More News: Remain in touch with UK events in Malawi

Highways Agency - 25 Nov 2009 12:45
Hairy Biker chefs become reporters for Traffic Radio
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celebrity chefs The Hairy Bikers will enjoy fifteen minutes of fame
as presenters of national traffic news on a unique digital radio service.




http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408965

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Home Office - 25 Nov 2009 13:44
Changes give British workers more opportunities to apply for jobs
------------------------------------------------------------------------

From 14 December 2009, the resident labour market test for Tier 2 of the points-based system will be extended to four weeks for all jobs, the Government announced yesterday. This will replace the current requirement to advertise jobs for two weeks, or one week for jobs where the salary is £40,000 or more.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5J52


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ministry of Defence - 25 Nov 2009 12:21
Former High Court Judge Appointed to Chair Al Sweady Inquiry
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sir Thayne Forbes will chair the inquiry into allegations that Iraqi
nationals were ill-treated and unlawfully killed by British troops in
May 2004 in southern Iraq, the MOD announced today.




http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408963

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Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 13:31
Home Care, Scotland, 2009
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Scotland's Chief Statistician yesterday published Home Care, Scotland, 2009. This statistics release presents the latest national figures for home care services provided or purchased by local authorities in Scotland.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5HV7

More from UK

Commission for Rural Communities - 25 Nov 2009 11:03
CRC launches ‘Insights from users and providers of Children’s Centres in rural communities’
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For many children and young people, the idyll of living in the countryside is far from the reality. Their remoteness from essential services is often made worse because of limited access to transport and the hidden disadvantages which affect poorer families.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EYP

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Home Office - 25 Nov 2009 11:06
Review of rape victims' experiences welcomed
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A review of rape victims' experience of the criminal justice
system, published today, has been welcomed by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408952


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Metropolitan Police Authority - 25 Nov 2009 11:14
Metropolitan Police Authority Victoria Borwick tells APA conference ‘the buck stops here’.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Metropolitan Police Authority
25/11/09
75/09

Metropolitan Police Authority member Victoria Borwick, speaking at
the Association of Police Authorities conference in Nottingham today
(Wednesday 25 November), addressed the debate on police accountability
and public redress.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408953

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Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:48
People and culture in Scotland, 2008
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Scotland's Chief Statistician recently published a range of statistics relating to cultural attendance and participation by adults in Scotland.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EP3

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Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:56
Supporting children and young people
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A new Scottish approach to supporting children and young people, tested in Highland and supported by the Scottish Government, is delivering real results for local youngsters.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EU9

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Welsh Assembly Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:58
Funding for primary care developments
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A new primary care centre in Mold, announced by Health Minister Edwina Hart, is one of the new developments underway as part of improvements to healthcare facilities in Wales.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EVL

- Show quoted text -


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Wired-GOV Plus Newsletter

Our weekly round-ups of key government announcements, analysis and researched links to additional documents, consultations, white papers, reports and more

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfWGPlusLanding?ReadForm

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Industry News

UK government and public sector case studies, white papers, success stories and contract awards

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfIndustryNewsView?ReadForm

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Special Reports

An in-depth look at current topics that goes beneath the headlines to provide a detailed review of public sector issues & solutions

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Events

Forthcoming public sector events, conferences and seminars

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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - 25 Nov 2009 12:03
Hilary benn welcomes professor read’s report ‘a national assessment of forestry and climate change’`
------------------------------------------------------------------------

272/09 Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, today welcomed Professor
Read’s report ‘A National Assessment of Forestry and Climate Change’.
Professor Read’s report gives advice and recommendations on how
providing extra tree cover in the UK can help reduce carbon emissions
preventing damaging climate change.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408958

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Department of Energy and Climate Change - 25 Nov 2009 12:15
Call for health professionals to act on climate change
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent on behalf of the Department of Health






http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408938


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Department of Health - 25 Nov 2009 12:15
Call for health professionals to act on climate change
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Health should be at the centre of our fight against climate change,
Health Secretary, Andy Burnham will say today (Wednesday) at the
launch of a new report on Health and Climate Change.








http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408842

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National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - 25 Nov 2009 11:49
NICE to publish final guidance on topotecan for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer and preliminary recommendations for bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer
------------------------------------------------------------------------

NICE will be making two announcements on cancer treatments this week. Final guidance will be published today that recommends the use of topotecan as a second line treatment for relapsed lung cancer, and preliminary recommendations published for consultation yesterday (24 November) state that the use of bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer does not represent a cost-effective use of NHS resources.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5FVR

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Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) - 25 Nov 2009 12:17
The Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2008/09
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A picture of overall improvement in care, education and skills in England is revealed in Ofsted’s Annual Report, launched yesterday by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5GER

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QCDA (Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency) - 25 Nov 2009 11:57
From QCA to QCDA
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bill establishing QCDA has received royal assent

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5G2G

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Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 12:01
Waiting times targets
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Statistics published recently by ISD Scotland show that 99.9 per cent of patients referred by a GP or dentist for an outpatient appointment are waiting less than 12 weeks.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5G4S

