Malawi's health sector in never-ending woes

Things seem to be going from bad to worse in the health sector in Malawi, where problems seem to be in a race against each other; one problem trying to ride on top of the other.

A case in point is Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), where nurses have stopped working extra hours after the Ministry of Health and Population turned down their proposal for an adjustment to overtime allowances. They have a right to withdraw their labour, anyway; for they have the backing of labour laws.

If the truth be told, the nurses have not withdrawn their labour. What they have done is to stop working extra hours; work they do at their will, despite getting less than what they deserve.

In fact, it is not the first time nurses have decided to boycott work, after their normal working hours, on the ground that Ministry of Health Services and Population officials do not want to bow down to their [nurses’] demands for allowances they call ‘locum’.

In May 2012, they did the same, demanding an increment to locum after the administration of the then president Joyce Banda devalued the kwacha by close to 50 percent.

And, like this year, the ‘epicentre’ that year was KCH, where nurses refused to work in the paying ward and Ethel Mutharika special ward. Management had no choice but to close the affected facilities.

What the nurses are saying is that, after working the normal hours, they are not interested in stretching themselves-- rather, their bodies-- for an allowance-package that counts for nothing less than an insult.

The other thing they are saying is that they are willing to put themselves up for service, but at a cost; cost higher than their current entitlement.  

It seems that the government is being battered left, right and centre for, in January this year, nurses who offer their services to the government despite not being full-time employees threated to go on strike.

Led by Donald Kanjere Zgambo, the concerned people said they wanted nurses and midwives who are currently not employed, but are working and form a strong force in public hospitals, to be employed.

Some of the nurses and midwives just get locum, internship allocation and upkeep allowances.

They get K2,500 for working during the whole day and K3,000 for working the whole night as locum, yet Malawi is in need of an additional 5,000 nurses for the health sector to tick.

The victims, as usual, are the poor. The situation is, therefore, nothing short of disheartening.

It is disheartening because access to health is listed as a human right, including in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi; meaning that the State is obliged to ensure that services are ticking and that citizens are getting medical services. Any failure to do so smacks of irresponsibility.

It is such irresponsibility that has led to the suffering of innocent patients. We are talking of patients referred to the facility from district hospitals, most of such patients are too poor to afford services in private health facilities.

As at now, some of the patients referred from feeder hospitals have complained of not being attended to, or medical personnel taking ages to attend to them. Hospital management has also referred other patients back to facilities they came from, meaning that something is wrong because the facilities that refereed the patients to KCH knew that there were things they could do.

It is only natural to feel for less privileged people who are being tossed to and fro like coins. This is inhumane.

That said, it is important that nurses concerned should, for a while, bear with the authorities and hold them accountable if they do not live by their word when Parliament meets for the budget session later in the year.

After all, it is less than three months before legislators who will be elected on May 21 take office and meet for the budget session of Parliament. We know, as at now, that it will take Malawi Electoral Commission eight days to announce results for the presidential election, 23 days for members of Parliament and 30 days for Local Government elections.

After that, the problem will be addressed.

As at now, the money being asked for, which is K10,000 on average per eight or 12 hours after normal working hours, was not budgeted for and, as such, funds cannot fall from the sky. Ministry of Health officials, through their spokesperson Joshua Malango, have accepted that something is wrong and have committed to making things right in the next financial year, which starts on July 1.

Sometimes, it is important to realise that passion, and not necessarily monetary gain, is the price we say for working so hard without being appreciated.

Let all those concerned put themselves in the position of the poor citizen on the ground, be a little patient, like patients themselves, and reap the deserved financial rewards in the new financial year.

There is no other Malawi than the one we know and, together, we must stand for each other, understand each other and develop together.

As for the government, it should learn that, sometimes, it pays, and saves us time, to do the needful at the right time. Its officials should not be forced to act all the time. The fact that top public officials seek medical attention in up-market health facilities, often outside the country, should make them blind to the reality back home.

Let must always put ourselves in the shoes of others.

Hands to the wheel as Malawi’s presidential aspirants set sail

WOMAN OF THE MOMENT: Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Jane Ansah
There is time for the mighty, those we treat as potentates, to come back to their senses and, again, be the diminutive creatures they were at birth.

