also dived into the debate of whether there is anything called Malawi culture, saying Malawians have values which are molded by cultural beliefs, customs and traditions. He said art, in that regard, also serves as a means of transmitting cultural values.

“Malawians have their own culture, and cultural practices— which shape our value system— vary from area to area, from people to people. What do you think happens during initiation ceremonies? It’s the transmission of culture.

“In much the same way as cultural values are transmitted through initiation ceremonies, the same values can be transmitted through the arts, hence our idea to develop the concept of the arts festival. It’s a festival where cultural values are appreciated through the artist’s perception,” said Chibambo.

Film Association of Malawi president, Ezaius Mkandawire, also believes that the film festival is a justifiable activity, and hence sees nothing wrong with it coming so close after other festivals.

“We are not duplicating issues as far as we know there is no festival that has given film space. We are also looking at the festival a development project for the industry. As for festivals being many, we are looking at using Lilongwe in the centre of Malawi which has no festival in terms of geography,” says Mkandawire.

Mkandawire adds that the objective of the festival is also different from the others, observing that “We are looking at building a pool of future filmmakers. The festival has a component of training”.

Says Mkandawire: “We are also cultivating a cinema-going culture. Something that can spur the growth of the industry. Our festival has films from Senegal, South Africa, Mali, among other countries. We will also premier a film called ‘Lilongwe’.

He says the festival is premised on the idea of promoting the film industry and, through film viewers’ appreciation of artists’ work, the festival would go a long way in ridding local filmmakers of that irritable sense called hibernation.

Whatever the case [for or against festivals], one cannot help but appreciate that there is that moment of festivals in the September-October air. It could be that people feel like spending some time away from ‘real’ life, to hang out, and festivals could be one of their answers to not wanting to get stuck at home.

Thus far, the festival doors remain wide open, and patrons have already thrown themselves through the doors of the Lake of Stars and Baf, and basked in the rich ‘smell’ of poetry and music and drama and traditional music and stuff like that. 

Long road to Female Condom Republic

Officially sanctioned, but by no means commonly used, female condoms have taken their place in the anonymity of most women’s minds.

This fact is best illustrated at Namphungo Trading Centre in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Juma in Mulanje district. Records at Namphungo Health Centre indicate that, while the number of the youth who sought Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Services rose from 60 to 600 between June 2013 and June 2014, there was a pronounced gap between the quantity of male and female condoms, respectively, demanded by the youth.

No wonder, the number of male condoms distributed increased from 400 [before 2013] to 2, 100 per month, while the number of female condoms distributed increased from zero to an average of 80 condoms per month. This are the records that a team of Media Aids and Health Watch members found when they toured the area in November 2014.

Compared to Lilongwe, however, Mulanje’s female population may be described as ‘progressive’. Joneha [Network of Journalists Living with HIV] Newsletter indicates in its August 2014 edition that the women of Kalamula Village in T/A Chitukuta, Lilongwe, have been shunning female condoms altogether.

The newsletter quotes one of the area’s community nurses, Mercy Chamvula, as saying that, while the health facilities in the area runs out of male condoms more often than not, female condoms are always in abundance.

“In the family setup and village context, a woman found to have worn condoms is perceived [as] unfaithful, “Chamvula is quoted as saying.

Thus, at best, female condoms remain a minefield in Malawi’s largely conservative society, tilting the SRH scales against women. Yet, the National Strategic Plan [2011-16] indicates that Malawi has a gender equality index of 0.374, an indication of the despairing inequalities between men and women.

Irony

The Mulanje and Lilongwe women may, however, be neglecting what could be regarded as a precious resource in other countries. Reports indicate that some women have been re-using the female condom, in part due to its scarcity and in part because of the high cost of such condoms.

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report titled ‘The Safety and Feasibility of Female Condom Reuse: Report of a WHO Consultation’, women in other parts of the world struggle to access condoms.