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Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 12:38
More powers would benefit Scottish economy
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop recently published the National Conversation paper on Employability and Skills which promotes the idea of a single system of support for those in training and those looking for a job.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5GTT

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Welsh Assembly Government - 25 Nov 2009 12:08
Statement from the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Assembly Government once again reaffirms its commitment to the One Wales agreement in relation to a referendum on Part Four powers.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5G9L

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Wired-GOV Newswire (news from other departments) - 25 Nov 2009 12:32
House of Commons Reform Committee
------------------------------------------------------------------------

REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5GQ9

- Show quoted text -


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Wired-GOV Plus Newsletter

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Industry News

UK government and public sector case studies, white papers, success stories and contract awards

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Special Reports

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Highways Agency - 25 Nov 2009 12:45
Hairy Biker chefs become reporters for Traffic Radio
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celebrity chefs The Hairy Bikers will enjoy fifteen minutes of fame
as presenters of national traffic news on a unique digital radio service.




http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408965

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Office - 25 Nov 2009 13:44
Changes give British workers more opportunities to apply for jobs
------------------------------------------------------------------------

From 14 December 2009, the resident labour market test for Tier 2 of the points-based system will be extended to four weeks for all jobs, the Government announced yesterday. This will replace the current requirement to advertise jobs for two weeks, or one week for jobs where the salary is £40,000 or more.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5J52


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ministry of Defence - 25 Nov 2009 12:21
Former High Court Judge Appointed to Chair Al Sweady Inquiry
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sir Thayne Forbes will chair the inquiry into allegations that Iraqi
nationals were ill-treated and unlawfully killed by British troops in
May 2004 in southern Iraq, the MOD announced today.




http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408963

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 13:31
Home Care, Scotland, 2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scotland's Chief Statistician yesterday published Home Care, Scotland, 2009. This statistics release presents the latest national figures for home care services provided or purchased by local authorities in Scotland.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5HV7

Kips Restaurant assures customers on food quality

The New Director for Kips Restaurant in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre, Yassen Giga said he would strive to continue providing best services to its customers.
In an interview Thursday Giga said 70 percent of local Malawians in the city of Blantyre eat at his restaurant because of its quality and that customers could afford to buy.
“A lot of people in the city take food at Kips because of the cheap prices we offer and we provide traditional Malawi foods such as Nsima, Rice, Zitheba, chicken, chambo and beans,” said.
He said they provide best food because they trained their staff, waiters and waitress to provide quality food and good reception to attract more customers.
He said Kips feed over 500-600 customers per day, these include vendors, middle class and managers.
The restaurant started in 1991 and has there branches, two in Blantyre and one in Lilongwe.

Varied information from various UK sources

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - 25 Nov 2009 10:30
Small Business Minister Calls on Business to Follow Government Lead and Pay on Time
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public sector prompt payment is making a real difference to business
cash flow, Lord Davies said today. But the Minister for Trade,
Investment and Small Business challenged both big business and
suppliers to play their role to ensure prompt payment. Better
invoicing, customer relationship management and prompt payment build
confidence throughout supply chains.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408948

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Department for Communities and Local Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:12
Planning Portal Launches Visual Guides for Three Common Home Improvement Projects
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Planning Portal has yesterday launched a series of visual guides for the most common home improvement projects - extensions, loft conversions and porches.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5DYW


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Department of Health - 25 Nov 2009 10:08
Life Changing Discoveries in Regenerative Medicine and Diagnostics unveiled at Chief Scientific Officer's Conference
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exciting new developments by scientists including those working in the NHS field of regenerative medicine and diagnostics which have the potential to bring life-changing benefits to patients will be considered at , the Chief Scientific Officer’s officer annual conference.

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5DW9

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Economic and Social Research Council - 25 Nov 2009 10:18
WORKPLACE LITERACY SCHEMES ARE TOO SHORT TO IMPROVE SKILLS
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Government’s Skills for Life initiative has not significantly improved literacy or the economic performance of participating companies, despite what policymakers believe. These are the findings of the UK’s first study of basic skills learning in the workplace, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5E4J

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Economic and Social Research Council - 25 Nov 2009 10:39
MAJOR CONFERENCE TO EXAMINE CHINA’S PLACE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The British Inter-university China Centre (BICC), collaboration between Oxford, Manchester, and Bristol Universities funded by a £5million grant under the government’s “Language-Based Area Studies” scheme, is to hold a major international conference in London and Manchester on 27-29 November looking at China’s changing role in the political world.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5EHR

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Scottish Government - 25 Nov 2009 10:43
Standing up to domestic abuse
------------------------------------------------------------------------

National statistics published recently - based on information from police forces across Scotland for 2008-09 - show a five percentage point increase in incidents of domestic abuse being recorded as crimes or offences.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5ELA

From the UK Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice
Justice Minister Michael Wills has made a statement on the government's vision for the future of publicly funded archive services.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5CYT

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Museums, Libraries and Archives Council - 25 Nov 2009 09:26
Archives for the 21st Century
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and The National Archives are committed to taking forward the Government's new vision for publicly funded archive services, ensuring they are as relevant in a digital age as they have been in the past. The policy, Archives for the 21st Century, re-asserts the vital importance of archives as the gateway to the nation’s common legacy, whilst reflecting the technological transition society is going through.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5D4C