It is not a voluntary act, for the most part, but one forced by the artificial process we call national elections. Elections, no matter how abstract, exert some perceptibly heavy weight which, when it hits the senses of politicians, cows them into human beings we want them to be.

Well, it is that time again— the only time, once in five years— when politicians are dwarfed by the fear of losing national elections and are left with no choice but to worship the would-be voters they have been taking for granted all along.

After all, the voter— poor or rich— wields the vote, the equivalent of a heavy axe, that can cut through the limitless ambitions of many a politician, be it Local Government election aspirant, parliamentary candidate or presidential hopeful.

Already, even before the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) tolls the bell, marking the launch of the two-month official campaign period which will this year span from March 19 to May 19, politicians have put their hands to the wheel, crisscrossing the country with the zeal of a foreign tourist who has never been to Malawi.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party leader, President Peter Mutharika, who has been flashing the card of a development-conscious leader, has been on national tour, leaving the confines of his comfort zone to face the citizenry on— like he did the other day— the street or at choreographed State engagements or political rallies.

Times have, indeed, changed.

Actually, in the anonymity of the crowds, as he tries to portray himself as a man-of-the-people, he has been promising heaven on earth— as when he said he was ready to transform Malawi into Europe in the next five years.

Well, as former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika said, a man – and woman?— is entitled to dreaming in colour, even when there is no ink with which to ‘paint’ the dreams into reality, hard reality, for that matter.

One of the stumbling blocks to his soft sail on May 21 is, of course, the killing of people with albinism— a distraction of magnanimous proportions because, as he says, his administration has done its best, in terms of infrastructure development, food security, economic stability, education and healthcare service delivery, power generation, among other areas, during the five years he has been Chief Executive Officer of this land of the lake.

SPICED UP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PAPER PRESENTATION: Malawi Police Brass Band
Of course, he says he has put in place cogs aimed at ensuring safety of people with albinism, one of which being the procurement of alarm devices to be ‘planted’ on each person with albinism so that, when the heartless humans who are out to pluck their lives out of the earth pounce, police should be a button-press away.  

The President has also met with representatives of people with albinism, which means he is tackling, akin to making hay, one of the issues that could define his campaign as the sun shines—considering that the official campaign period starts on March 19.

His presidential running mate, Everton Chimulirenji, has also been to the ground, starting with a rally he held in Ntcheu District in February, followed by the Masintha one in Lilongwe and, last week, in Mzuzu.

He has taken advantage of the rallies to reaffirm his wish to be Mutharika’s good boy. He has also used some of the meetings, like the Mzuzu one, to portray himself as a man who rises from the ground to become important in national affairs, hence asking “poor” people to vote for their fellow “poor’ man.

Perhaps Vice-President Saulos Chilima has been the pioneer of strategic political campaigning, for, starting from the time he severed ties with the ruling party, he has been selling his UTM— whose torch he will carry at the May 21 presidential election— as one sells fresh fish from Lake Malawi. You sit on the fish for a second and it goes bad.

READY TO VOTE?: Party supporters
Chilima has crisscrossed the country, selling himself as a youthful character that delivers on his promises, often citing strides he made when he was in charge of public reforms in the current administration.

Chilima is also casting himself as the hapless chap who could not call the shots in his father’s house [Mutharika’s administration] for, as former president Bakili Muluzi once said, “wapakaliyala sayimba belu [there can only be one leader at a time]”.

His rallies are, therefore, propelled by his wish to call the shots [from the front], promising to do some of the things the current administration has not done— like abolishing Quota System, which, in proper speak, means equitable access to tertiary education [read, in public universities].

He has promised to transform agriculture by introducing one mega farm in each district, creating one million jobs during his first year in office, shedding off some of the president’s powers, especially when it comes to the appointment of heads of governance institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

His running mate, Michael Usi, has gone a step further, introducing Development Anthropology— which is another name for door-to-door campaign. Crouching to the ground like a commoner, Usi— and Chilima too— has been meeting ordinary members of society, spinning them into the UTM-gravity with the aim of squeezing that one vote out of them.

It remains to be seen how far he, and Chilima, will go.

