The 1st Conference is taking place from the 14 to 17 December 2009 in Accra Ghana. The aim of this annual event is to gather stakeholders to brain storm through latest information on HIV/AIDS which will ultimately lead to better clinical and behavior management of HIV/AIDS. The topics to be discussed include: Basic Science & epidemiology, Clinical management of HIV/AIDS, Co-infection, Prevention of Maternal Transmission, Preventive strategies, Opportunistic infections and HIV-associated malignant,Update of HIV therapy, social and behavior sciences, etc
Two significant social events have been planned: On the 13th December 2009, participants will be joined by other groups for a walk through the principal streets of Accra. Dubbed "Walk of Hope" , it is aimed at showing solidarity to those living with the virus and the hardworking scientists. On the 17th December 2009, instead of the usual Gala dinner, there will be AHRO festival. The aim is to show our heart to those who have lost their lives while raising some funds for Africa Health Research Organization's ambitious HIV/AIDS project.
To submit a paper, email A Yaro :ayaro@afrihro.org or call M:233 243134327
For exhibition and sponsorship, contact the Mr Felix Arthur via email : info@afrihro.org
For registration visit: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=741262
Kindly forward this email to your colleagues and friends.
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Friday, October 9, 2009
Epiphania Bonjesi still lines in my heart
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA1
Written Answers
Monday, 21 March 2005.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the director of marketing and communications for Waterways Ireland was appointed under current Northern Ireland legislation. [HL1620]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The appointment to this post would have been subject to the law of Northern Ireland.
Malawi: Budget Support
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
What budgetary support the Department for International Development is now providing to the government of Malawi; and whether budgetary support has been given to reforming the police force in Malawi under the safety, security and access to justice programme. [HL1712]
Baroness Amos: DfID is providing £15 million of budget support in the financial year 2004-05 for the Malawi Government's programme of macro-economic stabilization. That aid is not earmarked for particular sectors, such as the police. The Malawi safety, security and access to justice programme also does not provide budgetary support. However, DfID has provided £4 million of other financial aid for police reform since 2001.
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of reports of the shootings of Epiphania Bonjesi, Dadly Lupesya and Nashaz Sakala in Malawi, what consideration has been given to suspending direct budget support until reassurances have been given that all cases of alleged shootings of unarmed civilians will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. [HL1713]
Baroness Amos: The shootings of Dadly Lupesya and Nashaz Sakala took place in 2001 during rioting over the re-allocation of funding for road building and that of Epiphania Bonjesi in May 2004 during rioting at the time of elections in May 2004. Following the election, the Minister of Home Affairs confirmed to DfID that it was the government of Malawi's intention to inquire into the shootings in May 2004. He has since advised that investigations are on-going. The Malawi Government have no plans to reopen inquiries into the earlier shootings at present.
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA2
Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the budgetary and staff implications of the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (Legal Capacities) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3332); and within which departmental budget such costs fall. [HL1723]
Baroness Amos: The Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (Legal Capacities) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3332) ratifies the agreement signed in Geneva on 9 December 2002, to establish the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (AITIC) as an intergovernmental organisation. Seven donor (sponsor) countries and 37 beneficiary countries have signed the agreement so far. All seven sponsoring members (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) have pledged funding towards AITIC's first five years of operation as an intergovernmental organisation. This is laid down in Annexe I to the agreement.
The UK has pledged £1 million to be disbursed as three annual payments. The Department for International Development (DfID) has overall responsibility for the agreement and for implementing its provisions in the UK. UK contributions will therefore be paid through DfID funds.
The UK will participate actively in the Council of Representatives (the governing body of AITIC), which meets at least once a year. DfID's aim is to ensure that the AITIC follows best management practice in its operations and meets the needs of its clients effectively. Existing DfID staff will undertake this work as part of their normal duties. No additional staff will be required.
Control Orders
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 March (Official Report, col. 121), whether the right of appeal relating to non-derogating control orders is intended to enable the court to determine that the control order should not have been made because it was not necessary for purposes connected with the protection of members of the public from the risk of terrorism. [HL1609]
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, the Secretary of State may apply to the court for permission to make a non-derogating control order. The function of the court is to consider whether the Secretary of State's grounds for making an order are obviously flawed. If the court gives permission to the Secretary of State to make the order, the court will give directions for a hearing in relation to the order as soon as reasonably
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA3
possible after it has been made. At both the consideration of permission and the substantive hearing, the court will consider the question of whether the control order is necessary for purposes connected with protecting members of the public from a risk of terrorism.
European Convention on Human Rights: Articles 8 to 11
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 March (Official Report, col. 121), which decided case establishes that the concept of proportionality is "at the very core of the concept of judicial review", other than cases involving alleged breaches of European Community law or European Convention on Human Rights law. [HL1610]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Lord Chancellor's statement concerned the approach to be taken in cases involving Articles 8 to 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is well-established that, in assessing whether any interference with those rights is justified, the courts must consider whether the interference is justified by legitimate aim, and whether it is proportionate. The Lord Chancellor's statement was not concerned with the more general development of judicial review, which is a matter for the courts.
Anti-terrorism Legislation
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to organise an ad hoc conference of senior judges to discuss alternatives to the existing anti-terrorism legislation. [HL1673]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No.
Iraq: Legal Advice
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the start and termination dates of the periods since 1 January 2003 for which Christopher Greenwood QC was hired to give advice on (a) the legality of military action in Iraq, and (b) other matters; and what sums he has been paid in respect of each matter. [HL1590]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): In relation to Iraq, Professor Christopher Greenwood QC was first instructed on 13 March 2003. He was retained to assist in relation to legal issues arising from the Iraq conflict, but was not instructed to advise on whether military action would be lawful.
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA4
It is not possible to give a date when Professor Greenwood ended his assistance in relation to this issue. He has been instructed on a number of occasions by government departments in relation to a variety of different legal issues relating to the conflict and its aftermath and is currently acting in the case of R (on the application of Al-Skeini and others) v the Secretary of State for Defence concerning civilian deaths in Iraq, which has now reached the Court of Appeal.
Over the same period, Professor Greenwood was instructed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Cabinet Office in relation to a number of other legal issues not connected to the Iraq conflict. Details of the issues on which Professor Greenwood has been instructed to provide legal advice are withheld on the grounds that this would disclose information related to the formation of government policy. Professor Greenwood has, however, acted for the Government in relation to a number of cases in the domestic and international courts during this period: the Ojdanic case in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; Federal Republic of Yugoslavia v United Kingdom in the International Court of Justice; the General Assembly request to the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the Palestinian wall (UK observations on admissibility); R (on the application of the European Roma Rights Centre and others) v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and others; and R (on the application of Abbasi and Mubanga) v the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others. Professor Greenwood also acted in relation to the individual SIAC appeals and the SIAC derogation appeal before the Court of Appeal and House of Lords, although he did not appear in court in these cases.
Information about Professor Greenwood's professional fees is not held centrally as he has been instructed by several different government departments. While every effort has been made to provide full and complete information, records do not exist to verify precisely what fees have been charged on all matters going back to January 2003. The best information that can be obtained is that, as at 21 March 2005, his professional fees in relation to work connected with the conflict in Iraq amounted to approximately £46,000 (excluding VAT). As at the same date, his fees in relation to other matters amounted to approximately £53,500 (excluding VAT).
Anti-terrorism: Warrants to Search Premises
Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 February (WA 103), whether they will now collate from the 43 police forces in England and Wales the information on the number of houses that have been raided by police on anti-terrorism warrants since 11th September 2001. [HL1691]
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA5
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): This information is not collected for terrorism or other legislation centrally, either in the Home Office or elsewhere, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Asylum Seekers: Allegations of Racism
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to allegations of racism and violence against detainees within the asylum system, in particular in contracted-out detention centres and removal arrangements. [HL1785]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My honourable friend the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality has asked Stephen Shaw, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, to undertake an independent investigation into the allegations of racism and mistreatment of detainees at Oakington and during escort. GSL, which manages and operate the centre at Oakington, has also mounted an internal investigation into these allegations.
Turkey: Human Rights
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they propose to make on the cases of the Turkish parliamentarians, Merve Kavakc"i and Leyla Zana and others, which were initially considered by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1994 and 2001 respectively, in the light of Turkey's commitment to the Copenhagen principles. [HL1517]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The Government continue to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey closely. Officials at our embassy in Ankara attend trials and raise specific cases with the Turkish authorities when appropriate. We raised the case of Leyla Zana and her three MP colleagues, Selim Sadak, Hatip Dicle and Orhan Dogan frequently prior to the Court of Cassation's decision to order a second retrial; a decision that the UK Government welcomed, and the European Commission noted as evidence that "the higher courts are delivering judgments applying the amended provisions adopted by the various packages of political reforms." The retrial is continuing, with the next hearing expected to take place on 22 April. We will not make further representations during the trial. Merve Kavakc"i is now living in the United States as a citizen of the United States.
The December European Council endorsed the European Commission's view that Turkey had sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and that accession negotiations be opened. It will be important, however, that Turkey continues to make progress against the Copenhagen criteria. We will continue to urge the Turkish Government to ensure
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA6
the full and consistent implementation of the reforms passed, but are confident that all remaining concerns will be addressed during the accession process.
Diplomatic Missions
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are content for a person accredited to a national diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom to hold the citizenship of a country other than that of the mission concerned; if so, whether such persons are also required to hold the citizenship of the country from which they are accredited; and whether they will list those national diplomatic missions where they believe any of those accredited hold citizenship of countries other than that of the mission. [HL1684]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 provides that a country may freely appoint its own nationals as members of the diplomatic staff of its diplomatic mission. However, the consent of the receiving state is required where a person is a national of the country he is appointed to represent and also a national of the receiving country or is a national only of the receiving state. Whether or not a person holds the citizenship of a third country is not relevant to his or her acceptance as a member of a mission. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office would not consider British nationality a bar to the appointment of a person to the diplomatic mission of a country of which they are also nationals. As indicated in my reply to the noble Lord on 10 January 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 3–WA 4), we estimate that fewer than 10 members of diplomatic missions in London hold British citizenship, but that accurate details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 also provides that receiving states may reserve the right to consent to the appointment of a third country national, who is not also a national of the sending country, to the diplomatic staff of a mission. Any such request would be considered on its merits. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of any current appointments that would fall into this category.
The appointment of other categories of staff (administrative and technical and service) at diplomatic missions is not subject to any nationality considerations.
Defence Procurement: EU Standards
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect to adopt European Union standards for defence procurement. [HL1448]
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA7
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): There is no process or plan formally to adopt European Union standards for defence procurement. The use of standards in the United Kingdom is normally on a voluntary basis so the Ministry of Defence does not specifically "adopt" standards. Instead, it seeks to ensure that its project managers select the most appropriate standard to meet their requirements from the full range of civil, commercial and military standards in accordance with an order of preference or hierarchy. This hierarchy gives preference to a British standards implementation of a European standard.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to replace their existing defence procurement standards with harmonised European Union standards. [HL1449]
Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence seeks to ensure that its project managers select the most appropriate standard to meet their requirements from the full range of civil, commercial and military standards in accordance with an order of preference or hierarchy. This hierarchy places a British standards implementation of a European standard at the top. Hence existing European standards that have been implemented by British standards should be used in preference to UK defence standards, if they meet our requirements. A number of defence standards have already been cancelled as a result of such implementations. Should new European standards be implemented that meet UK requirements currently addressed by a defence standard, then that defence standard would be cancelled.
