Category Archives: Malawi

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Human Rights, Law and order

Lilongwe couple arrested for strangling child to death in ritual murder plot

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

By Sellah Chunda and Patience Longwe

LILONGWE-(MANA)-The Malawi Police Service (MPS) in Nathenje are keeping in custody a couple accused of strangling their  two year-old son to death in a gruesome plot to use his body for charms to gain wealth.

The incident occurred in Chikuwa Village, Traditional Authority Chitekwere (T.A), Lilongwe District.

The suspects, identified as Ivy Elinati (25) and Mphatso Nalinde (25), the child’s mother and stepfather, are alleged to have conspired to kill the boy after striking a deal with an unidentified Mozambican witch doctor. The witch doctor had reportedly promised the couple wealth if they provided him with their son’s dead body.

According to Lilongwe Police PRO Hastings Chigalu, the couple bade farewell to their relatives and friends at the husband’s home village, claiming they were traveling to Mozambique to visit other relations.

 However, their true intention was far more sinister— they planned to kill the child en route to Mozambique to fulfill the witch doctor’s demands.

After walking several kilometers, the couple reportedly lured their son into the bush, where they strangled him to death. However, when they contacted the witch doctor to inform him of their actions, he refused to proceed, claiming they had failed to perform certain rituals, making the body useless for the intended charms.

Fearing the consequences, the couple returned home with the deceased child, attempting to cover up the murder by claiming that the boy had suddenly become unconscious and died while strapped to his mother’s back. However, the village elders grew suspicious of their story and alerted the police.

A postmortem examination conducted at Nathenje Health Centre confirmed that the boy had died from suffocation due to strangulation.

The couple has been charged with murder and will face trial in court.

The suspects, Ivy Elinati, hails from Chimbwala Village, T/A Mlonyeni in Mchinji, while Mphatso Nalinde comes from Chikuwa Village, T/A Chitekwere in Lilongwe District.

Lifestyle, Malawi, Regional

Meet world’s most tattooed lady Charlotte Guttenberg with 99.8% body covered

Lloyd M’bwana

….Guttenberg says one hurt more than the rest….

The new holder of the Guinness World Record for being the world’s most tattooed woman has discussed pretty much everything to do with her body ink.

The 36-year-old is inked from head to toe, and even has patterns on the soles of her feet as well.

She’s blown previous record holder Charlotte Guttenberg, who had tattoos on 98.75 percent of her body, out of the water and realised when she looked up the record to beat that she’d already surpassed it.

Her first body modification was a split tongue, which she got in 2014, and since then her record of 89 far surpassed the previous record of 49 set in 2012 by Maria José Cristerna.

But Esperance Fuerzina is the world’s most tattooed woman, and the woman with the most body modifications.

“To be the most tattooed woman and to have the most body modifications feels a little crazy, I am grateful and excited for the future – and of course I am not done,” she said of obtaining the Guinness World Records.

Getting tattoos and body modifications is not without pain, though Esperance has said she’s learned to use meditation to deal with the hurt that comes with the ink.

The world record holder said receiving pain with a tattoo was ‘a small moment in time for something I can keep for life’.

She said: “One of the riskiest mods I have is the sclera tattooing – that was a pretty intense modification.

“I’ve also done ink staining on my tongue and my gums as well as splitting my tongue.”

Esperance isn’t the only tattoo afficionado who’s had the sclera process done, a woman who went in for the process twice said the first time around was the ‘most excruciating pain I’ve ever gone through’, but there was ‘absolutely no pain during the second procedure.

The Guinness World Record holder has tattoos not just on her eyeballs but also on her eyelids, gums and tongue as well.

Other body modifications she had besides getting her tongue split include piercings, facial implants and having part of her ears removed.

She said she uses the tattoos to record memories, explaining: “I have had a pretty nomadic life, and not much room in my (army) pack, I felt I could take this with me wherever I go.”

The 36-year-old believes they help her ‘turn dark times into light’, and said she is ‘not done’ with getting more tattoos and boy modifications.

Source: ladbible.com

Law and order, Malawi

“Be temperamental cautious when presiding cases”-Chakwera advises newly sworn High Court judges

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has advised newly sworn High Court judges to be emotionless when presiding over cases.