Malawi Congress Party torch-bearer Lazarus Chakwera is in with his HI5 agenda, premised on servant leadership, prospering together, ending corruption, uniting Malawians and rule of law.

With that message, Chakwera, who was the Leader of Opposition in Parliament in the past four years or so, before being replaced by Lobin Lowe, has been to Central, Southern and Northern region districts as he seeks to consolidate his supporters’ base and build a leadership-mansion from the ashes of his 2014 loss at the polls.

So far, the party seems to be attracting both the old and young.

His running mate, former Cabinet minister Sidik Mia, has not stayed home. He has been mobilising his supporters in the Shire Valley districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa, while also reaching out to people in Mangochi and Machinga districts to make up for what MCP did not get, in terms of votes, in the 2014 Tripartite Elections.  

Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front, who seems to have been taken by surprise by last-minute events, culminating in his decision to run for president and pick running mate Frank Mwenifumbo, has, perhaps, been the most quiet as he is yet to make forays into districts other than those of the Eastern Region [this is a political region], such as Mangochi, Machinga and Zomba.

But Mwenifumbo has hit the ground running, in the past two weeks visiting districts such as Rumphi and Mzimba, where he is selling Atupele, who is a Cabinet minister [Ministry of Health and Population], as the next best thing to happen to Malawi.

His [Atupele’s] experience in the government is the wind that will take his UDF-boat to the State House, along with his vision for a food secure Malawi, economically empowered Malawians and black-out-free country, Mwenifumbo has been preaching.

When Mec declares the official campaign period on March 19, it is likely that Atupele will begin to ram into Mutharika.

As for former president Joyce Banda, she has been a paragon of contradictions, one day declaring that she is not contesting in the election and, just in the nick of time, saying the opposite.

What Banda has been consistent on is her message of consistent power supply, economic transformation through the introduction of loan facilities, restoring donor confidence in our systems, promoting security so that people, like those with albinism, may live freely thereafter, freeing the public airwaves, among other things.

Her running mate, Jerry Jana, has been in tow, although he is yet to pave his own path when campaigning so that, when Banda heads north, Jana should be in the opposite direction.

Even Peter Kuwani of Mbakuwaku Movement for Development has been on the campaign trail, although he has largely focused on Mchinji District.

KEY TO ELECTORAL PROCESS: Mec commissioners
However, Umodzi Party’s John Chisi has chosen to play by the book [rules]; waiting for Mec to blow the whistle so that he does everything within the confines of the law.

What Malawians must be certain about is that campaign period is a time of division, sometimes of terror. What Mtendere Electoral Support Network and Malawi Electoral Support Network leaders are saying about focusing on issue-based campaign could just be a shout into the fast winds of politics; the message may be heard but it will not be in the air long enough for politicians to take it seriously.

So, as politicians set sail for campaign, civil society organisations should as well prepare to wash their faces with a fountain of tears-of-regret.

After all, when it is campaign time, politicians shed their skin of normalcy and engage an extra gear in spewing garbage in the form of lies; they step past their normal self to win some freedom from honesty as they refine and redefine reality for voters.

Just that voters know better and, while they may be pretending to have been tamed when attending political meetings, sometimes going to the extent of pretending to flower in the hands of politicians, they become their own persons in the voting booth, where their verdict is final and cannot be tempered with even by Mec.

What a precarious position for politicians.

Germany promotes sanitation in Malawi schools

The relationship between the Federal Republic of Germany and Malawi must have deep roots, for, if not contributing directly to the national budget, the Germans fund non-State actors engaged in a number of initiatives.

LET THE FACILITIES BE OPEN FOR USE: Bosch (centre) cuts the ribbon

 

This time, the lucky area is sanitation in school, as German Ambassador to Malawi, Jürgen Bosch, has led efforts to ensure that girl-learners remain in school, even when menstruating.

 

Last week, the Ambassador left the comfort of his offices in the capital Lilongwe, travelled to Blantyre, mingled with learners and school authorities and, finally, handed over sanitation facilities at Sonzowa Primary School, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chigaru, in Blantyre District.

Borsch said every child needs a chance to access education services at an early stage as it is easier to absorb information than when one is fully grown up.