The report, which was published in 2002 after a meeting convened in Geneva, Switzerland, between January 28 and 29, reads in part: “Many women face difficulties in negotiating the use of male condoms.  The female condom may, therefore, be an important option to assist women in protecting themselves and their partners from both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

“Some women have reported using the same female condom for multiple sex acts, a behaviour said to be motivated by the high cost or limited availability of the device as well as by its perceived strength.  Such practices may expose women or their partners to pathogens during washing or subsequent reuse of the female condom, especially for populations living in areas of high STI [Sexually Transmitted Infections]/HIV prevalence.”

Thus, in response to requests for advice on the practice of reuse of the female condom, WHO and UNAIDS convened an experts’ consultation in June 2000 on the safety and feasibility of multiple uses of a single female condom.  

The consultation concluded with the recognition of the need for risk-reduction strategies for women with limited resources who may be at risk of unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections including HIV.  

“The consultation determined that currently available evidence regarding the safety of reuse was not conclusive and that re-use of a single female condom could not be recommended.  However, the panel also recognised the urgent need to provide guidance to women who may currently be reusing the female condom.  It was agreed that used female condoms should be disinfected before being washed and handled in order to reduce the risk of exposure to HIV and other pathogens,” reads part of the report.

Following the meeting, a draft protocol for safe preparation of used female condoms for additional use, based on theoretical considerations regarding disinfection, washing, drying, storage and re-lubrication, was formulated.  

Forsaken

By July 2009, only 3 out of 100 women were using female condoms in Malawi, according to the United Nations Population Fund. This sharply contradicted the percentage of men who were using condoms at the time [45 percent].

“There is need to direct more energy towards scaling up FCs distribution in rural areas,” Sandra Mapemba, UNFPA female condoms programmes coordinator for Malawi, is quoted as saying at the time [2009].

However, this state of affairs has implications which, according to the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Ipas, a reproductive rights organisation headquartered in the US, include abortion.

A study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Ipas indicates that 70,000 women had an illegal abortion in 2009 alone. It adds that 17 percent of maternal deaths in Malawi are the result of unsafe abortions.

‘Dancing for demand’

On Wednesday this week, Malawi joined the world in commemorating the 2015 Global Female Condom Day under the theme ‘Dance4Demand in Support of Female Condoms’.

This was the fourth time since 2012 that the Hunger Project Malawi in conjunction with the Reproductive Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health and other female condom stakeholders led Malawians in commemorating the day at Kasungu Community Ground.

The Hunger Project Malawi Country Director, Rowlands Kaotcha, set the tune for this year’s celebrations by calling for increased investments towards female condom education, procurement as well as supply-chain management to effectively meet the local need and demand.

“The need for female condoms in Malawi cannot be overemphasised. Malawi is still recording 48, 000 new HIV infections annually and the unmet need for contraceptives is at around 26 percent. Studies have demonstrated that bringing in female condoms to the mix of available prevention methods leads to increased rates of protected sex acts,” observed Kaotcha.

He added: “Further, studies show that, for HIV prevention, where both male and female condoms are available, total number of protected sex acts increases as compared to situations where only male condoms are available. As such, positioning female condoms within the method mix improves method choice and coverage, resulting in fewer STI [Sexually Transmitted Infections]/HIV infections and fewer unintended pregnancies.”

Otherwise, without embracing these interventions, women may continue to dance to the tune of men.

Long Road to Cartoon Nation

The print media cartoonist’s seemingly lifeless drawings have a subtle touch that lights up the flame of happiness in the mind.

No wonder that, when one bumps into a cartoon, there is a feeling of immediate freshness

They may focus on different facets of life but the cartoonist’s goal is constant: To remain relevant.

Whatever their background, the cartoonist is, in his or her own way, a giant towering over sadness and anguish through their cartoons.

That’s why James Kazembe’s Amtchona in The Weekend Nation was able to win one award after another in Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s defunct Entertainers of the Year initiative. Through its ability to loom over sadness, cartoon lovers came to associate it with freshness. 

