“Information is the currency of democracy” – Thomas Jefferson

Revelation of the late President, Bingu wa Mutharika’s alleged financial and material worth estimated at 61 billion Malawi Kwacha caught most Malawians unawares, infuriated many and understandably re-ignited calls for the current presidency to declare their assets. It partly explains why most Malawians are not happy at President Joyce Banda and her deputy’s refusal to publicly declare their assets, even though they have assured Malawians that they have declared their assets through the speaker of parliament.

With the full knowledge that the law does not empower the speaker of parliamentary to make those assets public, Malawians have, through civil society organisations, NGOs and the media, asked the presidency to make this a moral issue and declare their assets. The point is that this is a matter of transparency and building the much-needed public confidence regardless of the legal stipulations. Responses from the presidency are unsatisfactory and have little to build national confidence trust in politicians.

Even worse, the answers have shown arrogance and have depicted the presidency that has more to hide than it is willing to reveal. Joyce Banda has gone as far insinuating that she is been forced to make her assets public merely because she is a woman. Many commentators have wondered what declaration of assets have to do with the president’s gender. Joyce Banda’s thinking is that her male predecessors did not face similar calls.

It is a naïve answer. It only shows a president that is out of touch with reality. Given Mutharika’s alleged worth, vast majority of which was accumulated during his eight years of presidency, and the on-going discovery of theft and looting of public money at the ministry of finance and the president’s own office, Joyce Banda should have been the last person to suggest she is being targeted because she is a woman. It is a cheap argument, defeatist and damaging to her reputation as well as those fighting for women empowerment.

President Banda has nonetheless settled to wait for the Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interest Bill to be tabled in the next seating of parliament, initially slated for November but now brought forward due to the looting and theft at Capital Hill. The bill is broader in scope than the existing law on assets declaration. This is a good thing because it will require other senior civil servants to declare their assets, too.

However, going by events at Joyce Banda’s press conference on her return from USA a week ago, it is not out of question that the broader bill is not entirely in good faith. Joyce Banda is clearly bitter that Malawians calling for her to make her assets available publicly. She wants as many people as possible on that ‘public suspects’ list. That is why the presidency has made it a point that NGOs must likewise declare their assets. It is more of a tit-for-tat than transparency and accountability by public officer bearers and elected officials.

The Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interest Bill, should not be seen as a problem solver however. The Weekend Nation of 12/10/2013 observed that the bill does not automatically guarantee that the Director of Public Offices Declaration, whose office will be the custodian of the declared assets shall have powers to refuse people access to that information. This is what, according to the report, human rights activist, Voice Mhone has called “an automatic loophole”, and it is mostly likely that the bill will go through the parliament and the president will certainly ascent with the “loophole” still on it.

Rogue politicians rule this country; they are all the same. A majority of them are only interested in lining their own pockets. Their only disagreement is who is going to have the right to loot before the next election. This is the argument that Malawians will settle via the ballot in May 2014. To paraphrase Karl Marx, poor people in this country are allowed once every five years to decide which set of political elite should plunder the public purse. This is why MPs have all along conspired to raise their own perks even when the country struggling without anyone of them raising a voice of objection.

This is where freedom to access information held by public authorities is important in any democracy. Freedom of information among other things ensures that government is more transparent and accountable to its people. It helps improve decision making within public institutions; it helps fighting corruption, it curbs impunity by those in positions of power, it encourages public participation in politics, it improves public understanding in government’s decision making and increases public trust in their government. All these are ingredients currently missing in Malawi. That is why there is looting of public money with impunity.

There is no coincidence that Access to Information Bill has been gathering dust at the parliament building for over a decade. The bill threatens MPs impunity. This is why it is not in their interest in passing it. The onus is on the taxpayers to demand transparency and accountability. Having access to information is very important to winning this struggle.

The most common mistake that people make is that Access to Information is just for journalists and media organisations. No. It is for the general public, it helps them monitor how the government is spending their money. Wrong decisions by government can be corrected before they become fatal. There will never be a good reason for public institutions to keep any information secrete, other than information that compromises national security, and one’s assets have nothing to do with national security.

MZUZU(MaraPost)–Driven by patriotic impetus Malawi artists have organised a concert which will give them a platform to speak out against public abuse including the famous abuse of public resources at Capital Hill. The show is slated for 30th October, 2013 at Portuguese Club in Lilongwe.

In a telephone interview with Marapost, spokesperson of the organising committee Andrew Mihawa indicated that the show which will tackle public abuse in general, has been organised in light with the public funds abuse which is currently haunting patriotic citizens of Malawi.