“We want to give every child a chance to go further with their education,” Borsch said.

After saying those words, he handed over facilities such as four blocks of toilets for learners and a changing room for girls, which will create a safe environment and help retain learners in school, especially girls who abscond classes due to lack of privacy during menstruation.

Sonzowa Primary School Head teacher, Juma Eleven, was over the moon, saying the facilities would ease the problem of access to toilets.

Meanwhile, Bosch is looking for the next place to bail out. Such has been the German spirit over the years.
 

Peter’s second turn: is path paved, littered?

VISITS COMESA HALL TODAY: Mutharika

Hubbub will be the order of the day at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, as President Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) presents his nomination papers— not for the first time.

In 2014, as a new-comer to high-level politics, he trudged to familiar grounds, Comesa Hall, to present his nomination papers to the then Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) chairperson, the late Justice Maxon Mbendera.

Today, although he heads to the same familiar grounds, he faces a completely different situation; a new Mec chair, Justice Jane Ansah. In fact, he wears the cloak of sitting president, unlike five years ago, when he was just one of the opposition figures aspiring for high office.

They say ambitions may be cultivated with comparative ease; turning them into ‘hard’ reality is the big deal. Nothing short of victory relieves one of the ponderous yoke of ambition.

Sometimes, even when one gets rid of the ponderous yoke of unrealised dreams, one more problem pertains to the unwieldy burden of public expectations.

What, often, acts as the light that sparks public expectations is the campaign tool called manifesto. On their own volition, political parties concoct manifestos and sell them to would-be voters as one sells products or services.

In terms of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the horse APM rode in 2014, its manifesto was one of the most sound, premised, as it were, on people— hence the title ‘Towards A People-Centred Government’.

One of the issues pertained to ridding the presidency of some of its powers.

The other issue related to the promotion of accountability in governance institutions, notably the graft-busting body Anti-Corruption Bureau, prosecution bodies such as the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, law-making institutions and institutions that audit public funds, notably National Audit Office.

The DPP also pledged to promote access to education— by, for example, constructing universities to ease pressure borne by public universities such as the University of Malawi, Mzuzu University, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Malawi University of Science and Technology.

Security found its way to the list, too, which is not strange because a nation afraid is a nation cowed.

Top on the list was, of course, the agriculture sector. Reforms were promised on the issue of the provision of farm inputs, which, we were told, would be accessible to everyone.

Freedom of expression was another ‘goat’ thrown at the altar of political promises.

Economic development was also the main course of the meal.

There are other areas that captivated voters’ attention and the above-listed are just some of those. The self-created burden of public expectations was, therefore, premised on this.

It has been a mixed bag, though.

On economic development the DPP has delivered, as evidenced by factors such as an import cover that, for the better part of the five years, has hovered above the required three months. Economic stability, as evidenced by an unwavering kwacha when pitted against currencies such as the United States dollar, euro and Great British Pound, has been a sub-theme to the economic resurrection story.

What is more? Single digit inflation, for the better part of the 25 years of multiparty politics a far-fetched dream, has been a reality. In November last year, there were fears that it would be a thing of the past as we slid back into double digits, only for us to turn the corner again. As we speak, the song is that of single digit inflation.

Then, there is the issue of reduced policy rate. In the past 14 months, the rate has been revised downwards twice.

In terms of access to education, the government has abolished tuition fees in secondary schools. In fact, Education Minister Bright Msaka has issued a warning that, if students still fail to meet other financial demands of schools and are sent home, the government will not hesitate to act on the ‘heartless’ school administrators.

Other gains have been made in other areas, something that cannot be taken away from the DPP administration.

However, as if the manifesto points were an egg that is thrown back at the hen that laid it, some ‘rotten’ eggs are thrown back at the smooth face of the ruling party.

One of the bad eggs is failure to make access to farm inputs open, instead of targeted, so that every citizen can have a fair share of the cake. As a result, traditional leaders continue to become subjects of ridicule among subjects, notably because the identification of target beneficiaries of Farm Input Subsidy Programme remains a well-kept secret.

In terms of construction of universities, Mombera University remains a dream; a dream at foundation-stone level five years down the line.