Information Commissioner
Lord Lea of Crondall asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to evaluate the effectiveness of the Information Commissioner in:
(a) ensuring that marketing companies, when notified of telephone numbers that are registered as not wishing to receive cold calls, comply with the relevant order; and
(b) giving clear details of a one-stop shop for complaints, so that infringements of such orders can be investigated. [HL1588]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Information Commissioner is a statutory supervisory authority, fully independent of government, established to oversee the operation of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003. Consequently, he has responsibility for enforcing the statutory regime, including compliance by marketing companies and dealing with complaints. The commissioner is required
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA8
to lay an annual report before Parliament on the exercise of his functions under the legislation for which he has enforcement responsibility.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs has a limited sponsorship role in relation to the Information Commissioner's Office, covering financial and business planning matters. Ministers from the department meet with the Information Commissioner on a regular basis to discuss particular issues of concern with regard to both freedom of information and data protection policy matters.
Written Answers
Monday, 21 March 2005.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the director of marketing and communications for Waterways Ireland was appointed under current Northern Ireland legislation. [HL1620]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The appointment to this post would have been subject to the law of Northern Ireland.
Malawi: Budget Support
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
What budgetary support the Department for International Development is now providing to the government of Malawi; and whether budgetary support has been given to reforming the police force in Malawi under the safety, security and access to justice programme. [HL1712]
Baroness Amos: DfID is providing £15 million of budget support in the financial year 2004-05 for the Malawi Government's programme of macro-economic stabilization. That aid is not earmarked for particular sectors, such as the police. The Malawi safety, security and access to justice programme also does not provide budgetary support. However, DfID has provided £4 million of other financial aid for police reform since 2001.
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of reports of the shootings of Epiphania Bonjesi, Dadly Lupesya and Nashaz Sakala in Malawi, what consideration has been given to suspending direct budget support until reassurances have been given that all cases of alleged shootings of unarmed civilians will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. [HL1713]
Baroness Amos: The shootings of Dadly Lupesya and Nashaz Sakala took place in 2001 during rioting over the re-allocation of funding for road building and that of Epiphania Bonjesi in May 2004 during rioting at the time of elections in May 2004. Following the election, the Minister of Home Affairs confirmed to DfID that it was the government of Malawi's intention to inquire into the shootings in May 2004. He has since advised that investigations are on-going. The Malawi Government have no plans to reopen inquiries into the earlier shootings at present.
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA2
Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the budgetary and staff implications of the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (Legal Capacities) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3332); and within which departmental budget such costs fall. [HL1723]
Baroness Amos: The Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (Legal Capacities) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3332) ratifies the agreement signed in Geneva on 9 December 2002, to establish the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (AITIC) as an intergovernmental organisation. Seven donor (sponsor) countries and 37 beneficiary countries have signed the agreement so far. All seven sponsoring members (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) have pledged funding towards AITIC's first five years of operation as an intergovernmental organisation. This is laid down in Annexe I to the agreement.
The UK has pledged £1 million to be disbursed as three annual payments. The Department for International Development (DfID) has overall responsibility for the agreement and for implementing its provisions in the UK. UK contributions will therefore be paid through DfID funds.
The UK will participate actively in the Council of Representatives (the governing body of AITIC), which meets at least once a year. DfID's aim is to ensure that the AITIC follows best management practice in its operations and meets the needs of its clients effectively. Existing DfID staff will undertake this work as part of their normal duties. No additional staff will be required.
Control Orders
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 March (Official Report, col. 121), whether the right of appeal relating to non-derogating control orders is intended to enable the court to determine that the control order should not have been made because it was not necessary for purposes connected with the protection of members of the public from the risk of terrorism. [HL1609]
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, the Secretary of State may apply to the court for permission to make a non-derogating control order. The function of the court is to consider whether the Secretary of State's grounds for making an order are obviously flawed. If the court gives permission to the Secretary of State to make the order, the court will give directions for a hearing in relation to the order as soon as reasonably
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA3
possible after it has been made. At both the consideration of permission and the substantive hearing, the court will consider the question of whether the control order is necessary for purposes connected with protecting members of the public from a risk of terrorism.
European Convention on Human Rights: Articles 8 to 11
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 March (Official Report, col. 121), which decided case establishes that the concept of proportionality is "at the very core of the concept of judicial review", other than cases involving alleged breaches of European Community law or European Convention on Human Rights law. [HL1610]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Lord Chancellor's statement concerned the approach to be taken in cases involving Articles 8 to 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is well-established that, in assessing whether any interference with those rights is justified, the courts must consider whether the interference is justified by legitimate aim, and whether it is proportionate. The Lord Chancellor's statement was not concerned with the more general development of judicial review, which is a matter for the courts.
Anti-terrorism Legislation
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to organise an ad hoc conference of senior judges to discuss alternatives to the existing anti-terrorism legislation. [HL1673]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No.
Iraq: Legal Advice
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the start and termination dates of the periods since 1 January 2003 for which Christopher Greenwood QC was hired to give advice on (a) the legality of military action in Iraq, and (b) other matters; and what sums he has been paid in respect of each matter. [HL1590]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): In relation to Iraq, Professor Christopher Greenwood QC was first instructed on 13 March 2003. He was retained to assist in relation to legal issues arising from the Iraq conflict, but was not instructed to advise on whether military action would be lawful.
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA4
It is not possible to give a date when Professor Greenwood ended his assistance in relation to this issue. He has been instructed on a number of occasions by government departments in relation to a variety of different legal issues relating to the conflict and its aftermath and is currently acting in the case of R (on the application of Al-Skeini and others) v the Secretary of State for Defence concerning civilian deaths in Iraq, which has now reached the Court of Appeal.
Over the same period, Professor Greenwood was instructed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Cabinet Office in relation to a number of other legal issues not connected to the Iraq conflict. Details of the issues on which Professor Greenwood has been instructed to provide legal advice are withheld on the grounds that this would disclose information related to the formation of government policy. Professor Greenwood has, however, acted for the Government in relation to a number of cases in the domestic and international courts during this period: the Ojdanic case in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; Federal Republic of Yugoslavia v United Kingdom in the International Court of Justice; the General Assembly request to the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the Palestinian wall (UK observations on admissibility); R (on the application of the European Roma Rights Centre and others) v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and others; and R (on the application of Abbasi and Mubanga) v the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others. Professor Greenwood also acted in relation to the individual SIAC appeals and the SIAC derogation appeal before the Court of Appeal and House of Lords, although he did not appear in court in these cases.
Information about Professor Greenwood's professional fees is not held centrally as he has been instructed by several different government departments. While every effort has been made to provide full and complete information, records do not exist to verify precisely what fees have been charged on all matters going back to January 2003. The best information that can be obtained is that, as at 21 March 2005, his professional fees in relation to work connected with the conflict in Iraq amounted to approximately £46,000 (excluding VAT). As at the same date, his fees in relation to other matters amounted to approximately £53,500 (excluding VAT).
Anti-terrorism: Warrants to Search Premises
Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 February (WA 103), whether they will now collate from the 43 police forces in England and Wales the information on the number of houses that have been raided by police on anti-terrorism warrants since 11th September 2001. [HL1691]
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA5
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): This information is not collected for terrorism or other legislation centrally, either in the Home Office or elsewhere, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Asylum Seekers: Allegations of Racism
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to allegations of racism and violence against detainees within the asylum system, in particular in contracted-out detention centres and removal arrangements. [HL1785]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My honourable friend the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality has asked Stephen Shaw, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, to undertake an independent investigation into the allegations of racism and mistreatment of detainees at Oakington and during escort. GSL, which manages and operate the centre at Oakington, has also mounted an internal investigation into these allegations.
Turkey: Human Rights
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they propose to make on the cases of the Turkish parliamentarians, Merve Kavakc"i and Leyla Zana and others, which were initially considered by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1994 and 2001 respectively, in the light of Turkey's commitment to the Copenhagen principles. [HL1517]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The Government continue to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey closely. Officials at our embassy in Ankara attend trials and raise specific cases with the Turkish authorities when appropriate. We raised the case of Leyla Zana and her three MP colleagues, Selim Sadak, Hatip Dicle and Orhan Dogan frequently prior to the Court of Cassation's decision to order a second retrial; a decision that the UK Government welcomed, and the European Commission noted as evidence that "the higher courts are delivering judgments applying the amended provisions adopted by the various packages of political reforms." The retrial is continuing, with the next hearing expected to take place on 22 April. We will not make further representations during the trial. Merve Kavakc"i is now living in the United States as a citizen of the United States.
The December European Council endorsed the European Commission's view that Turkey had sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and that accession negotiations be opened. It will be important, however, that Turkey continues to make progress against the Copenhagen criteria. We will continue to urge the Turkish Government to ensure
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA6
the full and consistent implementation of the reforms passed, but are confident that all remaining concerns will be addressed during the accession process.
Diplomatic Missions
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are content for a person accredited to a national diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom to hold the citizenship of a country other than that of the mission concerned; if so, whether such persons are also required to hold the citizenship of the country from which they are accredited; and whether they will list those national diplomatic missions where they believe any of those accredited hold citizenship of countries other than that of the mission. [HL1684]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 provides that a country may freely appoint its own nationals as members of the diplomatic staff of its diplomatic mission. However, the consent of the receiving state is required where a person is a national of the country he is appointed to represent and also a national of the receiving country or is a national only of the receiving state. Whether or not a person holds the citizenship of a third country is not relevant to his or her acceptance as a member of a mission. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office would not consider British nationality a bar to the appointment of a person to the diplomatic mission of a country of which they are also nationals. As indicated in my reply to the noble Lord on 10 January 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 3–WA 4), we estimate that fewer than 10 members of diplomatic missions in London hold British citizenship, but that accurate details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 also provides that receiving states may reserve the right to consent to the appointment of a third country national, who is not also a national of the sending country, to the diplomatic staff of a mission. Any such request would be considered on its merits. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of any current appointments that would fall into this category.
The appointment of other categories of staff (administrative and technical and service) at diplomatic missions is not subject to any nationality considerations.
Defence Procurement: EU Standards
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect to adopt European Union standards for defence procurement. [HL1448]
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA7
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): There is no process or plan formally to adopt European Union standards for defence procurement. The use of standards in the United Kingdom is normally on a voluntary basis so the Ministry of Defence does not specifically "adopt" standards. Instead, it seeks to ensure that its project managers select the most appropriate standard to meet their requirements from the full range of civil, commercial and military standards in accordance with an order of preference or hierarchy. This hierarchy gives preference to a British standards implementation of a European standard.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to replace their existing defence procurement standards with harmonised European Union standards. [HL1449]
Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence seeks to ensure that its project managers select the most appropriate standard to meet their requirements from the full range of civil, commercial and military standards in accordance with an order of preference or hierarchy. This hierarchy places a British standards implementation of a European standard at the top. Hence existing European standards that have been implemented by British standards should be used in preference to UK defence standards, if they meet our requirements. A number of defence standards have already been cancelled as a result of such implementations. Should new European standards be implemented that meet UK requirements currently addressed by a defence standard, then that defence standard would be cancelled.
Information Commissioner
Lord Lea of Crondall asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to evaluate the effectiveness of the Information Commissioner in:
(a) ensuring that marketing companies, when notified of telephone numbers that are registered as not wishing to receive cold calls, comply with the relevant order; and
(b) giving clear details of a one-stop shop for complaints, so that infringements of such orders can be investigated. [HL1588]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Information Commissioner is a statutory supervisory authority, fully independent of government, established to oversee the operation of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003. Consequently, he has responsibility for enforcing the statutory regime, including compliance by marketing companies and dealing with complaints. The commissioner is required
21 Mar 2005 : Column WA8
to lay an annual report before Parliament on the exercise of his functions under the legislation for which he has enforcement responsibility.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs has a limited sponsorship role in relation to the Information Commissioner's Office, covering financial and business planning matters. Ministers from the department meet with the Information Commissioner on a regular basis to discuss particular issues of concern with regard to both freedom of information and data protection policy matters.
Didier Drogba at Chileka Airport
A giant walk,
From the buoyant Air Malawi plane,
Down the genuine Malawi soil,
On a dustless Thursday afternoon.
Well, Didier,
This you trod on,
A land of peace,
And a giant lake.