Haswel Kunyenje’s ‘Fingo’ and ‘Benja’ in Malawi News serve the same purpose.  

And, sometimes, especially when they depict real life and real people, the cartoonist has ‘power’ to let artificially-induced tears flood the reader’s face. A typical example is ‘Achimwene’ in The Sunday Times, which depicts struggles endured by a man who has an abusive woman for a wife.

These are but some of the purposes served by cartoons.

According to Eastern Illinois University, some of the five persuasive techniques used by cartoonists include exaggeration, labeling, symbolism, analogy, and irony.

It adds that, under exaggeration, cartoonists overdo physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point; labeling, where objects or people are often labeled by cartoonists to make it clear exactly what they stand for; symbolism, where objects are used to stand for larger concepts or ideas; analogy, when cartoonists 'draw' a comparison between two unlike things; and irony, which entails the difference between the way things are and the way things should be.

While this may be common fodder in established institutions with cartooning courses, the case seems to be different in Malawi.

Informal path

Cartoonist Kazembe observes that the path to becoming a cartoonist in Malawi is strewn with ups and downs, as practitioners have to find their own ropes outside the formal education system.

“There is no cartooning school in Malawi. The situation in Malawi is akin to music in the sense that individuals learn from those who are in the field,” observes Kazembe.

He speaks from experience. “In my case, I learned from Brian Hara, who acquired his knowledge in college in Zimbabwe. Our friends in Zambia and Zimbabwe have colleges that offer programmes in cartooning; in Malawi, the case is different,” observes Kazembe.

The name Hara will forever be associated with cartooning in Malawi and abroad. Even death, which robbed Malawi of this greatest son in March 2008, has not erased the greatness of his cartoons. His creations include the then Malawi News Chichewa cartoon strip, Pewani, and Zabweka in The Nation.

Kazembe says, in the absence of colleges offering programmes in cartooning, the task of transferring skills shall remain on the shoulders of those who are already combing the fields.

“Of course, we have made efforts as cartoonists, including our attempts to establish an association for cartoonists, but the truth is that people like me learned from those who were in the field and the situation has not changed,” says Kazembe.

Kunyenje concurs.

“The education sector is yet to recognise the importance of the art of cartooning. That’s why cartooning remains one of the unexploited areas in Malawi,” says Kunyenje.

Rising sun

Little by little, however, the skies seem to be clearing for those harbouring ambitions to become cartoonists.

For instance, Jacaranda School for Orphans in Malawi— a brainchild of philanthropist Marie Deschamps— offers some cartooning lessons to some of the children under its armpit.

When some foreign visitors toured the place a couple of years ago, they were taken to a room that had children cartoon strips.

Standing beside the children was Jim Ali Fischer, a cartoonist renowned for his cartoon strip ‘Baruda’ in The UDF News. He is the one who was teaching the children the ropes in cartooning. The school looks after orphans and provides free primary, secondary and tertiary educations to orphans in Malawi, as well as integrated orphan care.

Another example of positive movement is the establishment of Blantyre Cartoon Club, which visits some secondary schools in Blantyre and imparts cartooning skills in students.

Kunyenje, who serves as director and works alongside cartoonists such as Peter Nyakhuwa of ‘Zayakunkhongo’ cartoon strip, says the club works with the European Cartoon centre and advances the objective promoting the art of cartooning among children in the country.
 These efforts aside, Kazembe observes that the art has potential to grow in the country despite the challenges.

He, however, says, for this level to be attained, cartooning schools should be part of the solution.

“At the moment, some secondary schools such as Chichiri in Blantyre offer art lessons, but the challenge is that qualified teachers in art are hard to come by. Therefore, we need to have qualified teachers and people who know the art well for it to flourish,” says Kazembe.

On his part, Kunyenje says cartooning remains one of the areas that are yet to be appreciated in Malawi.

“Cartooning is yet to be explored fully in Malawi. But there is hope. I have faith that things will work out because people success not because of things that are there, but because of things that will be there,” says Kunyenje.