Chakwera observed that judges’ work is respected when case rulings guide the rule of law.

The President also advised the judges to ensure proper regulation of their emotions and actions in their daily work.

He was speaking after swearing in four new High Court judges on Monday, August 26, 2024, at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe.

The swearing-in of new judges is a move aimed at enhancing the country’s judicial capacity.

The new High Court Judges including Justice Edna Bodole, Justice Kondwani Banda, Justice Madalitso Khoswe Chimwaza, and Justice Trouble Kalua.

“To become a high court Judge is an honor. Always be organized in the delivery of justice to the people of Malawi.

“Don’t be temperamental, or emotional when handling cases as you hold highest steam in the eyes of Malawians”, advises Chakwera.

Following the new appointments, the total number of High Court judges in the country now stands at 46.

Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda, Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba, and several top government officials were all present to witness the administration of the oath of office and the judicial oath to the new judges.

Chakwera’s continued efforts to fill up judicial positions reflect his unwavering commitment to strengthening the country’s legal system and also ensuring that the judiciary carries out its work in a more effective manner.

Malawi, Religion

Chakwera lauds CCAP’s social-economic contribution to Malawi

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has lauded the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) for the Church’s contribution towards various sectors of the economy.

Chakwera commended the church when he presided over the CCAP General Assembly Centenary Celebrations on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at CIVO Stadium in the capital Lilongwe.

The Malawi leader said that in education sector, CCAP has built many secondary schools which our children are using for their daily learning process.

He said these schools are crucial to national development.

Chakwera said on the health sector, the CCAP has built many hospitals that Malawians are using today.

He added that hospitals are contributing a lot towards universal health coverage which demands citizens to have hospitals within the reach.

In the agriculture sector, the President commended CCAP for opening more agricultural farms that contribute positively to food security.

The President has since hailed CCAP for its contribution to good governance. He said while in office as President, he has met CCAP many times for advice on good governance.

As a matter of background, CCAP was established in 1924, as a result of the work of the Scottish and Dutch Missionaries in the last quarter of the 1800s.

The ceremony brought together all CCAP members in Malawi in all three Synods namely Livingstonia, Blantyre, and Nkhoma.

Upon his arrival, Chakwera accompanied by First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera, signed the visitor’s book, before touring several pavilions to appreciate various projects in the areas of Gospel evangelism, health, agriculture, and education, among others, that the Synods have been understanding in the past 100 years of it’s existence in the country.

Vice President Dr Micheal Bizwick Usi, former President Madam Joyce Banda former First Gentleman Richard Banda, former Vice President Khumbo Kachali, several top government officials, and leaders of various denominations are all in attendance to witness the event.

Law and order, Malawi

Mzuni ICT student Kenneth Feston arrested for defraudings Malawians with fake Triephornia Mpinganjira Facebook account

Maravi Post Reporter

By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has arrested Kenneth Feston, a Mzuzu University student for creating a fake Facebook account bearing the name of business tycoon ‘Triephornia Thomson Mpinganjira’ and using it to swindle millions of Kwacha from Malawians.

Working on a complaint lodged by Mrs. Triephornia Mpinganjira that someone was fraudulently and dishonestly using her name on Facebook, the Malawi Police Service’ Cybercrime Unit arrested Feston on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Mzuzu University Campus.

The suspect, who is an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) student has since demonstrated how he created and fraudulently used the fake account in luring victims into sending him money by promising them hefty returns.

The Police investigation revealed that Feston was using phone number 0991203482 to which victims were sending upfront payments as their investments in what he called: “Fidelity Savings Project.”

He was also allegedly running various ‘trophies’ in which he was promising participants lucrative returns, but their communications ended the moment victims sent him the money.

The Malawi Police Service through their Public Relations Officer,Peter Kalaya has therefore called upon all those who transacted with the suspect using the number above and believe are his victims to quickly report to their nearest Police Station.

The Service also cautions Malawians to desist from sending money to people they only communicate with online in deals that look too good to be true to avoid being victims of tricksters.

Feston, who comes from Mwankhumwa Village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Mphuka in Thyolo District has been charged with three counts including theft by trick, spamming and obtaining money by false pretences.