Malawi once were pieces,
Of great Orton Chirwa and John Childless dreams,
Dreams gathered under a painful chill.
Thangata, and Colonialism.
This where you trod,
Is the land of the giant Kamuzu,
A man with hands of steel,
A heart softened by patriotism
Patriotism kills,
If it rides the 'for-life' horse
But the damage was small,
Than the smiles.
This, where you trod,
A land of human Flames,
Who bury the living,
At Kamuzu stadium cemetary.
So the Elephants trod,
Into the merciless flame,
Though so warm a heart,
On October 10, 2009 no more.
The style you don Grogba,
That mutilated African hair,
Was once loathed by the Big Ngwazi,
Before the winds blew the memorable times away.
From the buoyant Air Malawi plane,
Down the genuine Malawi soil,
On a dustless Thursday afternoon.
Well, Didier,
This you trod on,
A land of peace,
And a giant lake.
Malawi once were pieces,
Of great Orton Chirwa and John Childless dreams,
Dreams gathered under a painful chill.
Thangata, and Colonialism.
This where you trod,
Is the land of the giant Kamuzu,
A man with hands of steel,
A heart softened by patriotism
Patriotism kills,
If it rides the 'for-life' horse
But the damage was small,
Than the smiles.
This, where you trod,
A land of human Flames,
Who bury the living,
At Kamuzu stadium cemetary.
So the Elephants trod,
Into the merciless flame,
Though so warm a heart,
On October 10, 2009 no more.
The style you don Grogba,
That mutilated African hair,
Was once loathed by the Big Ngwazi,
Before the winds blew the memorable times away.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Lest we forget Epiphania Bonjesi
2005 Annual Report for Malawi
Head of state and government: Bingu wa Mutharika (replaced Bakili Muluzi in May)
Death penalty: retentionist
International Criminal Court: ratified
UN Women's Convention: ratified
Optional Protocol to UN Women's Convention: signed
Summary
The May 2004 general election dominated the year. There were reports of excessive force against protesters by the police, and of the torture of suspects in police custody. The state-controlled news media overwhelmingly favoured the campaign of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). Prison conditions and the rate of prison deaths remained a significant concern.
Background
Observers found the polling at the presidential and parliamentary elections on 20 May to have been largely free and fair, but the overall process unfair. State-controlled radio and television gave by far the most airtime and the most favourable coverage to the ruling UDF's campaign and presidential candidate, Bingu wa Mutharika.
In August former human rights lawyer Ralph Kasambara was appointed Attorney General.
Police abuses
Reports continued of excessive force by the police to disperse protesters.
* On 22 February the police reportedly used excessive force to curtail a peaceful rally organized by the opposition coalition. Several people were injured when live ammunition was fired to disperse the crowd.
Police used live ammunition to quell rioting that followed the announcement of the result of the presidential elections.
* On 23 May, 10-year-old Epiphania Bonjesi was shot when police used live ammunition on demonstrators in Blantyre. She was admitted to hospital and died on 24 May. According to eyewitnesses, a police officer took aim and fired at her as she sat on her veranda. Five other people reportedly died from bullet wounds during the same disturbances. No independent inquiry into the deaths was carried out, and the findings of any police investigation were not made public. No action was known to have been taken against any officer. Requests for information by the Malawi Human Rights Commission and human rights groups received no response. Compensation of the equivalent to US$2,700 was reportedly paid by the authorities to the family of Epiphania Bonjesi.
The torture or ill-treatment of suspects and deaths in police custody were reported to continue.
Mabvuto Maguja died on 23 May, reportedly as a result of repeated beatings following his arrest the same day by Lilongwe police. The postmortem examination found that the cause of death was consistent with pressure on his chest from a blunt object such as a foot, and that injuries to his neck were consistent with strangulation. Wekha Maguja and Gift Chikani, arrested with him, were also allegedly beaten. During the course of the arrests, police officers were reported to have beaten Hannah Kapaluma with machetes and sexually assaulted her.
Prisons
More than 180 prisoners died in 2004 -- up from 162 in 2003 -- out of a prison population of 9,000. This rate of deaths required urgent remedial measures according to standards established by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Many of the deaths were HIV related; others were the result of preventable illnesses caused or exacerbated by overcrowding, poor diet, insanitary conditions and medical neglect.
Constitutional freedoms threatened
In June a presidential decree that no demonstration connected with the elections should take place was ruled unconstitutional by the High Court. Extensive political control of state media limited freedom of expression.
In July the President directed police to round-up women commercial sex-workers. However, the High Court subsequently ruled that the presidential decree was unconstitutional and in breach of the right of freedom of movement, as well as discriminatory on the basis of gender.
spacer spacer spacer
Website on Amnesty International's 2008 research report entitled "State of the World's Human Rights"
Buy the 2007 "State of the World's Human Rights"
NOTE: The above is NOT our year in review or financial annual report, which can be found here:
Amnesty International USA Financial Annual Report
(2MB in PDF)
Amnesty International USA 2008 Year-in-Review brochure (PDF)
Form 990 of Amnesty International (PDF)
Head of state and government: Bingu wa Mutharika (replaced Bakili Muluzi in May)
Death penalty: retentionist
International Criminal Court: ratified
UN Women's Convention: ratified
Optional Protocol to UN Women's Convention: signed
Summary
The May 2004 general election dominated the year. There were reports of excessive force against protesters by the police, and of the torture of suspects in police custody. The state-controlled news media overwhelmingly favoured the campaign of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). Prison conditions and the rate of prison deaths remained a significant concern.
Background
Observers found the polling at the presidential and parliamentary elections on 20 May to have been largely free and fair, but the overall process unfair. State-controlled radio and television gave by far the most airtime and the most favourable coverage to the ruling UDF's campaign and presidential candidate, Bingu wa Mutharika.
In August former human rights lawyer Ralph Kasambara was appointed Attorney General.
Police abuses
Reports continued of excessive force by the police to disperse protesters.
* On 22 February the police reportedly used excessive force to curtail a peaceful rally organized by the opposition coalition. Several people were injured when live ammunition was fired to disperse the crowd.
Police used live ammunition to quell rioting that followed the announcement of the result of the presidential elections.
* On 23 May, 10-year-old Epiphania Bonjesi was shot when police used live ammunition on demonstrators in Blantyre. She was admitted to hospital and died on 24 May. According to eyewitnesses, a police officer took aim and fired at her as she sat on her veranda. Five other people reportedly died from bullet wounds during the same disturbances. No independent inquiry into the deaths was carried out, and the findings of any police investigation were not made public. No action was known to have been taken against any officer. Requests for information by the Malawi Human Rights Commission and human rights groups received no response. Compensation of the equivalent to US$2,700 was reportedly paid by the authorities to the family of Epiphania Bonjesi.
The torture or ill-treatment of suspects and deaths in police custody were reported to continue.
Mabvuto Maguja died on 23 May, reportedly as a result of repeated beatings following his arrest the same day by Lilongwe police. The postmortem examination found that the cause of death was consistent with pressure on his chest from a blunt object such as a foot, and that injuries to his neck were consistent with strangulation. Wekha Maguja and Gift Chikani, arrested with him, were also allegedly beaten. During the course of the arrests, police officers were reported to have beaten Hannah Kapaluma with machetes and sexually assaulted her.
Prisons
More than 180 prisoners died in 2004 -- up from 162 in 2003 -- out of a prison population of 9,000. This rate of deaths required urgent remedial measures according to standards established by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Many of the deaths were HIV related; others were the result of preventable illnesses caused or exacerbated by overcrowding, poor diet, insanitary conditions and medical neglect.
Constitutional freedoms threatened
In June a presidential decree that no demonstration connected with the elections should take place was ruled unconstitutional by the High Court. Extensive political control of state media limited freedom of expression.
In July the President directed police to round-up women commercial sex-workers. However, the High Court subsequently ruled that the presidential decree was unconstitutional and in breach of the right of freedom of movement, as well as discriminatory on the basis of gender.
spacer spacer spacer
Website on Amnesty International's 2008 research report entitled "State of the World's Human Rights"
Buy the 2007 "State of the World's Human Rights"
NOTE: The above is NOT our year in review or financial annual report, which can be found here:
Amnesty International USA Financial Annual Report
(2MB in PDF)
Amnesty International USA 2008 Year-in-Review brochure (PDF)
Form 990 of Amnesty International (PDF)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Achirombo On Wednesday
Malawi intensifies search for gold, diamond
Malawi has intensified the search for gold and diamond in a latest bid to prop up its agro-based economy.
The country depends largely on agriculture, which contributes over 60 per cent to the national economy. But tobacco, its highest foreign exchange earner faces an uncertain future in the face of a global onslaught against the health hazards associated with smoking.
Price instability for other strategic crops such as cotton, tea and maize have also meant diminished returns for impoverished farmers, prompting government to experiment with new viable forms of economic spinning.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the country’s Geological Surveys Department, said mineral exploration offered the next best alternative for Malawi.
“Mineral exploration can contribute significantly towards economic development for Malawi. That is why we have intensified the search for gold and diamond. There are strong possibilities that we have these precious minerals in the country, and what was remaining has been exploration,” said Kalindekafe.
He said the department has started drilling for diamond and gold, a process he said would take as long as six to one year to bring results.
“We have started exploration works for diamond in Mangochi. So far, we have extracted some substantial amount of Kimberlitic stones. These are the stones that contain diamond, though it is not always the case that you will get the diamond,” he said.
While drilling works for diamond have already started in the Southern Malawi district of Mangochi, exploration works for gold have also started in Neno district, another Southern region district.
The works are taking place at a former blitz mine.
Malawi has a variety of mineral resources. Some of which include bauxite and uranium.
Uranium mining has already started at Kayerekera in the Northern Malawi district of Karonga. Paladin Africa, an Australian company carrying out the works, announced last month uranium exportation would start between September and October this year.
Grain Malunga, Malawi’s Energy and Mines Minister, is thrilled with the prospects of Malawi becoming a uranium exporter.
“It is such a great thing to happen to Malawi. We will be making an average US$10 million from uranium exportation every year,” said Malunga.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has called for more investments in the country’s mining sector.
EU hands over hospital wards
The European Union Micro-projects programme has donated two hospital wards to Chonde Health Centre in Mulanje district.
Mulanje, a district in Southern Malawi, is one of the country’s highly populated areas. However, access to medical facilities remains one of the biggest challenges as infrastructural inadequacies and a lope-sized doctor-to-patient ratio conspire to make life too expensive for community members, most of whom live below US$1 a day.
Isaac Munro, National Coordinator for EU Micro-projects Programme, asked community members to take good care of the infrastructure.
He said vandalism of donated property discouraged other well-wishers, a development that meant increased deaths from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
The facilities are worth K23 million.
We are happy to contribute towards Malawi’s health system. Improving access to health will play a great role in helping developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals,” said Munro.
Health is one of the priority areas in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, the current development blue print for Malawi.
The EU Micro-projects Programme started working in Malawi in 1995, and has gone through four phases highlighting various areas of development priorities.
The Fifth phase starts next year.
Member of Parliament for the area, Education Minister George Chaponda, hailed the EU for contributing towards the country’s social-economic development.
“The good thing about EU Micro-projects Programme is that it does not force initiatives on people; it involves them in all processes, from project design to implementation,” said Chaponda.
Bushfires threaten govt. plantations
Ridiculous. A worker at Raiply Plantations in Northern Malawi is not happy with the way his boss nagged him for making some careless mistake; he wears the robe of darkness and goes on rampage, setting part of the plantation ablaze!
Another plantation worker quarrels with another over food at lunch- the other worker has eaten more than his fair portion of collective lunch, and things go asunder. The offended party sets part of the plantation ablaze as part of his anger-healing process.
It is Monday, September 28, 2009. Pay day.
The bosses delay payment by one more day and the workers, incensed, raze part of the plantation.