With these developments, it would not be long before children of this age acquire the skills, master the skills of getting themselves into the swing and anarchy of the imagination to give birth to cartoons.

Counting the Eggs of Arts Festivals

There is something strange about the frequency of arts festivals in Malawi. Naturally, one question pops up: Why is it that Malawians in the arts industries seem to ‘hunt’ in packs? When one of them founds something, say arts festivals, all soon engage in full cry after it.

The cries, depending on the mood of the pack-hunters, either take the tone of Lake of Stars Festival, Bwalo la Aluso Festival, Likoma Festival, Blantyre Arts Festival, Mwezi Wawala Arts Festival (Nanzikambe) or whatever tickles the fancy of the organisers.

In rare cases, like in the case of the Lake of Stars Festival, Sunbird Sand Festival, the activity becomes a vogue. In other cases, however, like those of Bwalo la Aluso Arts Festival, the activity may die a natural death, to the detriment of both the event and artists.

Hard reality

Film Association of Malawi (Fama) president, Ezaius Mkandawire, observes that while arts and other festivals can become a useful development tool when well-planned, their meaning is diluted when they are employed with a freedom or frequency beyond reason.

Otherwise, observes Mkandawire, arts festivals may emulate the fate of lavatory fittings: They are useful when fixed in their proper place but lack a sense of necessity when multiplied beyond what is necessary for practical purposes.  

“Overall, the idea of arts festivals is good but, in our case, there are things we need to work on before we can count the benefits,” says Mkandawire.

The filmmaker says, for instance, that, in the case of Malawi, experience has shown that our “arts festivals are sometimes not conducive for watching films”. He says it is virtually impossible to watch films as musicians are blazing the skies with noise.

Says Mkandawire: “While most of the festivals are named after the arts and mostly organised to promote the arts, they are not conducive to equally-important activities such as film watching. This denies local and international filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their creativity.

“Films are meant to be watched on the big screen but, in Malawi, they are watched on the small screen and festival organisers perpetuate this trend by not offering opportunities to watch films on the big screen. This is something we should work on. Just imagine, Lilongwe has one big screen and I am not sure about Blantyre after Cine City temporality stopping doing so some time back. I understand there has been a change of hands. ”

He adds that, in the long-term, there is need to create proper space.

Mkandawire’s sentiments are shared by Musicians Union of Malawi president, Rev. Chimwemwe Mhango.

He observes that the country would have benefitted more than at the moment had it been that musicians were willing to sacrifice.

“The problem we have in Malawi is that whenever we have festivals, people do not want to sacrifice in order for them to make a name.  You find that when we organise festivals, some musicians, including our own members, will demand a lot of money. They want us to invest more in them than their exposure and this has resulted in them lacking exposure.

“Secondly, we seem to have problems with coordination. You will find that some musicians want to make heavy demands because they feel that they already made a name, and this disadvantages up-and-coming musicians who want to gain exposure. Even in gospel music circles, you will find that there are groups. Some work together; some don’t,” says Mhango.

Mhango adds that organisers of international festivals sometimes shun Malawian artists, a development that denies them the opportunity to get exposed.

He says the trend negatively affects local artists in the sense that the foreign artists do not conduct music clinics because they are denied the chance to observe the creativity as well as challenges encountered by their local counterparts.

“You only hear of local artists collaborating with foreign artists when Zambian musicians visit the country. So, organisers also need to work on this for Malawi to gain the exposure that festivals offer,” says Mhango.

Likoma Islanders Interim president, Peter Chiwaula, says, if well-nurtured, festivals have the potential to support the tourism industry in the country. He says this is why the islanders launched the festival started in August 2014.

“We have room to grow but need support from government and the corporate world to make these festivals affordable to everyone,” says Chiwaula, whose organisation runs Likoma Festival.
However, Chiwaula observes that the government, which often comes out as the biggest culprit, cannot be blamed for problems of festival organisers’ own making.