“The show is an initiative against all sorts of abuse such as rape, wife battering, public funds mismanagement and many more. It will give artists in Malawi a chance to use their art as a platform to speak out on their personal experience with abuse and also share sentiments of what they have observed,” said Mihawa.

Artists to perform at the show include Q Malewezi, Gwamba, Synick , D1, BFB, RayFane, Capital gal and Janta, Malavi Queenz, Dare Devils Genesis, S.a.m.u.e.l, Krazy G, Blaze and Chizzy, Tidda Case, Dj Sparks on the Deck and many others.

ZOMBA – University of Malawi students Union reps have written an open letter to the Chairman of the University of Malawi Council for lack of Consulation with students for indefinitely closure of  University of Malawi Constituent colleges.

The Colleges affected are Polytechnic, Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) and Chancellor College (CHANCO)

Full Message Below:

 

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ZAMBIAN HIGH COURT MUST PROCEED WITH BAIL APPLICATION
FOR ACCUSED IN ‘CARNAL KNOWLEDGE CASE’, SAY SALC AND OSISA

Johannesburg, 14 October 2013 – The Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) have expressed their deep concern at the Zambia High Court’s delay in hearing the bail application of the two Kapiri men accused of ‘unlawful carnal knowledge’, who have been in detention since May 2013.

 

“It is unacceptable that these two young men have been in custody for almost five months,” said Chivuli Riva Ukwimi, OSISA’s Marginalised Populations Coordinator. “The High Court’s delay in attending to their bail application, in addition to the numerous delays in their trial, casts a serious shadow over the criminal justice system in Zambia.”

On 22 May 2013, the Kapiri Magistrates Court denied bail to the two men, who had pleaded ‘not guilty’ and whose trial had not yet started, for spurious reasons. The accused’s lawyers have made repeated attempts since then to apply for bail in the High Court, which seems intent on never hearing the application. On the last occasion, a Kabwe High Court judge postponed the bail application for a further five weeks – without giving reasons.

“This case is one of many in Zambia that illustrate a disregard for the constitutional rights of accused people and the principles underlying the provision of bail,” said Anneke Meerkotter, a lawyer at SALC.

Zambia’s constitution enshrines the right to personal liberty, dignity and freedom from inhuman treatment. Every accused person has the right to a fair trial, which includes the right to be presumed innocent. However, it is estimated that one in every three people in prison in Zambia are pre-trial detainees.

“In a bail application the presumption of innocence is supposed to operate in favour of the applicant so every person arrested for allegedly committing an offence has the right to be released from detention if the interests of justice permit – and subject to reasonable conditions,” said Meerkotter. “There are no rationale reasons why the two Kapiri men should not have been granted bail.”

Section 123(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code provides that when any person is detained, the High Court may, at any time, on the application of an accused person, grant him or her bail. Any bail inquiry must be conducted impartially, judicially and in accordance with the law.

“Any postponement or refusal of bail without lawful justification amounts to an unlawful deprivation of a person’s liberty” said Meerkotter. “It is of great concern that the Kabwe High Court has failed to attend to the bail application of the two Kapiri men on an urgent basis.”

For more information contact:

Anneke Meerkotter, SALC Lawyer, annekem@salc.org.za, +27 11 587 5065
Chivuli Riva Ukwimi, OSISA Marginalised Populations Coordinator, +27 11 587 5000, ChivuliU@osisa.org

“The phoenix
must burn
to emerge”
– Janet Fitch

The Rev. Lazarus Chakwera, the cleric-turned-politician who traded his collar to have a go at the country’s top-most job, has just unveiled his backroom staff ahead of the epoch-making 2014 polls.

The list makes for some interesting reading. Conspicuously missing on it are veterans in the oldest party in the land. The likes of Joseph Njobvuyalema, Daniel Mlomo and Makala Ngozo do not make the list.

Let us get back to the veterans later.

There is an interesting addition to the MCP National Executive Committee list – my good friend Jessie Kabwila.

Wow! Jessie is now the public face of the MCP!

If truth be told, whoever proposed Jessie’s name must have put a serious thought to it. The vocal activist brings to the MCP the swag the party lacked after being ejected from three-decade stranglehold on power in 1994.

Here is a woman who stared down the country’s eccentric leader for a good eight months until he blinked.

That is no small feat. Bingu was as stubborn as he was ruthlessly arrogant, but, during the academic freedom stand-off, Jessie showed the Big Kahuna what sterner stuff she is made of. Raphael Tenthani

That is no small feat. Bingu was as stubborn as he was ruthlessly arrogant, but, during the academic freedom stand-off, Jessie showed the Big Kahuna what sterner stuff she is made of.