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Wired-GOV Newswire (news from other departments) - 25 Nov 2009 09:12
HCA on target to deliver homes in this financial year
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) says it is well on course to meet its end of year housing targets, despite the economic downturn and difficult operating conditions.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7Y5CT2

Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

Events

Forthcoming public sector events, conferences and seminars

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-events-1.nsf/wfCalendar?ReadForm

Special Reports

An in-depth look at current topics that goes beneath the headlines to provide a detailed review of public sector issues & solutions

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfSpecialReports?ReadForm=1

Industry News

UK government and public sector case studies, white papers, success stories and contract awards

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfIndustryNewsView?ReadForm

Wired-GOV (UK) Plus Newsletter

Our weekly round-ups of key government announcements, analysis and researched links to additional documents, consultations, white papers, reports and more

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-content-1.nsf/wfWGPlusLanding?ReadForm

Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2010, 1-2 February 2010. Lancaster London, UK

Set across the core topics of BI the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit focuses on the top issues facing your organization today and provides actionable strategies that will enable a more agile information infrastructure.

Topics covered at the Summit:-

* Key steps to making Business Intelligence strategic
* The evolving role of corporate performance management
* Role, structure and organization of the BI Competency Center
* The Data Warehouse in a time of data explosion
* Trends in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and Master Data Management
* BI market trends and the increasing impact of the mega-vendors
* Best practices in budgeting, planning & forecasting

With 15 Gartner analysts, more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, panels, interviews, case studies, workshops and more than 700 BI executives from across Europe and all industries this Summit simply cannot be missed!

Please follow the below link to find out more and to register for a unique Public Sector Price of €1695+UK VAT
using the following discount code:- PS-BIE7

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-directory-1.nsf/slh?Open&dc=DNWA-7XYDL4&usr=DNWA-7XXKGX

UK Ministry of Justice - Judicial Appointments

Appointment of a Senior Immigration Judge
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Jack Straw MP, has
appointed Designated Immigration Judge Hugh Macleman to be a Senior
Immigration Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, based in
London, with effect from 1 December 2009.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408876

Young people at heart of strategy to bring an end to violence against women and girls

An ambitious strategy aiming to bring an end to violence against
women and girls was set out by the Government today.


http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/408929

Madalitso Kateta writes on Journalists with HIV, media role in fighting the pandemic

Journalists living with HIV in Malawi have formed the first network of people living with the virus to fight against stigma and discrimination in that country. This was the media's response to HIV/AIDS through the effective participation of journalists living with the disease, the coordinator said.

The Malawi Journalists Living with HIV (MJLHIV) national coordinator, David Kamkwamba, said the initiative will empower the media in the response to the pandemic through experiences of journalists living with the virus.

“In this drive the initiative shall advocate for the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS through the advocating of development of HIV and AIDS work place policies, implementation and strategies against stigma and discrimination,” he said.

Malawi is one of the countries that still have a high rate of HIV and AIDS based stigma and discrimination.

Although many people in the country have become open to declare their HIV status, the Malawian media has been very mute on the matter with only one journalist, the late Kaulanda Nkosi coming in the open with his HIV status.

However Kamkwamba said the formation of MJLWHIV will foster a change of people’s attitudes towards persons living with the virus. “Specifically MJLWHIV aims at advocating for the rights of people living with HIV that also includes journalists,” he said.

According to Kamkwamba, membership to the organization is open to all practicing Malawian journalists in the print and electronic media.







The media has to lead by example
By Madalitso Kateta

As a journalist reporting HIV and AIDS I have covered many stories of other people that are positively living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

As an inquisitive journalist, questions like. How did you catch the virus?How did it feel like when you were told that you are HIV positive? Andpresently how do you cope up with life now that you are positively living with the virus? These were part of the routine as I interviewed my news sources.

With time, I have now come to understand that we live in a world that may create sorrow when you believe you are enjoying the warm summer of your life.

A world where everybody is supposed to regret somehow. But is it worth regretting when you know the reality of your status?

So, how should I begin this story as it involves my own experiences with HIV and AIDS. Should I start by recounting how I have socialized with a number of members of the opposite sex?
Let me just tell you my story. I recently had the courage to go for an HIV Testing and Counselling session.

I have been on and off quiterecently and it never really occurred to me that the reoccurring illnesseshad been the result of HIV/Aids.

I did not think that I, a person that had so much knowledge on how HIV was transmitted and had written so much on how other people were coping up with life after testing HIV positive, would one day sit down writing a story about how it feels like to live with the virus.

In fact, it now astounds me that I, a person who felt that at first, could noteasily come into terms with the reality of living positively with HIV, have come to accept my present status: I am HIV positive.

Sometimes I laugh at myself when I recall how I used to make fun of how others were suffering from the virus. Yes, I remember that with some of my friends we could laugh at people positively living with the virus.

But the situation changed when I realised that I was a carrier of the virus. I realized that while we as the media have been vocal demanding that our politicians should come into the open declaring their HIV status, we have not lead by example.