Anyone sacked from the plantation is sure to vent their anger on the plantation as well, and that has always been the striking fate of Vipya Plantations, government tree plantations concessioned to privately-owned Raiply.
Just last year, 300 hectares of forest went up in flames under similar circumstances, and this has angered Raiply Chief Executive Officer Thomas Comen.
“The cost for such behaviour is huge. These bushfires are destroying a lot of biological diversity in the plantation, apart from causing huge losses of money because we cannot sell trees that have been badly burnt for timber purposes,” said Comen.
Comen said cases of burning plantations were becoming common place, largely perpetuated by the angry employee, sacked worker, disgruntled community member, clueless hunter, and cigarette smoker.
“The situation is really bad. It takes 30 years a raise a tree, but only uncontrollable anger to go back to square-one. Why destroy something that has taken up more resources in a single sweep of anger, frustrating the country’s economic prospects?” he queried.
Comen said, however, Raiply was doing it can to bring sanity where anger reigns, and has established new grievous handling mechanisms to bring sanity home.
“We want everyone to report their grievances. This way, we will be able to resolve all grievances amicably, and in a way that does not bring destruction to the forests and losses to the company. Communities must own up to the fact that the plantations, in a way, belong to them. They will bear the brunt of climatic changes arising from distortions in weather patterns emanating from the effects of destroying the plantations,” said Comen.
Daulosi Mauambeta, Executive Director for the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm), blames community ignorance for the trend. He said most community members were still unaware of the effects of destroying natural resources even in face of tangible climatic changes taking place around us.
“People even think that climatic change is a Western phenomenon that has nothing to do with us. The truth is that the changes are here with us, and may not be reversed should we continue with our old ways. We need to change people’s attitudes,” said Mauambeta.
Traditional Authority Karonga, one of the prominent chiefs in Northern Malawi, where Vipya is located, has vowed to mete out strong punishments to people who cause bush fires and destroy the environment willy-nilly.
“These resources are not for us but our children. Anyone who punishes an unborn child will surely be punished heavily. Setting Vipya ablaze is like killing the unborn child and I will not tolerate that,” said Karonga.
Government has for the past two years increased budgetary allocations to natural resources and environmental management, raising hopes that, perhaps, what remains of Malawi’s environment and natural resources may not be lost forever.
Malawi for improved housing infrastructure
Government has unveiled a new ambitious housing initiative that encourages development of up storey buildings.
The country has for a long time depended on non-storey buildings, a development Housing Minister Peter Mwanza says has contributed to the general lack of space in urban areas.
“This is especially true for civil servants houses and buildings. You will find that most of them are small but take up a lot of space. We want to change this,” said Mwanza.
The new initiative has started with the construction of 200 houses apiece for Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service officers in Lilongwe.
Security officials are one of government’s workers who lack up market housing infrastructure.
Former president Bakili Muluzi used to make fun of their houses, saying he could not understand how an officer with 10 children could manage to house all of them in a one-bed roomed house.
Muluzi could also joke that an officer would sleep with his head and chest in the bedroom, and the legs on the dining room- which also acted as the bedroom for kids and visitors.
“When visitors from the village come, all ‘bedroom work’ (sex) stops until they go back”, Muluzi used to say, to the uproar of United Democratic Front supporters.
Government seems to be building reality from those jokes, as evidenced by its new initiative in Lilongwe- something Mwanza said would change the housing face of Malawi and usher in a new era of respect and dignity for the country’s civil servants.
Blantyre DC shuns chief’s funeral
Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga is under fire for shunning the burial ceremony of Village Headman Evance Makata.
Makata, 55, died of Diabetes last week, but his burial this week was marred by the prominent absence of Blantyre DC Makata, angering communities from Ndirande.
Traditional leaders fall under the Ministry of Local Government, which, at district level, is headed by the DC.
Makata also failed to send a representative at a funeral service attended by Ndirande Malabada Member of Parliament and Defense Minister Aaron Sangala.
“What the DC has done is very bad and sets a very bad precedent. Traditional leaders deserve respect and the DC must be seen to lead in this. It is a shame,” said Daniel Ndowa, a community member who was backed by other subjects.
Makanga said it was not his deliberate move to miss the burial of the chief. The DC’s wreath was laid by a community member.
WHO joins fight against Liver blindness
Malawi has bemoaned the continued prevalence of Liver blindness, some 19 years after efforts against a condition that affects rural communities.
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness.
Malawi has intensified the search for gold and diamond in a latest bid to prop up its agro-based economy.
The country depends largely on agriculture, which contributes over 60 per cent to the national economy. But tobacco, its highest foreign exchange earner faces an uncertain future in the face of a global onslaught against the health hazards associated with smoking.
Price instability for other strategic crops such as cotton, tea and maize have also meant diminished returns for impoverished farmers, prompting government to experiment with new viable forms of economic spinning.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the country’s Geological Surveys Department, said mineral exploration offered the next best alternative for Malawi.
“Mineral exploration can contribute significantly towards economic development for Malawi. That is why we have intensified the search for gold and diamond. There are strong possibilities that we have these precious minerals in the country, and what was remaining has been exploration,” said Kalindekafe.
He said the department has started drilling for diamond and gold, a process he said would take as long as six to one year to bring results.
“We have started exploration works for diamond in Mangochi. So far, we have extracted some substantial amount of Kimberlitic stones. These are the stones that contain diamond, though it is not always the case that you will get the diamond,” he said.
While drilling works for diamond have already started in the Southern Malawi district of Mangochi, exploration works for gold have also started in Neno district, another Southern region district.
The works are taking place at a former blitz mine.
Malawi has a variety of mineral resources. Some of which include bauxite and uranium.
Uranium mining has already started at Kayerekera in the Northern Malawi district of Karonga. Paladin Africa, an Australian company carrying out the works, announced last month uranium exportation would start between September and October this year.
Grain Malunga, Malawi’s Energy and Mines Minister, is thrilled with the prospects of Malawi becoming a uranium exporter.
“It is such a great thing to happen to Malawi. We will be making an average US$10 million from uranium exportation every year,” said Malunga.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has called for more investments in the country’s mining sector.
EU hands over hospital wards
The European Union Micro-projects programme has donated two hospital wards to Chonde Health Centre in Mulanje district.
Mulanje, a district in Southern Malawi, is one of the country’s highly populated areas. However, access to medical facilities remains one of the biggest challenges as infrastructural inadequacies and a lope-sized doctor-to-patient ratio conspire to make life too expensive for community members, most of whom live below US$1 a day.
Isaac Munro, National Coordinator for EU Micro-projects Programme, asked community members to take good care of the infrastructure.
He said vandalism of donated property discouraged other well-wishers, a development that meant increased deaths from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
The facilities are worth K23 million.
We are happy to contribute towards Malawi’s health system. Improving access to health will play a great role in helping developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals,” said Munro.
Health is one of the priority areas in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, the current development blue print for Malawi.
The EU Micro-projects Programme started working in Malawi in 1995, and has gone through four phases highlighting various areas of development priorities.
The Fifth phase starts next year.
Member of Parliament for the area, Education Minister George Chaponda, hailed the EU for contributing towards the country’s social-economic development.
“The good thing about EU Micro-projects Programme is that it does not force initiatives on people; it involves them in all processes, from project design to implementation,” said Chaponda.
Bushfires threaten govt. plantations
Ridiculous. A worker at Raiply Plantations in Northern Malawi is not happy with the way his boss nagged him for making some careless mistake; he wears the robe of darkness and goes on rampage, setting part of the plantation ablaze!
Another plantation worker quarrels with another over food at lunch- the other worker has eaten more than his fair portion of collective lunch, and things go asunder. The offended party sets part of the plantation ablaze as part of his anger-healing process.
It is Monday, September 28, 2009. Pay day.
The bosses delay payment by one more day and the workers, incensed, raze part of the plantation.
Anyone sacked from the plantation is sure to vent their anger on the plantation as well, and that has always been the striking fate of Vipya Plantations, government tree plantations concessioned to privately-owned Raiply.
Just last year, 300 hectares of forest went up in flames under similar circumstances, and this has angered Raiply Chief Executive Officer Thomas Comen.
“The cost for such behaviour is huge. These bushfires are destroying a lot of biological diversity in the plantation, apart from causing huge losses of money because we cannot sell trees that have been badly burnt for timber purposes,” said Comen.
Comen said cases of burning plantations were becoming common place, largely perpetuated by the angry employee, sacked worker, disgruntled community member, clueless hunter, and cigarette smoker.
“The situation is really bad. It takes 30 years a raise a tree, but only uncontrollable anger to go back to square-one. Why destroy something that has taken up more resources in a single sweep of anger, frustrating the country’s economic prospects?” he queried.
Comen said, however, Raiply was doing it can to bring sanity where anger reigns, and has established new grievous handling mechanisms to bring sanity home.
“We want everyone to report their grievances. This way, we will be able to resolve all grievances amicably, and in a way that does not bring destruction to the forests and losses to the company. Communities must own up to the fact that the plantations, in a way, belong to them. They will bear the brunt of climatic changes arising from distortions in weather patterns emanating from the effects of destroying the plantations,” said Comen.
Daulosi Mauambeta, Executive Director for the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm), blames community ignorance for the trend. He said most community members were still unaware of the effects of destroying natural resources even in face of tangible climatic changes taking place around us.
“People even think that climatic change is a Western phenomenon that has nothing to do with us. The truth is that the changes are here with us, and may not be reversed should we continue with our old ways. We need to change people’s attitudes,” said Mauambeta.
Traditional Authority Karonga, one of the prominent chiefs in Northern Malawi, where Vipya is located, has vowed to mete out strong punishments to people who cause bush fires and destroy the environment willy-nilly.
“These resources are not for us but our children. Anyone who punishes an unborn child will surely be punished heavily. Setting Vipya ablaze is like killing the unborn child and I will not tolerate that,” said Karonga.
Government has for the past two years increased budgetary allocations to natural resources and environmental management, raising hopes that, perhaps, what remains of Malawi’s environment and natural resources may not be lost forever.
Malawi for improved housing infrastructure
Government has unveiled a new ambitious housing initiative that encourages development of up storey buildings.
The country has for a long time depended on non-storey buildings, a development Housing Minister Peter Mwanza says has contributed to the general lack of space in urban areas.
“This is especially true for civil servants houses and buildings. You will find that most of them are small but take up a lot of space. We want to change this,” said Mwanza.
The new initiative has started with the construction of 200 houses apiece for Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service officers in Lilongwe.
Security officials are one of government’s workers who lack up market housing infrastructure.
Former president Bakili Muluzi used to make fun of their houses, saying he could not understand how an officer with 10 children could manage to house all of them in a one-bed roomed house.
Muluzi could also joke that an officer would sleep with his head and chest in the bedroom, and the legs on the dining room- which also acted as the bedroom for kids and visitors.
“When visitors from the village come, all ‘bedroom work’ (sex) stops until they go back”, Muluzi used to say, to the uproar of United Democratic Front supporters.
Government seems to be building reality from those jokes, as evidenced by its new initiative in Lilongwe- something Mwanza said would change the housing face of Malawi and usher in a new era of respect and dignity for the country’s civil servants.
Blantyre DC shuns chief’s funeral
Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga is under fire for shunning the burial ceremony of Village Headman Evance Makata.
Makata, 55, died of Diabetes last week, but his burial this week was marred by the prominent absence of Blantyre DC Makata, angering communities from Ndirande.
Traditional leaders fall under the Ministry of Local Government, which, at district level, is headed by the DC.
Makata also failed to send a representative at a funeral service attended by Ndirande Malabada Member of Parliament and Defense Minister Aaron Sangala.
“What the DC has done is very bad and sets a very bad precedent. Traditional leaders deserve respect and the DC must be seen to lead in this. It is a shame,” said Daniel Ndowa, a community member who was backed by other subjects.