Bingu tried to scare her off with a public sacking but she did not relent until the leader stuck his proverbial tail between his legs and gave in.

Jessie’s “speak truth to power” crusade did not end on Bingu; she had a very public duel with his predecessor as well, a fellow woman, when Abiti reportedly derided divorced women rights activists at a public rally.

The public fight between Jessie and her comrade-in-arms Seodi White, on one hand, and Joyce Banda, on the other, was quite intriguing.

So if you want a fearless poster-girl for your cause you cannot get wrong with Jessie.

But is she the right material for the MCP?

Jessie is now the public face of the MCP. But is she a character you would ordinarily associate with the MCP?

I have written on these pages before about our political parties lacking ideologies but the MCP is clearly a conservative party, built on the tradition of the famed four-corner stones – Unity, Loyalty, Obedience and Discipline.

Jessie is a Liberal to a fault

Jessie is certainly nowhere near conservative. She is actually the antithesis of conservatism. She is a liberal to a fault. Is she not the woman who publicly defended women’s right to use vibrators? Did sheJess not openly advocate for women’s right to abortion?

She also publicly faulted Joyce Banda’s glorification of marriage. And, hey, Jessie is for gay rights to boot!

Does all these attributes resonate with what the MCP stands for? A big NOO! if you ask me. MCP is a conservative party built on traditional values.

I know the fix Rev. Chakwera was in. He wanted to sculpture a new-look MCP, a brave MCP ready to confront emerging issues. After all, he is campaigning on a reformed MCP, a re-born party.

Will Jessie help midwife the re-birth of the party? Proof of the pudding, they say, is in the eating.

Let us now turn to the old guard Chakwera has left out in the cold. This is a risk the good pastor has to think through seriously because the veterans he has left out know all the corners of the party’s support base. Being left out of the executive might mean that if – and when – the MCP gets into power, these folks may not be considered for the plum jobs in government.

This presents a discouraging factor for this old-guard to commit itself to the new leadership. The old guard may not work hard enough to mobilise the support Chakwera needs for his new-look MCP to make it all the way. They may, in fact, turn nihilistic and exude negative energy to frustrate the efforts by the new team.

Chakwera should have blended his team with a good proportion of the old and the new. After all the old guard has the all-important ‘institutional memory’ the party will need re-energise itself.

If truth be told, there are still pockets in the MCP strongholds that still believe that the Ngwazi is still at the helm of the party. Never mind the old man has been dead for a good 16 years. Raphael Tenthani

If truth be told, there are still pockets in the MCP strongholds that still believe that the Ngwazi is still at the helm of the party. Never mind the old man has been dead for a good 16 years. The still energetic Njobvuyalemas and Makala Ngozos of this world know how to work this base.

Chakwera is a man of the collar and so is his right-hand man Chris Daza. The temptation to surround the party with advisors of the evangelical type may be irresistible.

That may be a cardinal mistake that may derail the MCP gravy-train. The MCP, being a conservative party, believes in discipline. Discipline must be enforced sometimes, sometimes brutally. The real MCP knows how to brutally enforce discipline.  

Chakwera has his work cut out for him. He still carries the hopes and aspirations of many Malawians who are frustrated by our traditional politicians. But to actualise his dream of leading this country into the next half century via the MCP he needs to be realistic with what the party stands for.

And that starts with the people he chooses to work with.

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When I started blogging in 2005, I gave my blog a Chichewa name. Chichewa is my first language, spoken by more than 80 percent of Malawians. It’s also spoken in parts of Zambia, Mocambique and Zimbabwe. I gave my blog the name “Afrika Aphukira.” In Chichewa that translates as “Africa will have a rebirth.” It’s been eight years since, and every other African country seems to be undergoing a rebirth, with the exception of Malawi, if you ask the average Malawian.

Two weeks ago, the Africa Progress Panel released the 2013 Africa Progress Report. The foreword, by Kofi Annan, chairperson of the Panel, starts with the following sentence: “Africa is standing on the edge of enormous opportunity.” Headlines from global media are salivating on new discoveries of mineral and oil deposits in the African soil. Sceptics have retorted with the line: Africa is rising but Africans are not. The same 2013 African Progress Report reveals that Africa is losing $34 billion annually from its mining and oil deals.