Then, there is the issue of relinquishing some of the president’s powers. Instead, we have seen him increasing his grip on power. For instance, he is on record to have vetoed the appointment of the Clerk of Parliament Charles Mkandawire, despite the Parliamentary Service Commission opting for him after exhaustive interviews. Mutharika’s pick was Fiona Kalemba.

In terms of information dissemination, he promised to let Malawi Broadcasting Corporation free. The idea was to make it a truly national broadcaster bankrolled by taxpayers.

Whether that has materialised is everyone’s guess.

Access to education remains a far-fetched dream for the majority poor, which is why the current administration has stuck to ‘quota system’.

But, in a world distracted by demands of daily life, it could be that people were too busy to notice these and are ready to move on.

After all, there is always a second chance.

It is possible that, as APM presents nomination papers today, he has found another way through which Malawi can get out of nauseating poverty.

It could be that, as he presents papers today, he has renewed hope that it is possible to support one’s manifesto points with action and be seen to be under obligation to fulfill them.

Whatever the case, what is clear is that, whoever submits nomination papers and whoever wins, an endless procession of problems will, surely, march through the next five-year-term as if on a mission to frustrate Malawi.

Putting a stop to that is a collective responsibility.

Talking of collective responsibility, framers of the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act realised that leading a nation is not a one-person’s act, hence inserted the provision that one should have a running mate.

So far, APM has kept the identity of the running mate under wraps. But, then, today is a day of reckoning. There is no place big enough to hide the DPP running mate and, like all secrets, the secret has to come out.

The nation will be interested in the aftermath of the declaration [of running mate]. Will the individual be a divisive figure or unifying factor?

The desirable outcome is when the nation is more attracted, than surprised, by the choice of the running mate. Whatever the case, ambition is one and indivisible. As such, we also aspire for a prosperous Malawi.

APM could as well be polished for the next course of action— ruling for five more years— but voters are the best judges. That is the sweet-cum-sacred side of democracy; lesser mortals choosing those who, soon, become too important to care about the majority poor.

 

Atupele’s dalliance with political card-throwing

If, by 5pm today, Atupele Muluzi will have submitted his presidential candidacy nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) officials at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, it will be fair to describe him as someone who thinks with his heart at night and mind during the day.

People who behave like this often discard what they thought at night— even if the situation they thought over at night had persisted for long—when the morning cock crows.

The behaviour of the United Democratic Front (UDF) torch-bearer has been put under the microscope because he has been a bed-fellow of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for over four years now, freely dining at the table of the President as one of his Cabinet minister.

He has served in several Cabinet portfolios, among them as minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining; Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Home Affairs and Internal Security; and Health and Population now.

During this time, the politician— who was born on August 6 1978— had a chance to study his own behaviour and judge every act. More importantly, he had to judge every act in the context of the election loss he suffered at the hands of President Peter Mutharika in the May 2014 Tripartite Elections, when the UDF came a distant fourth.

In the elections, Mutharika floored the rest, chalking 1,904,399 votes against Malawi Congress Party torch-bearer Lazarus Chakwera [1,455,880], People’s Party’s Joyce Banda [1,056,236] and Muluzi [717,224].

Now, when one comes fourth, against the wave of positive public opinion after he rode on the back of Agenda for Change agenda in the elections, it becomes necessary to think over every move— entering the political river with one foot at a time, if necessary.

This seems to be the case with Muluzi, who has, seemingly, been grateful to serve as Cabinet minister but not too glad to put both feet in the river-of-the-political-union with the ruling DPP. It is as if, even after serving in Mutharika’s Cabinet, he has been critical of his behaviour— up to the point of expressing interest in presenting nomination papers today.

Also on course to presenting nomination papers are Cassim Chilumpha of Tikonze People’s Movement, Pastor Baxten Boyd Natulu [independent], London Malingamoyo Phiri of National Salvation Front, among others.

Up for grabs are six-million-plus votes, if the weevil of voter apathy, which Mtendere Election Support Network spokesperson Edward Chaka blames on politicians’ penchant for making false promises, will not spoil the broth. Again.

For, if the truth be told, the negative signs were there during the first phase of voter registration in Salima, Kasungu and Dedza, where would-be voters did not turn up in droves.