Makanga said it was not his deliberate move to miss the burial of the chief. The DC’s wreath was laid by a community member.
WHO joins fight against Liver blindness
Malawi has bemoaned the continued prevalence of Liver blindness, some 19 years after efforts against a condition that affects rural communities.
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness.
Achirombo On Wednesday
Malawi intensifies search for gold, diamond
Malawi has intensified the search for gold and diamond in a latest bid to prop up its agro-based economy.
The country depends largely on agriculture, which contributes over 60 per cent to the national economy. But tobacco, its highest foreign exchange earner faces an uncertain future in the face of a global onslaught against the health hazards associated with smoking.
Price instability for other strategic crops such as cotton, tea and maize have also meant diminished returns for impoverished farmers, prompting government to experiment with new viable forms of economic spinning.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the country’s Geological Surveys Department, said mineral exploration offered the next best alternative for Malawi.
“Mineral exploration can contribute significantly towards economic development for Malawi. That is why we have intensified the search for gold and diamond. There are strong possibilities that we have these precious minerals in the country, and what was remaining has been exploration,” said Kalindekafe.
He said the department has started drilling for diamond and gold, a process he said would take as long as six to one year to bring results.
“We have started exploration works for diamond in Mangochi. So far, we have extracted some substantial amount of Kimberlitic stones. These are the stones that contain diamond, though it is not always the case that you will get the diamond,” he said.
While drilling works for diamond have already started in the Southern Malawi district of Mangochi, exploration works for gold have also started in Neno district, another Southern region district.
The works are taking place at a former blitz mine.
Malawi has a variety of mineral resources. Some of which include bauxite and uranium.
Uranium mining has already started at Kayerekera in the Northern Malawi district of Karonga. Paladin Africa, an Australian company carrying out the works, announced last month uranium exportation would start between September and October this year.
Grain Malunga, Malawi’s Energy and Mines Minister, is thrilled with the prospects of Malawi becoming a uranium exporter.
“It is such a great thing to happen to Malawi. We will be making an average US$10 million from uranium exportation every year,” said Malunga.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has called for more investments in the country’s mining sector.
EU hands over hospital wards
The European Union Micro-projects programme has donated two hospital wards to Chonde Health Centre in Mulanje district.
Mulanje, a district in Southern Malawi, is one of the country’s highly populated areas. However, access to medical facilities remains one of the biggest challenges as infrastructural inadequacies and a lope-sized doctor-to-patient ratio conspire to make life too expensive for community members, most of whom live below US$1 a day.
Isaac Munro, National Coordinator for EU Micro-projects Programme, asked community members to take good care of the infrastructure.
He said vandalism of donated property discouraged other well-wishers, a development that meant increased deaths from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
The facilities are worth K23 million.
We are happy to contribute towards Malawi’s health system. Improving access to health will play a great role in helping developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals,” said Munro.
Health is one of the priority areas in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, the current development blue print for Malawi.
The EU Micro-projects Programme started working in Malawi in 1995, and has gone through four phases highlighting various areas of development priorities.
The Fifth phase starts next year.
Member of Parliament for the area, Education Minister George Chaponda, hailed the EU for contributing towards the country’s social-economic development.
“The good thing about EU Micro-projects Programme is that it does not force initiatives on people; it involves them in all processes, from project design to implementation,” said Chaponda.
Bushfires threaten govt. plantations
Ridiculous. A worker at Raiply Plantations in Northern Malawi is not happy with the way his boss nagged him for making some careless mistake; he wears the robe of darkness and goes on rampage, setting part of the plantation ablaze!
Another plantation worker quarrels with another over food at lunch- the other worker has eaten more than his fair portion of collective lunch, and things go asunder. The offended party sets part of the plantation ablaze as part of his anger-healing process.
It is Monday, September 28, 2009. Pay day.
The bosses delay payment by one more day and the workers, incensed, raze part of the plantation.
Anyone sacked from the plantation is sure to vent their anger on the plantation as well, and that has always been the striking fate of Vipya Plantations, government tree plantations concessioned to privately-owned Raiply.
Just last year, 300 hectares of forest went up in flames under similar circumstances, and this has angered Raiply Chief Executive Officer Thomas Comen.
“The cost for such behaviour is huge. These bushfires are destroying a lot of biological diversity in the plantation, apart from causing huge losses of money because we cannot sell trees that have been badly burnt for timber purposes,” said Comen.
Comen said cases of burning plantations were becoming common place, largely perpetuated by the angry employee, sacked worker, disgruntled community member, clueless hunter, and cigarette smoker.
“The situation is really bad. It takes 30 years a raise a tree, but only uncontrollable anger to go back to square-one. Why destroy something that has taken up more resources in a single sweep of anger, frustrating the country’s economic prospects?” he queried.
Comen said, however, Raiply was doing it can to bring sanity where anger reigns, and has established new grievous handling mechanisms to bring sanity home.
“We want everyone to report their grievances. This way, we will be able to resolve all grievances amicably, and in a way that does not bring destruction to the forests and losses to the company. Communities must own up to the fact that the plantations, in a way, belong to them. They will bear the brunt of climatic changes arising from distortions in weather patterns emanating from the effects of destroying the plantations,” said Comen.
Daulosi Mauambeta, Executive Director for the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm), blames community ignorance for the trend. He said most community members were still unaware of the effects of destroying natural resources even in face of tangible climatic changes taking place around us.
“People even think that climatic change is a Western phenomenon that has nothing to do with us. The truth is that the changes are here with us, and may not be reversed should we continue with our old ways. We need to change people’s attitudes,” said Mauambeta.
Traditional Authority Karonga, one of the prominent chiefs in Northern Malawi, where Vipya is located, has vowed to mete out strong punishments to people who cause bush fires and destroy the environment willy-nilly.
“These resources are not for us but our children. Anyone who punishes an unborn child will surely be punished heavily. Setting Vipya ablaze is like killing the unborn child and I will not tolerate that,” said Karonga.
Government has for the past two years increased budgetary allocations to natural resources and environmental management, raising hopes that, perhaps, what remains of Malawi’s environment and natural resources may not be lost forever.
Malawi for improved housing infrastructure
Government has unveiled a new ambitious housing initiative that encourages development of up storey buildings.
The country has for a long time depended on non-storey buildings, a development Housing Minister Peter Mwanza says has contributed to the general lack of space in urban areas.
“This is especially true for civil servants houses and buildings. You will find that most of them are small but take up a lot of space. We want to change this,” said Mwanza.
The new initiative has started with the construction of 200 houses apiece for Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service officers in Lilongwe.
Security officials are one of government’s workers who lack up market housing infrastructure.
Former president Bakili Muluzi used to make fun of their houses, saying he could not understand how an officer with 10 children could manage to house all of them in a one-bed roomed house.
Muluzi could also joke that an officer would sleep with his head and chest in the bedroom, and the legs on the dining room- which also acted as the bedroom for kids and visitors.
“When visitors from the village come, all ‘bedroom work’ (sex) stops until they go back”, Muluzi used to say, to the uproar of United Democratic Front supporters.
Government seems to be building reality from those jokes, as evidenced by its new initiative in Lilongwe- something Mwanza said would change the housing face of Malawi and usher in a new era of respect and dignity for the country’s civil servants.
Blantyre DC shuns chief’s funeral
Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga is under fire for shunning the burial ceremony of Village Headman Evance Makata.
Makata, 55, died of Diabetes last week, but his burial this week was marred by the prominent absence of Blantyre DC Makata, angering communities from Ndirande.
Traditional leaders fall under the Ministry of Local Government, which, at district level, is headed by the DC.
Makata also failed to send a representative at a funeral service attended by Ndirande Malabada Member of Parliament and Defense Minister Aaron Sangala.
“What the DC has done is very bad and sets a very bad precedent. Traditional leaders deserve respect and the DC must be seen to lead in this. It is a shame,” said Daniel Ndowa, a community member who was backed by other subjects.
Makanga said it was not his deliberate move to miss the burial of the chief. The DC’s wreath was laid by a community member.
WHO joins fight against Liver blindness
Malawi has bemoaned the continued prevalence of Liver blindness, some 19 years after efforts against a condition that affects rural communities.
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness.
Malawi has intensified the search for gold and diamond in a latest bid to prop up its agro-based economy.
The country depends largely on agriculture, which contributes over 60 per cent to the national economy. But tobacco, its highest foreign exchange earner faces an uncertain future in the face of a global onslaught against the health hazards associated with smoking.
Price instability for other strategic crops such as cotton, tea and maize have also meant diminished returns for impoverished farmers, prompting government to experiment with new viable forms of economic spinning.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the country’s Geological Surveys Department, said mineral exploration offered the next best alternative for Malawi.
“Mineral exploration can contribute significantly towards economic development for Malawi. That is why we have intensified the search for gold and diamond. There are strong possibilities that we have these precious minerals in the country, and what was remaining has been exploration,” said Kalindekafe.
He said the department has started drilling for diamond and gold, a process he said would take as long as six to one year to bring results.
“We have started exploration works for diamond in Mangochi. So far, we have extracted some substantial amount of Kimberlitic stones. These are the stones that contain diamond, though it is not always the case that you will get the diamond,” he said.
While drilling works for diamond have already started in the Southern Malawi district of Mangochi, exploration works for gold have also started in Neno district, another Southern region district.
The works are taking place at a former blitz mine.
Malawi has a variety of mineral resources. Some of which include bauxite and uranium.
Uranium mining has already started at Kayerekera in the Northern Malawi district of Karonga. Paladin Africa, an Australian company carrying out the works, announced last month uranium exportation would start between September and October this year.
Grain Malunga, Malawi’s Energy and Mines Minister, is thrilled with the prospects of Malawi becoming a uranium exporter.
“It is such a great thing to happen to Malawi. We will be making an average US$10 million from uranium exportation every year,” said Malunga.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has called for more investments in the country’s mining sector.
EU hands over hospital wards
The European Union Micro-projects programme has donated two hospital wards to Chonde Health Centre in Mulanje district.
Mulanje, a district in Southern Malawi, is one of the country’s highly populated areas. However, access to medical facilities remains one of the biggest challenges as infrastructural inadequacies and a lope-sized doctor-to-patient ratio conspire to make life too expensive for community members, most of whom live below US$1 a day.
Isaac Munro, National Coordinator for EU Micro-projects Programme, asked community members to take good care of the infrastructure.
He said vandalism of donated property discouraged other well-wishers, a development that meant increased deaths from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
The facilities are worth K23 million.
We are happy to contribute towards Malawi’s health system. Improving access to health will play a great role in helping developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals,” said Munro.
Health is one of the priority areas in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, the current development blue print for Malawi.
The EU Micro-projects Programme started working in Malawi in 1995, and has gone through four phases highlighting various areas of development priorities.
The Fifth phase starts next year.
Member of Parliament for the area, Education Minister George Chaponda, hailed the EU for contributing towards the country’s social-economic development.
“The good thing about EU Micro-projects Programme is that it does not force initiatives on people; it involves them in all processes, from project design to implementation,” said Chaponda.
Bushfires threaten govt. plantations
Ridiculous. A worker at Raiply Plantations in Northern Malawi is not happy with the way his boss nagged him for making some careless mistake; he wears the robe of darkness and goes on rampage, setting part of the plantation ablaze!
Another plantation worker quarrels with another over food at lunch- the other worker has eaten more than his fair portion of collective lunch, and things go asunder. The offended party sets part of the plantation ablaze as part of his anger-healing process.
It is Monday, September 28, 2009. Pay day.
The bosses delay payment by one more day and the workers, incensed, raze part of the plantation.
Anyone sacked from the plantation is sure to vent their anger on the plantation as well, and that has always been the striking fate of Vipya Plantations, government tree plantations concessioned to privately-owned Raiply.
Just last year, 300 hectares of forest went up in flames under similar circumstances, and this has angered Raiply Chief Executive Officer Thomas Comen.