Researchers from Oxford University have given Malawi 74 years before the country can eradicate poverty. That gives us up until the year 2087. When I first saw this headline in the Daily Times of 22^nd March this year, I thought of the millions of Malawians for whom daily life is a struggle. I thought of the glaring contradictions: glamorous shopping complexes facing the most dilapidated market squares, separated by a heavily potholed Devil Street.

 

I thought of this particular stretch in a busy part of Old Town Lilongwe: a bank, a superette, an expensive restaurant, a mobile phone company, and two upscale car dealerships. Look at the street running along these structures, and 74 years doesn’t look enough. Then I thought of those who had already had their poverty eradicated.

The African rebirth I am envisioning is not based on global media headlines. It is Africa-owned; it derives its meaning from the term ‘uMunthu.’ This word means personhood in Chichewa. uMunthu is about how our humanness is tied to that of others. We say “You are, therefore I am.” The question I always ask myself is: what would it look like if uMunthu were at the centre of social policy and governance? Let me illustrate this.

In June 2010 I met a group of teachers from several primary schools here in Lilongwe. The purpose for the meeting was to start what we hoped would be a forum where teachers would regularly meet and help one another become better teachers. A bigger goal was teacher empowerment; an attempt to address the helplessness and hopelessness many teachers feel about the conditions of their schools and their profession.

As I returned to my car at the end of the meeting, I was approached by one teacher. His name was Amos Matchakaza. Amos asked for a ride to a local college, where he was studying for his bachelors’ degree. I asked Amos how he was managing to pay for his bachelors’ degree courses from his teacher’s salary. He said 90 percent of his salary went to pay for tuition. They had had their electricity disconnected because they couldn’t pay the bill. He was not eligible for any government loan, nor any form of support towards his higher education. He was only able to make it because his wife was also a primary school teacher.

That evening I tweeted about Amos. A friend of mine, and former classmate from primary school, sent me a direct message. His name was Hastings Fukula Nyekanyeka. He wanted to know more about Amos. Hastings promised to support Amos until he finished his bachelors’ degree. That was June 2011. In March this year 2013 Amos graduated with his degree.

On 10th November 2012 the weekly Malawi News published a story about Mike Demesterb Nkhoma. Nkhoma dropped out of Form One, first year of secondary school, because his father could not afford the school fees. He started working as a garden boy for a lecturer at the University of Malawi’s Kamuzu College of Nursing. Her name was Juliana Lunguzi.

Juliana sent Mike to a boarding secondary school. Mike scored distinctions in Mathematics, Agriculture and Biology, and was selected to the prestigious University of Malawi College of Medicine. Juliana kept supporting him, and in November 2012 Mike graduated as a medical doctor. Today Dr. Nkhoma is practicing medicine at Malawi’s biggest referral hospital, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

Even more remarkable is the example Mike set for his sister. She had dropped out in Form Two, second year of secondary school, for the same reasons as her brother. She got married and went on to have four children. Her brother Mike’s story made her rethink her future. She went back to secondary school. She made it to the University of Malawi’s Kamuzu College of Nursing, and is in her final year of her bachelors’ degree programme. Then there is the story of William Kamkwamba, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

The reason why many Malawians do not achieve their ambitions is how we look at human potential. We look at human potential as a fixed quantity. If one fails at school, they must be dull. This thinking leads to policies and practices that limit the potential of many Malawians. It has led to policies which favour heavy social investments in elitist structures, and little to no investment in the lives of poor people. That is why in Malawi today the government pays millions of Malawi kwacha every year to students attending public universities, while tens of thousands of younger Malawians drop out of primary and secondary school every year because they cannot afford the fees or the expenses associated with going to school.

In its Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2010, the National Statistics Office reported that 70 percent of Malawians aged 18 years and above have never had a secondary school education. Some of the reasons for this are lack of resources and the size of the Malawian economy. But a less discussed factor is the assumption, prevalent in our policy making, that intelligence and human potential are limited.

The stories I have shared today confront these assumptions. These stories offer a beginning for us to define the rebirth of the country, and of the continent, on our terms. These stories are the reasons why I still believe in the coming rebirth of Malawi, and of Africa. They are the reason why I still believe in uMunthu. Thank you.

Press Release

Peoples Party would like to congratulate Dr Jessey Kabwila on her appointment as MCP spokesperson.

Finally the cat has been let out of the bag & we are vindicated.

There is nothing wrong with her appointment, it is her Constitutional Right to participate in political and social activities in Malawi.

However we would like to remind Dr Jessey Kabwila that our Republican Constitution does not allow a public servant to participate in active politics.

Therefore we call upon Dr Jessey Kabwila to resign as a lecturer at Chanco to avoid conflict of interest as she concentrate on her political career.