Ironically, while it may be true that our friends in the political circles, I am sure,might be highly infected by the virus, the media it self would have been one of the professions that would register more cases if the testing process was to be made mandatory.
I now know how it is heartless to reduce persons living with HIV to their sexuality as they still remain productive citizens needing the same rights to health care and protection as everybody else.

For me, it now sounds illogical for the media to start lobbying that members of the legislator should go for tests and disclose their HIV status while the media itself has been entwined in a cushion of confidentiality.

I am HIV positive myself and, having been one of the journalists that have for a while been reporting on HIV and AIDS, find it absurd that we keep on reporting on ending HIV and AIDS-based stigma and discrimination, while we may have are to blame for some of the stereo typing that have created the problem. Imagine, during my last visit to Blantyre I told one of my close friends in the media, Richard Chirombo that I wanted to come into the open about my HIV status.

It astounded me that Richard, while accepting that declaring one’s HIV status was the only way of ending the problem of HIV and AIDS-based stigma and discrimination, did not support the idea, arguing that as soon as

I did that all my colleagues would segregate me.

I liked Richard's straight forward advice. It actually reflected that asmedia practitioners, we have been doing HIV and AIDS stories to make our bread and butter. We have been in the forefront telling the nation the importance of going for an HIV test and, possibly, disclosing our sero status, yet we have not been ready to do so ourselves.

But why is the media not leading by example, by disclosing the HIV sero status of members within the profession?

Is it that there are no HIV cases within the profession?
Honestly, may be there are many HIV and AIDS cases in the media but we have chosen to remain in the cocoon.

I was surprised myself to see that when the advertisement for membership into the Network of Journalists Living with HIV was floated less than 10 journalists registered.
As a Person Living With HIV, I have discovered how normal life can still go on if you accept your status. You can love (I have a lover) and do your ‘duties’ as you used to do before.

To explicitly end this article, I would urge my fellow media practitioners that are paid up NAMISA members to seriously discuss and emphasize on HIV and AIDS matters on world press freedom day. Remember, we are all vulnerable.

Is Malawi experimenting with democracy?