“The cost for such behaviour is huge. These bushfires are destroying a lot of biological diversity in the plantation, apart from causing huge losses of money because we cannot sell trees that have been badly burnt for timber purposes,” said Comen.
Comen said cases of burning plantations were becoming common place, largely perpetuated by the angry employee, sacked worker, disgruntled community member, clueless hunter, and cigarette smoker.
“The situation is really bad. It takes 30 years a raise a tree, but only uncontrollable anger to go back to square-one. Why destroy something that has taken up more resources in a single sweep of anger, frustrating the country’s economic prospects?” he queried.
Comen said, however, Raiply was doing it can to bring sanity where anger reigns, and has established new grievous handling mechanisms to bring sanity home.
“We want everyone to report their grievances. This way, we will be able to resolve all grievances amicably, and in a way that does not bring destruction to the forests and losses to the company. Communities must own up to the fact that the plantations, in a way, belong to them. They will bear the brunt of climatic changes arising from distortions in weather patterns emanating from the effects of destroying the plantations,” said Comen.
Daulosi Mauambeta, Executive Director for the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm), blames community ignorance for the trend. He said most community members were still unaware of the effects of destroying natural resources even in face of tangible climatic changes taking place around us.
“People even think that climatic change is a Western phenomenon that has nothing to do with us. The truth is that the changes are here with us, and may not be reversed should we continue with our old ways. We need to change people’s attitudes,” said Mauambeta.
Traditional Authority Karonga, one of the prominent chiefs in Northern Malawi, where Vipya is located, has vowed to mete out strong punishments to people who cause bush fires and destroy the environment willy-nilly.
“These resources are not for us but our children. Anyone who punishes an unborn child will surely be punished heavily. Setting Vipya ablaze is like killing the unborn child and I will not tolerate that,” said Karonga.
Government has for the past two years increased budgetary allocations to natural resources and environmental management, raising hopes that, perhaps, what remains of Malawi’s environment and natural resources may not be lost forever.
Malawi for improved housing infrastructure
Government has unveiled a new ambitious housing initiative that encourages development of up storey buildings.
The country has for a long time depended on non-storey buildings, a development Housing Minister Peter Mwanza says has contributed to the general lack of space in urban areas.
“This is especially true for civil servants houses and buildings. You will find that most of them are small but take up a lot of space. We want to change this,” said Mwanza.
The new initiative has started with the construction of 200 houses apiece for Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service officers in Lilongwe.
Security officials are one of government’s workers who lack up market housing infrastructure.
Former president Bakili Muluzi used to make fun of their houses, saying he could not understand how an officer with 10 children could manage to house all of them in a one-bed roomed house.
Muluzi could also joke that an officer would sleep with his head and chest in the bedroom, and the legs on the dining room- which also acted as the bedroom for kids and visitors.
“When visitors from the village come, all ‘bedroom work’ (sex) stops until they go back”, Muluzi used to say, to the uproar of United Democratic Front supporters.
Government seems to be building reality from those jokes, as evidenced by its new initiative in Lilongwe- something Mwanza said would change the housing face of Malawi and usher in a new era of respect and dignity for the country’s civil servants.
Blantyre DC shuns chief’s funeral
Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga is under fire for shunning the burial ceremony of Village Headman Evance Makata.
Makata, 55, died of Diabetes last week, but his burial this week was marred by the prominent absence of Blantyre DC Makata, angering communities from Ndirande.
Traditional leaders fall under the Ministry of Local Government, which, at district level, is headed by the DC.
Makata also failed to send a representative at a funeral service attended by Ndirande Malabada Member of Parliament and Defense Minister Aaron Sangala.
“What the DC has done is very bad and sets a very bad precedent. Traditional leaders deserve respect and the DC must be seen to lead in this. It is a shame,” said Daniel Ndowa, a community member who was backed by other subjects.
Makanga said it was not his deliberate move to miss the burial of the chief. The DC’s wreath was laid by a community member.
WHO joins fight against Liver blindness
Malawi has bemoaned the continued prevalence of Liver blindness, some 19 years after efforts against a condition that affects rural communities.
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness.
WHO joins fight against Liver blindness
Malawi has bemoaned the continued prevalence of Liver blindness, some 19 years after efforts against a condition that affects rural communities.
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness
Blantyre DC shuns chief’s funeral
Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga is under fire for shunning the burial ceremony of Village Headman Evance Makata.
Makata, 55, died of Diabetes last week, but his burial this week was marred by the prominent absence of Blantyre DC Makata, angering communities from Ndirande.
Traditional leaders fall under the Ministry of Local Government, which, at district level, is headed by the DC.
Makata also failed to send a representative at a funeral service attended by Ndirande Malabada Member of Parliament and Defense Minister Aaron Sangala.
“What the DC has done is very bad and sets a very bad precedent. Traditional leaders deserve respect and the DC must be seen to lead in this. It is a shame,” said Daniel Ndowa, a community member who was backed by other subjects.
Makanga said it was not his deliberate move to miss the burial of the chief. The DC’s wreath was laid by a community member.
Makata, 55, died of Diabetes last week, but his burial this week was marred by the prominent absence of Blantyre DC Makata, angering communities from Ndirande.
Traditional leaders fall under the Ministry of Local Government, which, at district level, is headed by the DC.
Makata also failed to send a representative at a funeral service attended by Ndirande Malabada Member of Parliament and Defense Minister Aaron Sangala.
“What the DC has done is very bad and sets a very bad precedent. Traditional leaders deserve respect and the DC must be seen to lead in this. It is a shame,” said Daniel Ndowa, a community member who was backed by other subjects.
Makanga said it was not his deliberate move to miss the burial of the chief. The DC’s wreath was laid by a community member.
Malawi for improved housing infrastructure
Government has unveiled a new ambitious housing initiative that encourages development of up storey buildings.
The country has for a long time depended on non-storey buildings, a development Housing Minister Peter Mwanza says has contributed to the general lack of space in urban areas.
“This is especially true for civil servants houses and buildings. You will find that most of them are small but take up a lot of space. We want to change this,” said Mwanza.
The new initiative has started with the construction of 200 houses apiece for Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service officers in Lilongwe.
Security officials are one of government’s workers who lack up market housing infrastructure.
Former president Bakili Muluzi used to make fun of their houses, saying he could not understand how an officer with 10 children could manage to house all of them in a one-bed roomed house.
Muluzi could also joke that an officer would sleep with his head and chest in the bedroom, and the legs on the dining room- which also acted as the bedroom for kids and visitors.
“When visitors from the village come, all ‘bedroom work’ (sex) stops until they go back”, Muluzi used to say, to the uproar of United Democratic Front supporters.
Government seems to be building reality from those jokes, as evidenced by its new initiative in Lilongwe- something Mwanza said would change the housing face of Malawi and usher in a new era of respect and dignity for the country’s civil servants.
The country has for a long time depended on non-storey buildings, a development Housing Minister Peter Mwanza says has contributed to the general lack of space in urban areas.
“This is especially true for civil servants houses and buildings. You will find that most of them are small but take up a lot of space. We want to change this,” said Mwanza.
The new initiative has started with the construction of 200 houses apiece for Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service officers in Lilongwe.
Security officials are one of government’s workers who lack up market housing infrastructure.
Former president Bakili Muluzi used to make fun of their houses, saying he could not understand how an officer with 10 children could manage to house all of them in a one-bed roomed house.
Muluzi could also joke that an officer would sleep with his head and chest in the bedroom, and the legs on the dining room- which also acted as the bedroom for kids and visitors.
“When visitors from the village come, all ‘bedroom work’ (sex) stops until they go back”, Muluzi used to say, to the uproar of United Democratic Front supporters.
Government seems to be building reality from those jokes, as evidenced by its new initiative in Lilongwe- something Mwanza said would change the housing face of Malawi and usher in a new era of respect and dignity for the country’s civil servants.
Bushfires threaten govt. plantations
Ridiculous. A worker at Raiply Plantations in Northern Malawi is not happy with the way his boss nagged him for making some careless mistake; he wears the robe of darkness and goes on rampage, setting part of the plantation ablaze!
Another plantation worker quarrels with another over food at lunch- the other worker has eaten more than his fair portion of collective lunch, and things go asunder. The offended party sets part of the plantation ablaze as part of his anger-healing process.
It is Monday, September 28, 2009. Pay day.
The bosses delay payment by one more day and the workers, incensed, raze part of the plantation.
Anyone sacked from the plantation is sure to vent their anger on the plantation as well, and that has always been the striking fate of Vipya Plantations, government tree plantations concessioned to privately-owned Raiply.
Just last year, 300 hectares of forest went up in flames under similar circumstances, and this has angered Raiply Chief Executive Officer Thomas Comen.
“The cost for such behaviour is huge. These bushfires are destroying a lot of biological diversity in the plantation, apart from causing huge losses of money because we cannot sell trees that have been badly burnt for timber purposes,” said Comen.
Comen said cases of burning plantations were becoming common place, largely perpetuated by the angry employee, sacked worker, disgruntled community member, clueless hunter, and cigarette smoker.
“The situation is really bad. It takes 30 years a raise a tree, but only uncontrollable anger to go back to square-one. Why destroy something that has taken up more resources in a single sweep of anger, frustrating the country’s economic prospects?” he queried.
Comen said, however, Raiply was doing it can to bring sanity where anger reigns, and has established new grievous handling mechanisms to bring sanity home.
“We want everyone to report their grievances. This way, we will be able to resolve all grievances amicably, and in a way that does not bring destruction to the forests and losses to the company. Communities must own up to the fact that the plantations, in a way, belong to them. They will bear the brunt of climatic changes arising from distortions in weather patterns emanating from the effects of destroying the plantations,” said Comen.
Daulosi Mauambeta, Executive Director for the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm), blames community ignorance for the trend. He said most community members were still unaware of the effects of destroying natural resources even in face of tangible climatic changes taking place around us.
“People even think that climatic change is a Western phenomenon that has nothing to do with us. The truth is that the changes are here with us, and may not be reversed should we continue with our old ways. We need to change people’s attitudes,” said Mauambeta.
Traditional Authority Karonga, one of the prominent chiefs in Northern Malawi, where Vipya is located, has vowed to mete out strong punishments to people who cause bush fires and destroy the environment willy-nilly.
“These resources are not for us but our children. Anyone who punishes an unborn child will surely be punished heavily. Setting Vipya ablaze is like killing the unborn child and I will not tolerate that,” said Karonga.
Government has for the past two years increased budgetary allocations to natural resources and environmental management, raising hopes that, perhaps, what remains of Malawi’s environment and natural resources may not be lost forever.
Another plantation worker quarrels with another over food at lunch- the other worker has eaten more than his fair portion of collective lunch, and things go asunder. The offended party sets part of the plantation ablaze as part of his anger-healing process.
It is Monday, September 28, 2009. Pay day.
The bosses delay payment by one more day and the workers, incensed, raze part of the plantation.
Anyone sacked from the plantation is sure to vent their anger on the plantation as well, and that has always been the striking fate of Vipya Plantations, government tree plantations concessioned to privately-owned Raiply.
Just last year, 300 hectares of forest went up in flames under similar circumstances, and this has angered Raiply Chief Executive Officer Thomas Comen.
“The cost for such behaviour is huge. These bushfires are destroying a lot of biological diversity in the plantation, apart from causing huge losses of money because we cannot sell trees that have been badly burnt for timber purposes,” said Comen.
Comen said cases of burning plantations were becoming common place, largely perpetuated by the angry employee, sacked worker, disgruntled community member, clueless hunter, and cigarette smoker.
“The situation is really bad. It takes 30 years a raise a tree, but only uncontrollable anger to go back to square-one. Why destroy something that has taken up more resources in a single sweep of anger, frustrating the country’s economic prospects?” he queried.
Comen said, however, Raiply was doing it can to bring sanity where anger reigns, and has established new grievous handling mechanisms to bring sanity home.