Once again congratulations Dr Jessey Kabwila and welcome on board

Hon Ken Msonda
DPS

 

Peoples Party

Sonke Gender Justice joins Nobel laureates and women’s rights campaigners
to call on African leaders to support the International Criminal Court

Johannesburg, October 11 – In a letter released yesterday, the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict—including 7 Nobel peace laureates—called on members of the African Union (AU) to back the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a critical tool for combating rape and other forms of gender violence. African leaders are gathering in Addis Ababa, today and tomorrow for an extraordinary summit of the AU. It is expected that member states will consider a proposal for a united pullout from the ICC and the treaty that created it, the Rome Statute.

 

Sonke Gender Justice calls on President Zuma and African Union Chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to use South Africa’s considerable influence to support the ICC and ensure that other AU members uphold their historic commitments to the court.

“Ending gender violence in conflict must be a top priority for all AU member states,” said Leymah Gbowee, Nobel peace laureate and Co-Chair of the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict. “A decision to withdraw from the ICC will be very bad news for survivors who seek justice, and very good news for rapists who expect to get away with their crimes.”

The news that some African ICC states may be considering withdrawal from the Rom Statute has alarmed activists in Africa and around the world who work to end sexual violence in conflict.

This could be a step back in the struggle against impunity for crimes against humanity, especially rape during war,” said Dr. Denis Mukwege, Founder and Medical Director of Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and an Advisory Committee member of the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict. “Without real justice, there will be no lasting peace for Africa or the rest of the world.”

In their letter, Campaign members note the critical role the ICC plays in bringing justice for rape survivors: “As a court of last-resort, the ICC often represents the only opportunity rape survivors have to access justice… The ICC trials serve as powerful symbols that even those at the highest level of power will not get away with using rape as a weapon of war.”

Campaign member Sonke Gender Justice from South Africa is calling on AU Chair and South African senior politician Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to use her position to rally support for the ICC.

“South Africa has long been a staunch supporter of the ICC,” said Sonke Director Dean Peacock. “We call on our government to use its influence at the AU to ensure that human rights are strengthened”.

Media contact:

Rachel Vincent, Director of Media & Communications, Nobel Women’s Initiative for
The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict
Phone +1 613-569-8400 ext.113 or media@stoprapeinconflict.org
www.stoprapeinconflict.org <http://www.stoprapeinconflict.org>

Dean Peacock, Executive Director
Sonke Gender Justice Network
Phone +27 21 423 7088 or dean@genderjustice.org.za

On behalf of the Malawi Association UK (MAUK)  we would like to thank you for the financial, moral and material support during The Summer Party which was held at Kwacha House in London on the 7th day of September, 2013. Your support and presence made the event a success. However, to those who were unable to attend or  support us that time, we still appreciate our valuable partnership with you and hope to work together in our future events.

 

As you may be aware, one of the aims of that  Summer Party was  to raise funds for the forthcoming MALAWIAN  ACHIEVERS’ AWARD CEREMONY whose objective is to  recognise and reward  People who are making a positive difference to The Malawian Society in UK   as well as  showing a token of appreciation to People, Charities and Organisations from here in UK that are making a positive difference in Malawi.

Among those who sponsored and supported us during the Summer Party, special mention and profound thanks go to : 

1. Malawi High Commission and Staff             Main sponsor 
2. Air Malawi (Mr S. Msamala)         £200 
3. Just Trading in Scotland                   Boxes of Special Kilombero Rice (white and brown) 
4. World Cargo   International (Mambo & Munya)         Shipping Vouchers worth £1,000 
5. Kuluka Charity                                 Media Campaign £20 
6. Mr Vupe Kunkwenzu                       Malawi Gin 
7. Parker for Events      ( Edith Parker)    Catering Equipment 
8. Don & Ulanda  Nyondo                         Special Barbecue services(DJays Catering) 
9. MZIPA Institute of Technology               £50 
10. 2 Ways Solutions Ltd.  (Emily Sayiwala)    Shipping Vouchers worth £1,00011
11. Nyasa Times Newspaper     Publicity
12.  Gertrude Chirambo    Pledged £100.
13.  Maravi Post Newspaper    Publicity and T- Shirts.

Last but not least we thank Mr John Tembo Jnr, The Deputy High Commissioner ,  for, among other things, selflessly using his personal car to drive some MAUK members to various places to buy extra items that were needed on the day. 

 Regards, 

Felix Banda
Secretary General , Malawi Association UK (MAUK)