Patrick Makina 50, a n economist and PhD holder, a long time public servant was the ideal candidate for Zomba-Ntonya.
“He has the education , and so many good qualities that we need in a leader if this area is to develop” enthusiased village headman Mbwana one of the hundreds of traditional leaders who urged their followers to choose Makina as their candidate prior to the Maya19 polls.
Zomba Ntonya had over 400000 registerd voters , making it the largest constituency in the district but in the district and arguably the least developed .
“We have two secondary schools, very few health centres, most of the rivers have no bridges, most families go without food most of the year, illiteracy is very high “ Makina noted at the beginning ofhis campaign last year.He had just returned from France where he went to do his PhD.
The under development in the area is attributed to lack of initiative by previous leaders.
“The first multiparty MP made so many promises which he never fulfilled .For the entire two terms he chose to stay in Blantyre running his businesses. People were excited with change and anything UDF produced was acceptable.” says village headman Mbwana
In the third multiparty polls of 2004, university graduate Berson Lijenda despite having scanty resources won the seat as independent candidate and later joined the then popular UDF.Like his predecessor he hardly appeared on the scene, and was accused of gross arrogance .The were then ready for another change.
Makina campaigned initially for the UDF candidacy and it was later learnt that the party was not going to hold primary elections. He opted to stand as an independent..
The ruling party DPP has a staunch supporter in the recently crownwd Paramount Chief Chief Chikowi.Though Makina had support among lower traditional chiefs he could not stand a chance against the DPP chosen candidate Ted Msangwi.Chief Chikowi went literary around the area to sell Masangwi, a former Malawi Telecommunications employee, HARDLY KNOWN IN THE AREA.
Makina runs a farm closer to his village near Thondwe .His late father was a well-known police officer but Masangwi can not trace his village in the area.
“I remember one of the Masangwi’s as a schoolmate in the 1970s .They temporarily settled in our village before they moved to Balaka.The man is simply not from this area.He is renting a house a Six miles trading centre” said John Kabichi from Makanjira village , a place Masangwi claimed to come from.
Lower traditional chiefs were threatened with removal if they continued to refuse Msangwi.Several were summoned at the paramount chiefs court to explain their support for Makina, and indeed others weer suspended.
There were seven candidates but none could raise thei issue with electoral authorites for fear of repercussions. The chief had his way and Masangwi narrowly defeated the hugely popular Makina.
“The results have shown me that we are still experimenting with democracy.The party that I supported let the people down , our chief was partisan and the results are not fair” said Makina.he had then trouble restraining his supporters who vowed to march to the District Commissioner and denounce the chief.
“It is okay when you lose in a fair contest but so bad when undemocratic tendencies contribute to such a loss” Says Makina who has vowed to continue to offer assistance to people in need.He had set up a scholarship fund for poor students, a small loan scheme for women and had also initiated a number of development projects such as fish v and irrigation arming.
“I will stay here do my farming and work with the people. The difference is that I will not be their representative in the national assembly.
Rafik Hajat a political commentator argues that all political parties in the country lack intra-party democracy and this he says will continue to haunt Malawi’s stride to grow democracy.Most parties impose candidates on the people and the results have been disastrous for the big parties which failed miserably in the general elections.UDF and MCP chosen candidates lost to independents.
The recent by-elections have again shown that no matter how big a party maybe it needs to go for the people’s choice.The big loser in the recent by-elections is the DPP which had a landslide victory only three months ago only to have independents snatch the seats.
While the shift towards more independent candidates may hold hope for for those earning for a true democratic Malawi, doubts have been raised about the growing tendency by these independents to join a ruling party says village headman Edward Kwisongole , a retired civil servant of Zomba Ntonya.
He says he sees betrayal when voted as independents join ruling party with flimsy excuses of helping the government bring development.
“This is simply a symptom of something fundamentally wrong with our understanding of democracy particularly the role of MPs. MPs are there are to make laws not just bring development as they often argue. I guess most of them join government because they want opportunities. Some of them quickly joined DPP because they though they would get cabinet posts but Bingu did not consider them.That was great .This is why most of us feel the president is a principled man and may not work to erode our democratic gains. These independent MPs joining government are nothing but gold diggers”
Perhaps a classical example desire by an independent MP to join government was that of former vice president Cassim Chilumpha. Despite clear signs that his presence was not desired on government side , the former number two citizen insisted his constituents would get much-needed development if only he can work with government. The enlightened village headman Edward Kwisongole believes Chilumpha’s move is calculating at hitting UDF a party that rejected him. The anti-democratic tendencies in UDF led to Bingu’s departure followed by so many others senior fellows and if this does not change UDF will face certain death.
But a senior UDF member opting anynomity blames Chilumpha for lack of political skills.
“There were many times when a chair left the party in his hands but he did nothing.he even failed to aknowledge the supporters who came to cheer him at the courts as he battled his trason charges.He lost a an opportunity of taking over from the ageing Muluzi.His atttempt to unseat the populist Muluzi at a convention was foolish and misguided. He surrounded himself with light weights , illiterates as advisers and thought he could confront Muluzi.” He says.
But Edmund Chilo Blantyre based businessman believes Chilumpha can redeem himself by goping back to UDF and contest at a convention.
“The Politics of Atcheya are gone. The party needs all intellectuals who were messed up like Makina, Chawawa, and many others .the party needs rebranding .Unless the party recognizes that the old brand of politics is no more it will be tossed into the dustbin of history kutha ngati makatani..Chilumpha should overate himself , he needs people and he must start now by going back to UDF and prepare for the next elections.
Chilo says the recent seating of new parliament has also shown that most of our MPS despite colourful CVS are yet to embrace democracy. the debate on major issues was good spiced with intellectual rigour but when to voting most of them were fearful. Save for the lawyer Edwin Banda nobody opposed the bill on marriage age.
“We always complained that most of our MPS were school dropouts but here we were house full of intellectuals endorsing a bill which would destroy al the gains we have made as a nation in 45 years .If that law got enacted it would affect education, health and social status of our women, what would we have achieved?”
It is too early to judge this parliament but the inclination towards blind loyalty , in itself a bloat on the march towards democracy , says Chilo.

Hazel Warren invites Zachimalawi to cookery book launch

Hazel Warren has lived to her Kitchen reputation in last year's Big Brother Africa House and has invited Zachimalawi to the launch.
We will furnish you with more details about the launch and where it will take place shortly.
Zachimalawi wishes her well.
Woza Hazel Warren; woza Hazel wishes!

Remembering Hazel Warren: the day she came home

In less than two weeks from now, On December 6, 2009, the curtain closes for this year's Big Brother Africa Revolution. Our Mzamose Chibambo, Peace be Upon Her, is still in the House and is poised to reach the final. Before she comes, let us take a dive back to last year, when our representative Hazel Warren was cheated to the US$100, 000 prize money by a cheating Big Brother and his auditors- wherever they schooled- and get a re-feeling of what it was like before her arrival and press briefing.

Malawi’s representative to the Big Brother Africa III reality show, Hazel Warren returned to the country on Wednesday after an impressive performance for the whole 91 day period that the show run. Although she missed the ultimate prize money, Hazel returned home a heroine. On Wednesday she had a press conference in Lilongwe and Zachimalawi reviews Warren's press conference for you. Excerpts:

How has the reception you have received back home made you feel?

Coming home and seeing all those people at the airport and even on the streets has been a very humbling experience for me. Never in my life did I think that this could happen, it just makes me feel so humbled but at the same time it makes me feel so loved and very accepted by my countrymen.

How did you handle being under the watchful eye of the camera all the time?

Being in the House 24/7 all the time and under the eye of the camera is indeed challenging in the beginning especially coming from a background where you never had cameras and there you are with cameras and wearing microphones all the time. Sometimes you forget that there are cameras and microphones around. Sometimes you get up and you go into the bathroom to brush your teeth and you forget your microphone in the bedroom and you immediately hear Big Brother saying “make sure that you wear your microphone properly”. It’s something that I personally got used to slowly and adjusted. I’m adjusting to living without cameras and microphones now.