“Perhaps to say government does not support these festivals will be harsh considering the current financial position but if we are to realise the dream of earning more through tourism there is need for a push from government. The help may not (necessarily) be in monetary terms, (it can be through services such as) free adverts on public television and radio, use of Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s public address system.

“But this should not be left in the hands of the government alone. The corporate world also has a role to play.”

Glimmer of hope

However, all may not be lost for festival patrons as the Lake of Stars organisers have, as part of the event, chalked an agreement with Fama.  

“This means we have an opportunity, as filmmakers, to make the best out of the festival and showcase the best things from Malawi, thereby increasing our exposure,” says Mkandawire.

Mkandawire says the development will see filmmakers capturing short films and other interesting things that may stir interest at international level.

 Chiwaula says festivals such as Likoma Festival can be used as tools for turning Likoma into a tourism hub.

“The festival promotes tourism and connects Malawians to some rural but beautiful beaches. This will eventually see more developments on the Island and earn forex for the country,” says Chiwaula, adding:

“In the long term, we expect Likoma to develop like Caymans Islands; market the Island to encourage more people to visit Likoma for weekend getaways, holidays and corporate conferences; create job opportunities to the youth during and after the festival.

“It is also possible, using the festival as a tool, to spear head developments like expansion on existing and new lodges as well as establishment of financial institutions due to increased demand making the Island a tourist destination on the Island.”

On his part, Mhango observes that festival organisers can pick a leaf from the administration of the Chibuku music competition to create more value out of the festivals than is the case.

“If Malawian musicians are exposed at the moment, it is because of competitions such as Chibuku and not necessarily these festivals. In fact, because of these competitions, we have letters of invitation from Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, among other countries, for our artists to perform.

“I believe we can achieve the same using the platform offered by festivals. We can take advantage of the foreign artists to learn and create lasting relationships,” says Mhango.

Solomonic Peacocks director, MacArthur Matukuta, whose organisation recently organised the Easter Arts Festival in Lilongwe and Blantyre, cannot agree more.

“From our experience with the Easter Arts Festival, we have learned that the economy benefits in a number of ways. Among other things, the foreign musicians use our facilities, they eat our food using the money they earn, and more people come to see them face to face, and this is the kind of trickle-down effects we want,” says Matukuta.

Matukuta says a pointer that there is light at the end of the tunnel is the agreement chalked between local comedians Izeki ndi Jakobo and their Zambian counterparts Dikiloni and Difikoti.

“It is because of festivals like the one we organised that Izeki ndi Jakobo will be able to have exchange visits with their Zambian colleagues, and this will give them exposure and promote our culture abroad. So, festivals can help our country in more ways than entertainment,” says Matukuta.

Sunbird tourism Group Sales Manager, Titania Katenga-Kaunda, whose institution has been supporting festivals such as Sunbird Sand Festival and Lake of Stars, shares Matukuta’s sentiments.

“Festivals such as Lake of Stars and Sunbird Sand Festival have shown that it is possible to create a platform for exposing and development of tourism and the arts to both local and international artist and they provide a perfect and professional environment for artists and audiences,” says Katenga-Kaunda.

She says, on its part, the tourism industry player is committed to ensuring that the country benefits from festivals by providing a conducive environment in lakeshore beaches of, say, Sunbird Nkopola,  for people to socialise, learn, develop talent and entertain audiences of diverse backgrounds.

“For example, Lake of Stars, which is aimed at promoting and uplifting cultural-tourism and arts at our beautiful Lake Malawi-recognises that tourism can contribute to our country’s economy. Among other things, foreign artists expose our destinations and spend money while here. Not surprisingly, Lake of Stars festival has become familiar to audiences across the country and beyond as we feature international artists to spice up the event and to inspire our own artists in Malawi,” says Katenga-Kaunda.

Still, as things stand, nobody has been able to form a precise estimation of festivals’ benefits.

But the hope and optimism that things can change for the better are more evident than definitive benefits. It may not be the time to throw up the sponge.

.

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.

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