Opinion, Politics

Chakwera’s great political thinking reminds Malawians of Locke, Aquinas, Tocqueville

Maravi Post Author

By Leonard Kavwenje

Good people! I took some time to coin a clear analysis of the political goodness of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader State President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.

I have found that Chakwera is a great man whose full-baked political synthesis aims at expanding the political system of Malawi.

He draws his genius from a simple complexity of political events, ideas, movements, organs of government, voters, parties and leaders.

As a Doctor of Philosophy, he brings all forms of necessitous histories in MCP: Diplomatic History, Constitutional History, Social History, People’s History and Public History.

I am surely puzzled at how this Lilongwe-born political icon comprehends the synchrony of organisation and operation power. Chakwera must have attended and excelled in some history of political thought. Look at how he stays within Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics . Chakwera must have mastered the 15th Century Aristotle’s compositions.

In books I have surfed I revere Chakwera as I revere great brains of Harold Lasswell, David Easton, Vladimir Lenin, Otto von Bismarck, Bernard Crick and Adrian Leftwich.

Good Malawians, Chakwera is both a political and religious theorist, realist and logician.

I have discovered one thing in Dr. Laz. He uses what we call aggregative conception of democracy. In his democratic process, he solicits the preference of Malawians and aggregate them together to determine what social policies the society should adopt. He is a man of political liberty and autonomy. His capability approach to freedom takes into account economic, social and cultural rights.

Dr. Laz reminds me of the rich William Ebenstein’s book Great Political Thinkers: From Plato to the Present Sixth Edition. As a great political thinker, he ranks with John Locke, Thomas Aquinas and Alexis de Tocqueville.

On Saturday August 24, 2024, I phoned Catherine Gotani Hara, Dr. Elias Chakwera, Honourable Kezzie Msukwa, Dr. Ken Zikhale Reeves Ng’oma, Ulemu Jermoth Chilapondwa and Redson Munlo that I foresee a landslide victory next year.

Now, political unity is key! All MCP members must work together towards a common cause: 2025. Surely, MCP is joined together!

Good afternoon, Good Malawians!

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are of the author not necessarily of those of The Maravi Post or Editor

Politics

NGORA Chief Chileka Banda hits back at critics “I have not flouted any law for showing interest in political position”

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Edward Chileka Banda—chief executive officer Non-Governmental Organization Regulatory Authority (Ngora)—has hit back at calls by Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee (PAC) and Forum for National Development (FND) to have him summoned for taking part in politics while serving as a public servant.

In an interview with The MaraviPost, Chileka Banda, who recently contested at a position of Director of Youth at Malawi Congress Party (MCP) convention, has maintained that he has not flouted any law worth his reprimanding.

A week ago, Forum for National Development (FND) National Coordinator Fryson Chonzi, wrote Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee to summon Chileka Banda for flouting the law.

PAC chairperson Joyce Chitsulo says her committee will act on the matter upon legal opinion from Parliament’s legal section.

As a matter of law, in a 2014 case involving Jessie Kabwila and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), High Court judge Justice Dunstan Mwaungulu directed that ‘Dr. Kabwila who was a public officer in the civil service was exempted by Section 193 (3) of the Constitution because she is a person whose functions are not directly concerned with the formulation and administration of the policies of the government.’

Expert argue that from that ruling it is clear that a public servant, not a civil servant, is free to stand in any party elections and is not supposed to resign before contesting.

In a scathing response to FND, Chileka Banda described the forum’s request before Parliament as ill-conceived and misplaced because “there is no law that I flouted”.

“My work at Ngora is not compromised since I am not holding any political office. The Republican Constitution does not criminalise expression of interest. Additionally, Forum for National Development’s credibility must be questioned as their interest is politically motivated.

“First, the forum is illegally operating in Malawi as it is not registered with Ngora. Without it respecting the NGO Act and other laws, this could be a political organisation targeting individuals they deem political opponents,” he said.

Chileka Banda further said any reasonable justice process would dismiss the organisation as it is not working in the public interest.

Ngora was established as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament and its mandate is to register and regulate operations of NGOs in Malawi.

Malawi, Politics

Parley summons NGORA Chief Chileka Banda for activily contesting in MCP Convention without resignation

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Parliamentary Committee on Appointment Committee (PAC) is summoning Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Authority (NGORA) Chief Executive Officer Edward Chileka Banda for taking part in politics while serving as a public servant.