What motivated you to join BBA III?

I won’t lie. I wanted the money.

What do you think made you survive in the House for the whole 91 days?

I think my calm nature and I am also tolerant to other people’s views. I realised that my housemates and I were from different parts of the continent with different values and different beliefs. I couldn’t be there and judge everybody according to how I saw the situation and that’s why I think I survived.

How can you describe your relationship with Thami in the House?

I am very happy that Thami and I had a very good friendship but obviously more to that there was a love interest. Personally I felt that making a decision of such nature in the House for myself would not be right because such a decision would be circumstantial in the sense that we were enclosed. And such feelings would probably be there because of the circumstance.

What do you celebrate most in the house and what are your regrets?

I have no regrets being in the House. What I celebrate most is that it gave me an opportunity to explore my abilities. Obviously when we are living out here where we are free we take things for granted and we put ourselves in a box and we don’t think outside the box. But being in there you are put on the spot to perform 100 percent all the time and you will attest that when we were given tasks each of the housemates wagered 100 percent. It has also taught me that there was a lot each one of us can do. Out here we limit ourselves, we can pay some one to do something for us instead of doing it ourselves.

What do you think gave Ricco the upper hand over you?

My opinion is that Ricco is a young guy and he appeals to the younger females who happen also to be most of the voters. As such that gave him an advantage and another thing also was that we might have the same fan base but I would say his fans were more aggressive in their voting in the sense that I can give an example of one fan who probably cast 50 votes for Ricco while I have a fan, same fan base, but probably this one fan of mine cast 20 or 30 votes so you can see the difference there.

Was there any other way which you think the organisers of the show could have broken the tie between you and Ricco?

I will say yes there was another way. This other way is the one that we all knew from the very beginning, from the word go. This new way that was taken was very surprising, one that none of the housemates had ever heard of. The one that we knew that in an eventuality of a tie between the housemates was that the mechanism that would be used would be spinning of a wheel. Obviously to everybody’s surprise that mechanism was never used and we have no idea why and how the winner was selected and I will also quote from the press conference that we did earlier on Monday in South Africa with other journalists at Multichoice offices where there was a similar question on how the eventual winner was determined after the deadlock. The answer that was given was not very impressive to me because they said all the statistics are not yet out but in a couple of days we will be able to have all of the statistics and publish everything and then everything will be known to the world, but this immediately raises the question that if you don’t have the statistics how do you announce the winner, how does that go.

And so what do you think should be done as regards this issue of the tie?

It would be best that whatever action is taken should be taken collectively and not individually because when you make people stand together and make noise it is heard more than if I did it alone. I was there and I did ask how the scenario came about and the answer that I got was not satisfactory and again I could be pushed over left, right and centre but if it is collective it would make so much of a difference.

Was the constant cooking in the House part of your strategy?

I never went into the House with any strategy at all. The reason being that I felt having a strategy would limit you in the sense that you will only be focusing on that and you won’t have an idea who your opponents are. So you create a strategy but you don’t know who you are playing against, you don’t know their strengths and I said that when I get to the House this is what I will do – I will get to know the housemates, know their strengths and weaknesses and then move on from there and not really go into the House with a strategy. As for the cooking a lot of people who know me know that cooking is a passion. It’s not something that developed yesterday, its something that developed way back when I was very young. I did at some point have a business of some catering sort so that wasn’t part of a strategy at all. If you have a passion for something you will do it no matter where you are.

How did it feel to be among people of different nationalities and cultures?

I thought that was learning experience and I would learn more from the people that were in there. I’ve never been to all the countries there is only been South Africa , Zimbabwe and Zambia so it was a learning experience that I was in that House. We exchanged a lot of knowledge. It was a learning experience and also a journey of self discovery.

We don’t here much about your father in all this, can you tell us something about him?

I lost my dad last year in September and it gets me really emotional to talk about him. I can share that on Saturday I cried tonnes (maybe most of you didn’t know) in my bed because I thought of my father and how at that point it could have been so good and nice for him to be around to share my joy but he wasn’t. We deal with grief in different ways and I guess that’s how I deal with it.


What now after Big Brother, we understand you have interests in modelling and acting?

Being on the show exposes you a lot and there are a lot of opportunities that come along with it and those would be some of the things that I would do (modelling and acting).. And I did mention that I would like to do promotions of hair products so I will see and try if there will be anything of that nature on my way. And of those that come I would sift and sift through to see which ones would be best suitable for me.

Some people complained that you were not quite the entertainer in the show because the show is all about entertainment. How do you look at this?

What is entertainment to me might not be entertainment to some one else. But me being in the house the whole 91 days and coming up to a tie, and surviving four nominations without being head of house and without being saved I think that says a lot. If I were boring I would never had made it to the second nomination, maybe..

Is there any love in your life?

No there is no guy. My profile does say I am single.

Do you have any plans to invite any housemate to Malawi

Yes, when we were in the House the housemates were discussing the possibilities of inviting each other to one another’s countries and yes it would be nice to invite all the 11 other housemates to Malawi so that they would be able to spread the word of our beautiful country. It is a possibility and it is something that we discussed in the House that we would extend invitations to each other.