“We want everyone to report their grievances. This way, we will be able to resolve all grievances amicably, and in a way that does not bring destruction to the forests and losses to the company. Communities must own up to the fact that the plantations, in a way, belong to them. They will bear the brunt of climatic changes arising from distortions in weather patterns emanating from the effects of destroying the plantations,” said Comen.
Daulosi Mauambeta, Executive Director for the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm), blames community ignorance for the trend. He said most community members were still unaware of the effects of destroying natural resources even in face of tangible climatic changes taking place around us.
“People even think that climatic change is a Western phenomenon that has nothing to do with us. The truth is that the changes are here with us, and may not be reversed should we continue with our old ways. We need to change people’s attitudes,” said Mauambeta.
Traditional Authority Karonga, one of the prominent chiefs in Northern Malawi, where Vipya is located, has vowed to mete out strong punishments to people who cause bush fires and destroy the environment willy-nilly.
“These resources are not for us but our children. Anyone who punishes an unborn child will surely be punished heavily. Setting Vipya ablaze is like killing the unborn child and I will not tolerate that,” said Karonga.
Government has for the past two years increased budgetary allocations to natural resources and environmental management, raising hopes that, perhaps, what remains of Malawi’s environment and natural resources may not be lost forever.
EU hands over hospital wards
The European Union Micro-projects programme has donated two hospital wards to Chonde Health Centre in Mulanje district.
Mulanje, a district in Southern Malawi, is one of the country’s highly populated areas. However, access to medical facilities remains one of the biggest challenges as infrastructural inadequacies and a lope-sized doctor-to-patient ratio conspire to make life too expensive for community members, most of whom live below US$1 a day.
Isaac Munro, National Coordinator for EU Micro-projects Programme, asked community members to take good care of the infrastructure.
He said vandalism of donated property discouraged other well-wishers, a development that meant increased deaths from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
The facilities are worth K23 million.
We are happy to contribute towards Malawi’s health system. Improving access to health will play a great role in helping developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals,” said Munro.
Health is one of the priority areas in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, the current development blue print for Malawi.
The EU Micro-projects Programme started working in Malawi in 1995, and has gone through four phases highlighting various areas of development priorities.
The Fifth phase starts next year.
Member of Parliament for the area, Education Minister George Chaponda, hailed the EU for contributing towards the country’s social-economic development.
“The good thing about EU Micro-projects Programme is that it does not force initiatives on people; it involves them in all processes, from project design to implementation,” said Chaponda.
Mulanje, a district in Southern Malawi, is one of the country’s highly populated areas. However, access to medical facilities remains one of the biggest challenges as infrastructural inadequacies and a lope-sized doctor-to-patient ratio conspire to make life too expensive for community members, most of whom live below US$1 a day.
Isaac Munro, National Coordinator for EU Micro-projects Programme, asked community members to take good care of the infrastructure.
He said vandalism of donated property discouraged other well-wishers, a development that meant increased deaths from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
The facilities are worth K23 million.
We are happy to contribute towards Malawi’s health system. Improving access to health will play a great role in helping developing countries meet the Millennium Development Goals,” said Munro.
Health is one of the priority areas in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, the current development blue print for Malawi.
The EU Micro-projects Programme started working in Malawi in 1995, and has gone through four phases highlighting various areas of development priorities.
The Fifth phase starts next year.
Member of Parliament for the area, Education Minister George Chaponda, hailed the EU for contributing towards the country’s social-economic development.
“The good thing about EU Micro-projects Programme is that it does not force initiatives on people; it involves them in all processes, from project design to implementation,” said Chaponda.
Malawi intensifies search for gold, diamond
Malawi has intensified the search for gold and diamond in a latest bid to prop up its agro-based economy.
The country depends largely on agriculture, which contributes over 60 per cent to the national economy. But tobacco, its highest foreign exchange earner faces an uncertain future in the face of a global onslaught against the health hazards associated with smoking.
Price instability for other strategic crops such as cotton, tea and maize have also meant diminished returns for impoverished farmers, prompting government to experiment with new viable forms of economic spinning.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the country’s Geological Surveys Department, said mineral exploration offered the next best alternative for Malawi.
“Mineral exploration can contribute significantly towards economic development for Malawi. That is why we have intensified the search for gold and diamond. There are strong possibilities that we have these precious minerals in the country, and what was remaining has been exploration,” said Kalindekafe.
He said the department has started drilling for diamond and gold, a process he said would take as long as six to one year to bring results.
“We have started exploration works for diamond in Mangochi. So far, we have extracted some substantial amount of Kimberlitic stones. These are the stones that contain diamond, though it is not always the case that you will get the diamond,” he said.
While drilling works for diamond have already started in the Southern Malawi district of Mangochi, exploration works for gold have also started in Neno district, another Southern region district.
The works are taking place at a former blitz mine.
Malawi has a variety of mineral resources. Some of which include bauxite and uranium.
Uranium mining has already started at Kayerekera in the Northern Malawi district of Karonga. Paladin Africa, an Australian company carrying out the works, announced last month uranium exportation would start between September and October this year.
Grain Malunga, Malawi’s Energy and Mines Minister, is thrilled with the prospects of Malawi becoming a uranium exporter.
“It is such a great thing to happen to Malawi. We will be making an average US$10 million from uranium exportation every year,” said Malunga.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has called for more investments in the country’s mining sector.
The country depends largely on agriculture, which contributes over 60 per cent to the national economy. But tobacco, its highest foreign exchange earner faces an uncertain future in the face of a global onslaught against the health hazards associated with smoking.
Price instability for other strategic crops such as cotton, tea and maize have also meant diminished returns for impoverished farmers, prompting government to experiment with new viable forms of economic spinning.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the country’s Geological Surveys Department, said mineral exploration offered the next best alternative for Malawi.
“Mineral exploration can contribute significantly towards economic development for Malawi. That is why we have intensified the search for gold and diamond. There are strong possibilities that we have these precious minerals in the country, and what was remaining has been exploration,” said Kalindekafe.
He said the department has started drilling for diamond and gold, a process he said would take as long as six to one year to bring results.
“We have started exploration works for diamond in Mangochi. So far, we have extracted some substantial amount of Kimberlitic stones. These are the stones that contain diamond, though it is not always the case that you will get the diamond,” he said.
While drilling works for diamond have already started in the Southern Malawi district of Mangochi, exploration works for gold have also started in Neno district, another Southern region district.
The works are taking place at a former blitz mine.
Malawi has a variety of mineral resources. Some of which include bauxite and uranium.
Uranium mining has already started at Kayerekera in the Northern Malawi district of Karonga. Paladin Africa, an Australian company carrying out the works, announced last month uranium exportation would start between September and October this year.
Grain Malunga, Malawi’s Energy and Mines Minister, is thrilled with the prospects of Malawi becoming a uranium exporter.
“It is such a great thing to happen to Malawi. We will be making an average US$10 million from uranium exportation every year,” said Malunga.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has called for more investments in the country’s mining sector.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Sun is Blue Here
And the wind is red.
The colour of hope is faith,
Anfd faith is pink.
Nothing like this,
You you dance to the breeze.
You may ask Liz,
To more more about this,
But I know, this is it.
No more tat for tit,
Or is it tit for tat.
I just know this is it.
If at all this bread we may eat.
I think it fits,
To achieve this feat,
Though long and strong the fleet,
On life's long flight.
The colour of hope is faith,
Anfd faith is pink.
Nothing like this,
You you dance to the breeze.
You may ask Liz,
To more more about this,
But I know, this is it.
No more tat for tit,
Or is it tit for tat.
I just know this is it.
If at all this bread we may eat.
I think it fits,
To achieve this feat,
Though long and strong the fleet,
On life's long flight.
Stigma still rampant against Malawi’s deaf
Malawi’s deaf population still suffers from rampant cases of stigma and discrimination, a trend largely perpetuated by employers who continue to shun the deaf even when best qualified for occupational positions.
This has forced the Malawi National Association for the Deaf (Manad) to intensify the campaign for the enactment of pro-disability friendly legislation, hoping for the better against a strong negative tide of stigma and discrimination.
Manad Executive Director, Juliana Likomba, said she was disappointed that despite increased public awareness campaigns about the rights of people with disabilities, specifically the deaf, cases of child rights abuses still went on unabated.
“It is a very sad situation for the deaf and people with other forms of disability at the moment. It is as if we are still the outcasts and we blame all this on delays to put in place disability-friendly legislation. We need disability issues to be incorporated in the Republican constitution,” said Likomba.
She said, without requisite legislation pertaining to people with various forms of mental and physical challenges, life would continue to be full of bumps and despair.
“We are very worried. The deaf are not being employed by private companies as well as government. They always find excuses to deny us our rights and freedoms. Life cannot go on like this,” said Likomba.
Malawi’s deaf population has not been sitting idle, waiting for the occasional help. They have taken the leading role helping others, according to Likomba.
Just last week, they have been to three major hospitals in Southern Malawi cleaning wards and yards and helping patients. They have also given out assorted items to those who have nobody to look up to, in one of the many attempts to shed off the helpless tag attacked to their being.
“We are able and capable. Only that Malawians often let us down. The good thing is that we are willing to fight for ourselves and children,” she said.
Minister responsible for the Elderly and People with Disabilities, Reen Kachere, has vowed to do all she can to bail the deaf out of their current quagmire.
“Government is committed to putting in place requisite legislation aimed at making the lives of people who are deaf, or have other forms of disability, smooth. Life is supposed to be fair for everybody, though people have sometimes tried to make it unbearable for others. We care,” said Kachere.
Malawi currently has no pro-disability legislation, leaving the fate of the disabled at the mercy of human devices. Some government offices also lack disability friendly structures.
A disability policy formulated in as many as ten years ago now gathers dust at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, angering the Federation for Disability Organizations in Malawi.
Malawi will Saturday this week have a commemoration day for the deaf, an event organized by Manad.
This has forced the Malawi National Association for the Deaf (Manad) to intensify the campaign for the enactment of pro-disability friendly legislation, hoping for the better against a strong negative tide of stigma and discrimination.
Manad Executive Director, Juliana Likomba, said she was disappointed that despite increased public awareness campaigns about the rights of people with disabilities, specifically the deaf, cases of child rights abuses still went on unabated.
“It is a very sad situation for the deaf and people with other forms of disability at the moment. It is as if we are still the outcasts and we blame all this on delays to put in place disability-friendly legislation. We need disability issues to be incorporated in the Republican constitution,” said Likomba.
She said, without requisite legislation pertaining to people with various forms of mental and physical challenges, life would continue to be full of bumps and despair.
“We are very worried. The deaf are not being employed by private companies as well as government. They always find excuses to deny us our rights and freedoms. Life cannot go on like this,” said Likomba.
Malawi’s deaf population has not been sitting idle, waiting for the occasional help. They have taken the leading role helping others, according to Likomba.
Just last week, they have been to three major hospitals in Southern Malawi cleaning wards and yards and helping patients. They have also given out assorted items to those who have nobody to look up to, in one of the many attempts to shed off the helpless tag attacked to their being.
“We are able and capable. Only that Malawians often let us down. The good thing is that we are willing to fight for ourselves and children,” she said.
Minister responsible for the Elderly and People with Disabilities, Reen Kachere, has vowed to do all she can to bail the deaf out of their current quagmire.
“Government is committed to putting in place requisite legislation aimed at making the lives of people who are deaf, or have other forms of disability, smooth. Life is supposed to be fair for everybody, though people have sometimes tried to make it unbearable for others. We care,” said Kachere.
Malawi currently has no pro-disability legislation, leaving the fate of the disabled at the mercy of human devices. Some government offices also lack disability friendly structures.
A disability policy formulated in as many as ten years ago now gathers dust at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, angering the Federation for Disability Organizations in Malawi.