But Chileka Banda, who recently contested at a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) convention as Director of Youth, hinted that he has not flouted any law worth his reprimanding.

Section 193 (2) (a) of the Republican Constitution states that civil servants aspiring to engage in partisan politics must first resign from their official duties.

In addition, Regulation 24 of the Civil Service Regulations deplores any political activity that interferes with the performance of one’s duties as a civil servant, saying doing so constitutes an offence.

“I am not holding any political office
But despite the two provisions, Chileka Banda did not resign before contesting for the position of director of youth at the MCP convention”, defended Chileka

His counterpart Jessie Kabwira, however, resigned as director of Malawi School of Government Kanengo Campus in Lilongwe before contesting for the post of MCP publicity secretary a fortnight ago.

PAC chairperson Joyce Chitsulo told Nation on Sunday that the committee will act on the matter.

“In the meantime, we are waiting for a legal opinion from Parliament’s Legal Section,” she said.

Echoed the same, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament chairperson Mark Botomani said Chileka Banda’s situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

He said his action borders on impunity.

Said Botomani said, “Our laws ought to apply to everyone regardless of their party affiliation. Impunity must, therefore, not be condoned.”

This comes barely days after Forum for National Development (FND) on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 wrote Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee to summon Chileka Banda for flouting the law.

In the letter signed by its national coordinator Fryson Chodzi, FND claims that prior to approaching the committee, it first wrote Secretary to President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba and Chileka Banda.

“However, despite this communication, no action has been taken by Ngora, necessitating our appeal to your esteemed office.

“The integrity of our public institutions and the trust placed in them by Malawians depend on their adherence to legal and ethical standards. We trust the committee will handle this matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves,” reads FND letter in part.

The letter further states that the organisation was compelled to move the parliamentary committee given the alleged violations.

It cites Section 60 (3) of the Constitution and Parliament Standing Order 159, which give the committee authority to summon any person or institution and produce any documents required for its deliberations.

Our efforts to speak to Zamba, Comptroller of Statutory Corporations Peter Simbani and Ngora board member Arthur Chingoka proved futile as their phones were out of reach on Friday.

But in response, Chileka Banda described the forum’s request as ill-conceived and misplaced because “there is no law that I flouted”.

“My work at Ngora is not compromised since I am not holding any political office. The Republican Constitution does not criminalise expression of interest. Additionally, Forum for National Development’s credibility must be questioned as their interest is politically motivated.

“First, the forum is illegally operating in Malawi as it is not registered with Ngora. Without it respecting the NGO Act and other laws, this could be a political organisation targeting individuals they deem political opponents,” he said.

Chileka Banda further said any reasonable justice process would dismiss the organisation as it is not working in the public interest.

Ngora was established as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament and its mandate is to register and regulate operations of NGOs in Malawi. It is under the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza is yet to comment on the matter.

Opinion, Politics

Road to 2025: DPP’s leadership sets a new benchmark for gender equality in Malawi

Burnett Munthali

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality, earning significant acclaim from the Women’s Manifesto Movement and the NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO GCN). 

The party's recent convention marked a major milestone, highlighted by the election of Mary Thom Navicha as National Director of Women and Gladys Ganda as Director of Elections.

These appointments underscore DPP’s dedication to advancing women into influential leadership positions.

The DPP’s support for the 50:50 campaign—a bold initiative aimed at achieving equal representation for women in political roles—demonstrates its commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable political environment.

This progressive stance has set a new standard for gender equality in Malawian politics.

While the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has also made strides towards gender parity, the DPP’s leadership is seen as particularly groundbreaking.

Maggie Kathewera Banda and Thandi Mphwiyo, Chairpersons of NGO GCN and the Women in Politics Committee, respectively, have lauded DPP’s efforts.

Banda noted, “The party’s commitment to gender equality is a beacon of hope for a brighter future in Malawi.”

Other political parties in Malawi can draw valuable lessons from DPP’s example.

By actively promoting gender equality and supporting women in leadership roles, parties can contribute to a more balanced and representative democracy.

Embracing such a progressive approach not only enhances political inclusivity but also strengthens the governance framework, ultimately benefiting the nation as a whole.