You have changed from little known Hazel to well known Hazel in a space of three months. How are you going to handle the fame?

I would like to take each day one step at a time. I think to me there is no formula as to how I will handle my fame. I think it will be best to take it one step at a time and also with a good support system, with the family that I have, they will be there to support me coz I think it will be challenging to be on your own.

How did you manage to stay in the House for 91 days without engaging in any sexual act, what is your secret? What message do you have for the girl child out there?

First of all my secret is the fear I have in the Lord. And again I knew why I went into the House and that was to go there and win the money. Other things were secondary to this. And to the African girl child out there I say know yourself and know your purpose in life. Set objectives in life and everything you do in life should be targeted towards achieving those objectives. But if you sway with the wind you will not achieve anything. Have a vision of what you want to achieve in life.

Zain has given you K1 million, what are you going to do with it?

I am very grateful for that. I really didn’t expect anything like it. I would still say like I said if I had won the K14 million that I would give part of the money to my mother. And then because I am home and I do have my advisors namely my mother and my relatives who would best advise me as to how and where to manoeuvre with the money. But also I would not forget my business Bride to Be coz I would need to boost it.

Some facts about HIV and AIDS and suggestions on what we may do

HIV/AIDS: The numbers are shocking: According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) more than 30 million people are HIV positive. Every year around two million people die of AIDS. More than 11 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to the illness.
Financing: Among other countries and organisations, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in collaboration with the German Development Service (DED)are working together towards managing the consequencies of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS is threatening both the social and economic development of an entire continent.
HIV/AIDS, education, health Social Development:Every person on our earth has the right to social security. They have the right to the protection of the family, an appropriate standard of living and sufficient health care. These basic rights are not guaranteed by our moral framework alone.
Cooperation with Africa:countries to take their development into their own hands. And yet: Africa continues to battle poverty, crises and conflicts. Natural catastrophes, poor governance and the HIV/AIDS pandemic limit reform processes in many African nations. A great deal still has to be done if the Millennium Development Goals are to be met.
Strengthening the health care system in Africa: from shortages of personnel, laboratory equipment, money and know-how. And this in a region with the worldwide highest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and where Malaria and Tuberculosis push hospitals to capacity limits. In order to effect change, trained personnel are needed to develop reforms, and pass...
Education: there is also need to support various African partners in structural reforms that improve the long-term quality of education and sector management in their countries. This particularly applies to the areas of educational quality, budget management, HIV/Aids, and peace education.
It is also important to support continuing improvement of national health care systems through capacity building. Central Asia has thus far escaped the devastation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but new infections have increased at an alarming rate over the past few years. In order to create better conditions for prevention.
Our Topics Education in Health, HIV/AIDS, Social Security, Environment and Food Sustainable development must ensure that natural resources are used carefully and sparingly.
Statistics: The success of reforms is measurable. Numbers and data show how the advantages of new structures and processes have affected development in a country economically, socially and in civil society. Sustainable policies can only be built on reliable information. But administrative data collection tends to be less advanced.

Inadequate funding affects persons with disabilities

Lack of funding in most organizations for people with mental and physical challenges is affecting the timely delivery of their programmes, the organizations have complained.
Such organizations include Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA), Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA), Malawi Union of Blind, (MUB), Albino Association of Malawi (AAM), Malawi Disability Sports Association, (MADISA), Parents of Disabled Children Association of Malawi (PODCAM), Association for the Physically Challenged and Deaf of Malawi (APDM), Disabled Women in Development (DIOWODE) and Malawi National Association for the Deaf (MANAD).
These organisations have for the past three years failed to receive full funding for their programmes, a development said to have impacted negatively on their programmes.
HIV and Aids Coordinator for MACOHA, Dyford Mpunga, for instance, revealed that his organisation has not received funding for HIV and AIDS programmes from the National Aids Commission (NAC) for a year, thus stalling their activities.
Despite writing proposals to various companies and NAC in 2008 to fund their HIV and Aids programmes nothing has materialized. The organizations, under their umbrella body FEDOMA, requested for K50 million from NAC but they are still waiting for the funding despite accept the proposal.
“We run a lot of activities and projects especial in Machinga, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Mzimba and Salima to sensitise people on preventive measures on the issues of Aids but no-one is coming to our rescue,” he said, adding that the activities include educating peers, train people on sign language, produce brochures and distribute them to people with disabilities, and translate brail for visual impaired.
MACOHA , established to empower and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, manufactures hand made products, dyes T-shirts with HIV and Aids messages, through financial and technical support from NAC, Population Service International (PSI), and also has a programme on Television Malawi (TVM) for sign language in a bid to reach out to people with hearing impairments as well as raise awareness on Aids.
The programme started in the year 2006 to equip staff on HIV and Aids issues that 50 percent of its staff should declare their sero-status before 2009.
Another representative of the organizations- Phillip Lapozo, Project Officer for MADISA, concurred with Mpunga on funding saying the face similar challenge in their organisation.
He said his organisation was depending munch on sponsorship from NICO Marathon competition but since their pulling out some three years ago, the organisation has nothing in its plate.
“We were one of the beneficiaries from NICO Marathon competitions. And their pulling out has affected us quite a lot,” he said, they remained only with Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS).
Lapozo, who doubles as Public Relations Officer, said they have stayed for six months without any activities due to lack of funding .
The organisation requested K4.5 million from NAC for HIV and Aids activities in four districts of Mulanje, Chikwawa, Machinga and Balaka, an effort that hit a blank wall.
MADISA was formed in 1998 to develop and promote sports for persons with disabilities.