This prompted Mec Chairperson, Jane Ansah, to point a finger of blame at those who have taken a liking to making broken promises. The other factor was stakeholders’ failure to sensitise people to the importance of voting.

Well, it seems that voters are simply giving back to the politicians what they [voters] have been at the receiving end of— bluff meals.

Yes, it seems that, after the re-introduction of multiparty system of politics in 1994, Malawians are not as excited as they were then. They, in fact, seem to have outlived that stage of life when excitement makes one the catspaw of feelings.

And, today, there is someone who seems to have, also, outlived the stage when youth-hood, not necessarily political naivety, makes an individual the catspaw of feelings.

The problem when an individual turns into a catspaw of feelings, or even first impressions, is that everything that comes into his or her sight seems to have a magnetic attraction.

Is this not the case with Atupele, who stepped into a river with both feet when he accepted a Cabinet post but now seems reluctant to remain in the water— the said water being the shallow-surface working relationship between the yellow party and the blue side of town.

However, would-be voters better not read too much into Atupele’s political movements. It could be that he wants to behave like a highly sought after woman who wants to walk around, dance and pretend to shun a lover she really loves.

A woman who sways as voluptuously as a wave when, in fact, the heart has been stilled inside.

Perhaps Atupele wants to show the DPP that he is like the woman, with supreme beauty, who has been ignored for long or who did not get the attention she deserved or, better still, who does not get enough respect.

In so doing, it could be that he earns the respect he deserves and get better stakes in any working relationship with the DPP.

After all, it is possible to avail oneself at Comesa Hall but announce, days before the election, that the interest in contesting has, somewhere along the way, been lost.

But, as those at Mec know, a date for presentation of nomination papers is set so that there should not be an infinite wonder about a human being’s real intention.

Today, the human in the centre of a no-longer-infinite-wonder is Atupele.

He could be serious about his presidential ambitions and contest on May 21 or use the occasion today to adjust his pace so that, this time, his embrace with the DPP may be warm and long.

To know the truth today: UDF supporters

Death in The Water: Malawi's Hippos Suffer Mysterious Deaths

Malawi's hippo population is in danger from an unknown 'beast'.
The worst part is that there is no safe haven for them; for even places hither to considered safe have been death traps.

NATURE'S GIFT: A hippo-- Picture courtesy of Parade

While Malawi's hippo population is not known, the country has lost 22 hippos in death from October this year to date, with Department of National Parks and Wildlife indicating that carcasses of the hippos started floating on October 10.
Sadly, the hippos died in Lake Malawi National Park, the safest place in Malawi.
More worrying, the cause of death is unknown,. although Director of Parks and Wildlife, Brighton Kumchedwa, is of the view that climate change could have played a role in the death.
But the issue is getting complicated, as Deputy Director in the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Julius Chulu, is of the view that over-concentration could be to blame.
During the dry season, water levels recede and the hippos have nowhere to hide, literally.
And, as investigations as to the cause of death continue, they remain refugees of death in Liwonde National Park, the safest place they can ever get in Malawi.
One hopes more do not die.
And one hopes locals do not eat the dead bodies.
Malawi is facing a faceless crisis.

What is in a name?

When a musician or actor’s name weighs as heavy as a lone cross, the process of adopting An artistic or stage name comes easily— like getting out of a white shirt into a pick t-shirt. Whatever that means.

Hence, there must be proper reasons some Malawian artists changed their names from, for instance, Armstrong to Onesmus; Limbani Banda to Lambanie Dube; Young Kay Hyphen; Code Sangala to C.O.D.E. to CO; Dan Lufani to Dan Lu; Big Lu to Bigger Lu; Charles Sinetre to The Reggae Ambassador; Chiyanjano Muheziwa to Anne Matumbi; Fatsani Kalonda to Blakjak; Otis Chilamba to Blasto; among others.

Having looked at some of the local names that have taken this path [of name-change], we analyse some of the reasons that prompt some artists to effect name changes.

According to https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk, “names have meanings – historical, geographical, occupational, and so on – that transcend the individual, and while people do occasionally change their names to match their characters, the most intriguing hypothesis is that they change their characters to match their names. There is plenty for psychologists to get their teeth into”.