Malawi will Saturday this week have a commemoration day for the deaf, an event organized by Manad.
13-year old Mswati inherits Ngoni chieftainship
Malawi has a 13-year old chief.
Willard Mswati Gomani, a Form Two student at Milanda Secondary School, has been named the next Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani following the death of his father, Kanjedza Alexander, who died last week at Ntcheu District Hospital.
He has held the position for less than 15 months, after being installed Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani 1V in June, 2008.
Willard Mswati Gomani, the first born to the late Inkosi, was installed Inkosi ya Makosi at a Ngoni ceremony held in Ntcheu. He becomes Inkosi ya Makosi V.
However, little Mswati will have to wait a little longer to sit on the royal throne as he will have to finish his education.
The new chief’s god father is King Mswati of Swaziland, who gave him the name Mswati.
Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani is a paramount chief for the Ngoni people, mostly found in Ntcheu district of Southern Malawi.
The Ngoni people originated from South Africa, and were forced, during the late 1800s, to spread across many parts of Southern Africa owing to the perceived cruelty of Tchaka Zulu, their paramount chief in South Africa.
Willard Mswati Gomani, a Form Two student at Milanda Secondary School, has been named the next Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani following the death of his father, Kanjedza Alexander, who died last week at Ntcheu District Hospital.
He has held the position for less than 15 months, after being installed Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani 1V in June, 2008.
Willard Mswati Gomani, the first born to the late Inkosi, was installed Inkosi ya Makosi at a Ngoni ceremony held in Ntcheu. He becomes Inkosi ya Makosi V.
However, little Mswati will have to wait a little longer to sit on the royal throne as he will have to finish his education.
The new chief’s god father is King Mswati of Swaziland, who gave him the name Mswati.
Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani is a paramount chief for the Ngoni people, mostly found in Ntcheu district of Southern Malawi.
The Ngoni people originated from South Africa, and were forced, during the late 1800s, to spread across many parts of Southern Africa owing to the perceived cruelty of Tchaka Zulu, their paramount chief in South Africa.
Malawi leader earmarked for AU chairmanship
President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi could as well become the next African Union (AU) chairman come next year, following a decision by Southern African Development Community (Sadc) leaders to proffer him up for the position.
A Sadc meeting held this month proposed Malawi’s Mutharika and the president of Lesotho for the position of AU chair which falls vacant next year. The AU’s current chair is Muammar Gadaff of Libya.
The next AU chairmanship, which operates on rotational basis, will go to Sadc next year.
Sadc leaders then earmarked Mutharika for the position, but the final decision will be arrived at after another contest between Mutharika and other leaders to be held in January next year- though Mutharika is well-placed and favoured to become the next chair.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Ettah Banda, has confirmed the development.
“Sadc leaders settled for Mutharika. The final event to come up with the final name will be held in January. Mutharika’s chances are very high, looking at his political and economic performance,” said Banda.
Mutharika has led Malawi to three successive bumper harvests, rescuing the country once known for befriending perpetual hunger from the pangs of poverty and food insecurity.
“We are happy with the decision of the Sadc leaders and the probability of holding the AU chairmanship,” said Banda.
A Sadc meeting held this month proposed Malawi’s Mutharika and the president of Lesotho for the position of AU chair which falls vacant next year. The AU’s current chair is Muammar Gadaff of Libya.
The next AU chairmanship, which operates on rotational basis, will go to Sadc next year.
Sadc leaders then earmarked Mutharika for the position, but the final decision will be arrived at after another contest between Mutharika and other leaders to be held in January next year- though Mutharika is well-placed and favoured to become the next chair.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Ettah Banda, has confirmed the development.
“Sadc leaders settled for Mutharika. The final event to come up with the final name will be held in January. Mutharika’s chances are very high, looking at his political and economic performance,” said Banda.
Mutharika has led Malawi to three successive bumper harvests, rescuing the country once known for befriending perpetual hunger from the pangs of poverty and food insecurity.
“We are happy with the decision of the Sadc leaders and the probability of holding the AU chairmanship,” said Banda.
Malawi's veep, Chavez call for Africa, South America unity
Malawi’s vice president Joyce Banda has called for closer working relationships between Africa and South America, saying good working relations between the two continents were crucial to attaining sustainable social-economic development.
Banda said at a meeting of African and South American heads of state being held in Venezuela the two regions, while at disparity in terms of social-economic development, had some common challenges that needed shared solutions.
“It is sad that South America and Africa have often trodden on difference paths over common challenges. The end result has been disintegration, lack of unity, increased poverty and social-economic uncertainty among the people of the two great areas. This must change,” said Banda.
Banda cited mining, energy development, agriculture and industry development as some of the areas that needed a common approach, adding falure to harness each others’ ideas had increased economic disparities for the peoples of the two regions.
“Isolationism will never help us; it will never help things. Let us begin to work more closely, and join hands in development projects that may change the facet of people’s lives. For example, we have the Shire-Zambezi Waterway in Southern Malawi, a project that will help reduce transport costs by as many as 45 per cent and make life easier; we need you to work with us towards this goal.
“The project will help many other neighbouring countries and render the export and import of raw materials and finished products cheaper for many people. In the end, poverty will no longer be a reality but a song, and prosperity will come home for many poor people,” said Banda.
Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, acknowledged that there is a ‘big gap’ between Africa and South America, and called for the immediate bridging of the prevalent gap.
‘There is real need for unity. It is time Africa and South America got united and up lift the lives of our people. Why have we allowed this gap to grow? Why have we let it drift us apart? Closer relations between us needed today more than ever before; what with the on going global economic crisis?” queried Chavez.
African leaders have since committed themselves to working more closely with South America, as the world grapples with the effects of the global economic crisis.
Banda said at a meeting of African and South American heads of state being held in Venezuela the two regions, while at disparity in terms of social-economic development, had some common challenges that needed shared solutions.
“It is sad that South America and Africa have often trodden on difference paths over common challenges. The end result has been disintegration, lack of unity, increased poverty and social-economic uncertainty among the people of the two great areas. This must change,” said Banda.
Banda cited mining, energy development, agriculture and industry development as some of the areas that needed a common approach, adding falure to harness each others’ ideas had increased economic disparities for the peoples of the two regions.
“Isolationism will never help us; it will never help things. Let us begin to work more closely, and join hands in development projects that may change the facet of people’s lives. For example, we have the Shire-Zambezi Waterway in Southern Malawi, a project that will help reduce transport costs by as many as 45 per cent and make life easier; we need you to work with us towards this goal.
“The project will help many other neighbouring countries and render the export and import of raw materials and finished products cheaper for many people. In the end, poverty will no longer be a reality but a song, and prosperity will come home for many poor people,” said Banda.
Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, acknowledged that there is a ‘big gap’ between Africa and South America, and called for the immediate bridging of the prevalent gap.
‘There is real need for unity. It is time Africa and South America got united and up lift the lives of our people. Why have we allowed this gap to grow? Why have we let it drift us apart? Closer relations between us needed today more than ever before; what with the on going global economic crisis?” queried Chavez.
African leaders have since committed themselves to working more closely with South America, as the world grapples with the effects of the global economic crisis.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Nothing
Walking,
and Hoping,
Are full of nothing.
Nothing,
In hoping,
And working,
For nothing.
Working,
For Nothing,
Is nothing,
Worth something.
Something,
Gotten in working,
For someone,
Is nothing
Personal.
Its occupational,
And Oval,
Overall, it is
Nothing.
Nothing,
Is crazy,
In something,
Crazy.
Because,
It is,
After all,
Not all.
and Hoping,
Are full of nothing.
Nothing,
In hoping,
And working,
For nothing.
Working,
For Nothing,
Is nothing,
Worth something.
Something,
Gotten in working,
For someone,
Is nothing
Personal.
Its occupational,
And Oval,
Overall, it is
Nothing.
Nothing,
Is crazy,
In something,
Crazy.
Because,
It is,
After all,
Not all.
Improved seeds crucial to increased food security
Malawi has managed to produce food surpluses for three consecutive years because of improved crop varieties, a feat government says is poised to maintain following increased efforts in improved seed variety research initiatives.
Andrew Daudi, Principal Secretary for Agriculture and Food Security, said government has increased research interventions by improving working relationships with the world’s renowned research institutions, notably from Australia .
“Part of the reason we have succeeded with our input subsidy programme is the use of improved varieties of maize seed and other crops. We want to continue injecting more resources into research,” said Daudi.
Malawi has, once again, managed to register a grain surplus of over 2 million metric tonnes, raising the hopes even higher that the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member state could again export maize and help bail some of its neighbours out.
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has already encouraged Malawi to export some of its surplus maize and bail some of Sadc member states who have less than enough out of the qualms of hunger.
The country’s opposition is, however, against the idea, saying some of the country’s districts have reported less than charitable harvests.
Andrew Daudi, Principal Secretary for Agriculture and Food Security, said government has increased research interventions by improving working relationships with the world’s renowned research institutions, notably from Australia .
“Part of the reason we have succeeded with our input subsidy programme is the use of improved varieties of maize seed and other crops. We want to continue injecting more resources into research,” said Daudi.
Malawi has, once again, managed to register a grain surplus of over 2 million metric tonnes, raising the hopes even higher that the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member state could again export maize and help bail some of its neighbours out.
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has already encouraged Malawi to export some of its surplus maize and bail some of Sadc member states who have less than enough out of the qualms of hunger.
The country’s opposition is, however, against the idea, saying some of the country’s districts have reported less than charitable harvests.
EU hands over market shelters
The European Union Micro-Projects Programme has handed over two structures to Mwanza Central constituents in Southern Malawi , raising the infrastructural outlook of a market that has not been renovated since 1982.
Mwanza, formerly Blantyre West constituency, became a district in 1972, but has lacked proper market infrastructure as the district’s main market maintained a make-shift status.
The structures’ handover also marks the end of the Fourth Phase of the EU Micro-Projects programme. EU officials say work would continue in 2010, when the Fifth Phase of the initiative takes effect.
The programme has helped transform the face of many micro-structures in Malawi , increasing access to markets and hither to inaccessible rural areas.
Member of Parliament for Mwanza Central, Nicholas Dausi, has hailed the development. He said the new structures could mark the beginning of new development initiatives for the people of Mwanza district.
“Mwanza is a border district and, therefore, deserves to be looked after well. Remember, first impressions last. This, exactly, is what the EU Micro-Projects Programme has helped us do: we have up lifted the face of our district,” said Dausi.
Mwanza is renowned for its fruit products, including tangerines and oranges. A myriad of small, community fruit processing plants is fast becoming a main facet of the district, with the technical and financial assistance from the One Village One Product (Ovop).
Ovop is an initiative adopted from Japan . Former Malawi Ambassador to Japan , John Chicago, was instrumental in brining the intiative home.
Mwanza, formerly Blantyre West constituency, became a district in 1972, but has lacked proper market infrastructure as the district’s main market maintained a make-shift status.
The structures’ handover also marks the end of the Fourth Phase of the EU Micro-Projects programme. EU officials say work would continue in 2010, when the Fifth Phase of the initiative takes effect.
The programme has helped transform the face of many micro-structures in Malawi , increasing access to markets and hither to inaccessible rural areas.
Member of Parliament for Mwanza Central, Nicholas Dausi, has hailed the development. He said the new structures could mark the beginning of new development initiatives for the people of Mwanza district.
“Mwanza is a border district and, therefore, deserves to be looked after well. Remember, first impressions last. This, exactly, is what the EU Micro-Projects Programme has helped us do: we have up lifted the face of our district,” said Dausi.
Mwanza is renowned for its fruit products, including tangerines and oranges. A myriad of small, community fruit processing plants is fast becoming a main facet of the district, with the technical and financial assistance from the One Village One Product (Ovop).
Ovop is an initiative adopted from Japan . Former Malawi Ambassador to Japan , John Chicago, was instrumental in brining the intiative home.
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