Malawi’s forex blues: What went wrong?

The country is in deep foreign exchange crisis. The central bank will be rationing the little foreign currency the country has.
Local manufactures are threatened because they depend on this scarce resource.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) recently announced s projected 7.7 per cent economic growth, a downward spiral from the 7.9 per cent announced by Finance Minister Ken Kandodo when he presented his budget statement mid this year.
The economy seems to be wobbling towards the right direction yet Malawi is in a foreign exchange crisis of sorts. Just what went wrong, where?
Financial pundits agree that Malawi has been a net importer since attaining independence from former colonial master Britain in 1964. This means the country can not generate enough forex revenue and keep it within the country for long.
And Malawians must simply get used to this, says Thomas Munthali, president of the economic think tank- the Economics Association of Malawi.
Munthali says Malawi will never have adequate forex even during the best of economic times when donor inflows trickle down well enough, and the number one forex earner tobacco fetches well on the unpredictable market.
He attributes the country’s ongoing foreign exchange crisis to last year.
“The first mistake was that we bought too much fertilizer at very high prices in 2008, for use in the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme. Fertilizer prices, which averaged US$650 in 2007/08, more than doubled to US$1600 per tonne in 2008/09 growing season. Despite all this price escalation, government bought an extra 83, 000 metric tonnes above what was required,” says Munthali.
This led to a more than doubled fertilizer import bill. Similarly, the high fuel prices in early 2008, which went as high as US$150 in July 2008, led to a more than doubled fuel bill towards the end of 2008 to early 2009, defining this year’s fate for Malawi.
The extra 83, 000 metric tonnes, feels Munthali, might have been imported due to prevalent fears that the prices would go up again- a good decision gone bad.
“This led to tying up of forex into stocks that could only be locally sold to the private sector under buy-back arrangements but in local currency. This was the one single mistake by government, but one which could not have been foreseen,” adds Munthali.
The economist says although it was a mistake made in the best interest of the nation, government should not have gone ahead because “the reading on the wall was showing signs of tapering off of the prices and we could have bought just what was enough”.
Munthali’s sentiments are shared by RBM’s General Manager Wilson Banda. He acknowledged that the crisis started as a result of a huge importation bill of fuel and fertilizer.
Banda said this, compounded with this year’s low tobacco earnings and the phenomenal economic growth the country has experienced in recent years, has caused forex shortages.
Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) president, Harrison Kalua, says the economy is moving in the right direction and this has resulted in people having staggering amounts of local currency.
This, too, is said to have fueled forex shortage problems.
“Because people have money, the demand for luxurious goods is high. We do not manufacture these goods, we import- therefore, we are using a lot of forex. We also require more forex,” said Kalua.
He added that, with increased agricultural productivity, the country was importing too much fertilizer.
“So, what has drained our forex is fertilizers and fuel,” he said.
Now that Malawi is nursing a forex shortage crisis, what is the way forward?
State President, Bingu wa Mutharika- himself a renowned economist- issued a directive last Wednesday to all ministers, their deputies and senior public and parastatal officials, asking them to cut down on foreign trips.
But Munthali argues that Mutharika should lead by example and reduce his entourage on his foreign trips. He advises the president to include only staff that would add value to such trips.
Former leader of opposition in Parliament, John Tembo, is on record to have slammed Mutharika over frequent foreign trips. Tembo, who got dethroned from the position last week, said Mutharika was proving to be one of the most frequent, exorbitant travelers in Malawi’s history, in the process drowning scanty government resources.
The fact that the country does not generate adequate forex implies that the black market will continue to thrive, even when the official rate is placed at its real value, analysts warn.
“The best way forward is to ensure that the local (Kwacha) currency stays at its true value so that exporters have it in abundance and can tap on it every time they need. There is also need to cramp down on the black market: fiscal police, RBM Intelligence Bureau, Immigration Department need to work closely in this regard, efforts that will help in sniffing off any forms of forex evasion and black market growth,” suggests Munthali.
Renowned economist Priston Msiska suggests that RBM works closely with commercial banks in minimizing importation of luxury goods.
Msiska faults commercial banks for easily facilitating importation of luxury goods. He adds that, at the end of the end, these items add up to million of United States Dollars annually.
“We also need to increase our efforts in generating forex. Currently, there are no incentives for the export business. Unless government comes up with incentives to export-business, people will continue to shun it and we will still have the problem perennial forex shortages,” he said.
One of such incentives could include non-charging of interest on half the money borrowed by people involved in export business, observers say.
The other exit strategy could be by creating companies locally, companies that will specialize in producing much sought after luxury goods.
“That’s the only way we can reduce our import bill,” says Kalua.