In fact, the site lists name change as one of the most important processes in an individual’s life.

It says, among other things, that names “capture and shape the individual”, “making it reasonable to say, as is done in English, German, Mandarin, and other, though not all, languages, not just ‘I am called Nicholas’, but ‘I am Nicholas’. This identity of name as self suggests that it is worth looking for correspondence between names and the characters of those who hold them. There is no shortage of research doing just this. 

 This aside, there are a number of reasons that prompt an artist to keep their original name separate from stage name, including the need to ensure that the real name remains unsullied, innocent, and uncontaminated by goings-on in the creative industry.

Hence, the story of artists is littered with decisions of name change, often done to ensure that the name fits the cap of the creative [is it imaginary] world the artist purportedly inhabits.

For, if the truth be told, when an artist – be it musician or actor, among others— is associated with a particular style, people soon begin to link the artist’s name to the issues he raises in creative work; so that, over time, no artist really escapes the impact of their names on their artworks.

It is like, in serving others, the artist only serves himself.

However, according to www.backstage.com, in an article tilted ‘Six Reasons a Stage Name Might Be’, not every artist— actor, musician, among others— deserves to change a name.

Reads the article: “Not all actors need or use stage names but, for some, it is the right way to go. Some actors choose to legally change their names in court, but many can use and register stage names without ever having to legally change it. In fact, some actors choose to simultaneously use their real names and stage names to keep their work and personal lives separate.” 

The website says artists change names for the following reasons: to avoid confusion; if an individual has a popular or common name; if someone famous is already using the name; if one’s name does not represent who they are; if a different name will be easier to use and understand; and if an individual needs to protect his identity.

According to www.dancespirit.com, for urban dancers, it is more common to receive a name as a sign of respect and acceptance— so long as the name fits “the individual’s physical, psychological or technical characteristics”.

“Whatever you decide, it must be a natural fit. Otherwise you will seem foolish…. Finding out what is unique about yourself is crucial, but you have to be aware that whatever you do to manipulate that vision of yourself should be something that you believe in and are fully behind. If changing your name will give you more confidence, change [right] away,” the website indicates.

Another website, www.inta.org, indicates that names, either stage or names given at birth, can be turned into trademarks.

“Celebrities or other famous people can easily create trademark rights in their names by using their names in connection with products or services that are related to the reason for their fame. There are thus certain easy brand extensions: for example, celebrity chef sells cookware or opens restaurant; famous home designer markets furniture; musician sells branded instruments.

“In these situations, it will not take much effort to educate the public that the line of cookware they are buying under the Famous Chef brand comes from a single source of origin. This is particularly true because the consuming public to which the marketing is directed already likely knows and loves Famous Chef. If you represent a company that is considering using a celebrity’s name in its marketing (and your client is not associated with the celebrity), be worried if the celebrity is well known and markets products or services that relate to his or her fame. 

“Other brand extensions are a bit more of a stretch: … musician creates line of perfume. Even in these situations taking simple steps to advertise the relationship between the celebrity and the product can sufficiently educate the public that the perfume is marketed by the Mod Musician they know and love,” it says.

However, the site warns artists to guard against unauthorised use of their names.

“Often, the product is marketed to the Mod Musician’s existing demographic first, to take advantage of the reputation that the musician has created in that industry. Indeed, it is in this demographic that the musician’s name will carry the most weight—and thus reap the highest dollar rewards. As a result, unauthorised use by a third party of the individual’s name can result in allegations not only of a right-of-publicity violation but also of a trademark infringement claim,” it observes.

In the African setup, the practice of changing names proliferated with the advent of genres such as hip-hop. Which means, in a way, African artists copied from their American or European counterparts.

In the African Studies Quarterly (Volume 13, Issue 3 | Summer 2012), Msia Kibona Clark-  Assistant Professor in the  Department of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles [with a research focus on African migrations, Africa/African American relations, and African hip hop expressions] notes that  in African countries such as Ghana and Tanzania, hip hop has had a huge influence, a development that has see it being used
as a social commentary.

By widely using hip-hop, the new generation of African musicians has not only commented on social ills, but also sought to re-define themselves.

No wonder, Clark observes that  hip-hop’s origins lie in its use as a tool of self -expression and self-definition.

“Today, each of Africa’s metropolitan areas has a hip hop community, a community that includes rap emcees, producers, DJs, graphic designers,musical performances, and in many cases radio stations, dancers, and fashion designers”.

Not surprisingly, some of these people [rap emcees, producers, DJs, dancers] are at the heart of the practice of changing names. 

In the end, while artists change names to reflect their new status, they can use the same names to generate funds through endorsements.

It turns out, it is not only the music and artwork that matters; the name can be capital, too— so long as the artist does not show signs of being heartily ashamed of changing a name when they are already grown up!

NBS Bank is an embarassment

NBS Bank is a big embarrassment.

Recently, the bank started updating customer accounts. People flocked there, not to be overtaken by events. I went too.

Today, after staying in the banking hall for four hours, I am told my account is blocked because I did not update it. The truth is that I did; two months ago.

Are NBS Bank people serious/

They are jokers.

Big ones at that.

Go to a banking hall at, say, Ginnery Corner. You will find that there is no water for customers inside, except mid-month, when they know that the banking hall is not filled to the 'brim'.

And the stench.

NBS Bank is an embarrassment.

Zomba District People's Struggle for Potable Water

Zomba is supposed to be Malawi's first capital.

No. Zomba is Malawi's first capital.

There is Zomba City and Zomba District.

It is a historic place. A place of memories.

But people who live in Likangala and other areas along the Lake Chilwa Basin have no reason to smile.

Lake Chilwa, one of Malawi's lakes-- apart from lakes Malawi, Malombe, Kazuni and Chiuta-- has been drying up, thanks to climate change.

Cholera is an established disease. Between July and September 2012, for example, there were 160 registered cases of cholera in the district. The records are there at Zomba District Health Office.

In 2013, between November and December, there were 210 registered cases of cholera.

In 2014, between October and December, the registered cases were pegged at 300.

In 2015, between February and April, 120 cases were registered.

In 2016, 2017, there were no such cases because, according to Zomba `District Health Office, cholera cases increase every three years.

This year, there are fears that cholera could be back, especially because people have no access to tap water. All they know are boreholes, and open sources such as wells, rivers and swamps.

The pictures below attest to the fact that the struggle for potable water is real. Of course, some non-State actors have stepped in, introducing water dispensers at water points such as boreholes and wells.

Teachers' may soon be rich in bluff meals

Against poor infrastructure in schools: Msaka (second from left)
That Malawi's education sector faces a plethora of challenges is public knowledge.

Poor infrastructure. Demotivated teachers due to poor pay.

Teachers' anger arising out of the fact that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has been 'refusing' to give teachers who have upgraded their fair dues.

There are many problems but none beats that of poor infrastructure.

Earlier this year, innocent learners at Natchengwa  Primary School in Zomba died after a wall of what was supposed to be a classroom collapsed on them.

It is a problem with a deep surface because the solutions cannot be found in the village but Capital Hill, the seat of the Malawi Government in Lilongwe.

Surprisingly, Education Minister Bright Msaka has said the government is preparing a circular; it is banning the posting of teachers to schools that have poor infrastructure.

This, to say the truth, cannot work. It cannot work because it is not the responsibility of school management to construct school blocks.

It is the duty of the ministry and everyone knows that the ministry has been failing in its duty. It, as Central Government, does not provide enough resources to Local Government and then blames the latter for failing to erect structures that meet standards.

It is hypocrisy of the highest level and teachers should not read much into Msaka's recent pronouncements.

The Central Government should provide enough resources first and enforce its new rule.

It is as simple as that.

Melania Trump's Footprint

It is something learners, who sat and shook the United States First Lady Melania Trump's hands, will take years to appreciate.

HOME AND DRY: Mrs Trump
Why? Most of the learners who were visited by Melania do not have access to television or radio sets and, so, do not know the value of the woman who sat among them.
Whatever the case, it is good that Madam Trump was here, to appreciate the work America is doing in the education sector, and whether resources are being put to good use.
Please come again.