DPP  Statement

The Democratic Progressive Party-DPP has learnt with shock and dismay on reports that are being released or made which are pointing at the DPP as a party (former regime) that is directly connected to the recent looting of public coffers at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

During the recent press conference held by the Chief Secretary and some senior government officials last week, it was insinuated that what is happening now is a breakthrough as the looting started during the last regimes and not know. Hon Lands Minister and Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs during the week were quoted highlighting on the same ‘the looting happening now started in the last regimes’. In today’s Nation Hon Kunkuyu is quoted to have said the system has been there since 2005 and that the audit will tell when the looting started.

The fact that the system started in 2005 does not mean that looting started in 2005! Without an audit how do you conclude or point a finger at the past regime? Furthermore, it must be noted that when the PP government took over power in April 2012, a number of senior government officials in the DPP government lost their jobs , these include; Mr Bright Msaka former Chief Secretary, Mr Mwananvekha former Secretary to Treasury, Mr Mukhito former Inspector General of Police and many others.

As it is a standard practice in any organization, handovers and if need be an audit has to be done before one takes office, we believe this was done. That being the case, why should it take almost 2 years for such malpractice to be exposed? As soon as they got into government they were so obsessed in arresting people even before investigations were done, we are so sure if this was the case people would have been arrested then.

We would like to urge the PP government to grow up and smell the coffee; they have to know that they are now running a government and not a charitable organization. Malawians are suffering, there are no medicines at the hospitals, maize is now at K8, 500.00, security has gone down, some medical Personnel, Teachers and others have not yet been paid whilst government’s money is being kept in people’s houses.

Malawians needs answers and it is the PP government that has answers to this.
We don’t care whatever they want to say as Malawians remain best judges on the matter. However our worry is on the PP government’s continued tendency of linking the DPP to any story they think is negative on their side. For example:

When Civil servants and students went on strike early this year they said it was Peter Mutharika and the DPP sponsoring them.

*When Maize rot in the silos it is Peter Mutharika and the DPP responsible.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter is greatly disturbed with the manner in which the President Joyce Banda news conference which was held at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Wednesday on her arrival from New York, the United States of America was conducted.

The environment in which the news conference was held was not conducive and friendly for journalists to freely ask pertinent questions that would have benefited Malawians who have been waiting to hear from the President on a number of issues that have been happening in the country while she was away.

It was clear to us, as an organization, that the presence of the large number of cabinet ministers, party officials and party supporters was meant to intimidate the media as it was apparent that the issue of looting of funds at Capital Hill would dominate the news conference.

The way the President handled the few questions which were allowed to be asked, also left a lot to be desired as she kept interjecting when journalists were asking questions, instead of allowing them to finish the questions. This also gave an opportunity to party supporters to disrupt the flow of questions.

The cheering and hand clapping when the President was answering questions disturbed the normal flow of information as journalists who were supposed to pay attention were disturbed and lost focus.

The conduct of party supporters also instilled fear in journalists as our memories are still fresh about previous experiences where media practitioners who asked questions deemed irrelevant or disrespectful to the Head of State were roughed up.

In a nutshell, the news conference at Sanjika Palace fell short of meeting the standards of a normal news conference. To us, we believe, the President lost an opportunity to answer pertinent questions which could be beneficial to Malawians who had anxiously waited to hear from her on how she intends to deal with the rampant stealing in government.

Misa Malawi appreciates Her Excellency’s efforts to grant the media in Malawi the opportunity to seek information. We recall that she has said on several occasions that the media in Malawi is free to ask her any questions when the opportunity arises.

Despite her Excellency’s assurance of media freedom in Malawi, journalists continue to face various challenges such as, especially from ruling party members as evidenced by the events at Sanjika Palace. We also would like to appeal to the President to appreciate that the media asks questions on behalf of Malawians and she should always resist the temptation to personalise the questions asked by the journalists.

Misa Malawi is hopeful that Her Excellency will consider our appeal and ensure that media freedom and freedom of expression as clearly provided for in the Constitution under Section 36 are fully defended and promoted.

Signed Anthony Kasunda NAMISA CHAIRPERSON

“To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.” – G. Edward Griffin.

The tales of corruption, looting and plunder at the heart of Malawi government that have rightly dominated the public discourse in the recent weeks are truly disgusting and have done a huge damage to Malawi’s national fabric.

 This is not just time to bring all the culprits to book and rectifying the rotten system that has helped folks to steal billions of taxpayers’ money; it is a time for reflection, as a nation. What does this scandal say about Malawians? The clue is not in the loot, the clue is in national discourse on the issue.

No honest individual would have all along believed that Malawi government was corrupt free, but very few people could have imagined the extent of the loot, how easy it was to steal and impunity accompanying the plunder.

To paraphrase philosopher, Slavoj Žižek, it is one thing for a husband or wife to suspect that his husband or wife is involved in some kind of infidelity; the feeling is completely different when you catch them in the act. Thus, the national mood about public looting has understandably turned into anger, now that people have evidence and the shocking extent of the loot.

Yet, the issue that should have united all Malawians to demand accountability and justice from the country’s leadership and public office holders is increasingly becoming a divisive one. Not that anyone disputes the plunder but because others have personal interests. Others have chosen to protect their political masters whose political aspirations are threated by the scandal, instead of national interest. Even more worrying is the fact that majority of the people making noise on the issue are only angry because it is not them, or their associates stealing.

Given a chance they will do the same if not worse. The theft has been there all along and no one lifted the lid on it, it took the near fatal shooting Budget Director in Finance ministry for the scandal to come out; MCP, UDF and DDP folks have been there, they should not suddenly pretend they are any better.

This is not to justify the looting, is just to demonstrate that the theft and corruption is rooted in the national psyche. It is not surprising that majority of political party defections in Malawi are always towards the ruling party – folks hunting lucrative positions where they can get a share of the loot; they say power attract the corrupted, it rings true.

This is why Malawians have always replaced one thief with another, which former president does not have suspicious wealth attached to their name? It is not always because of lax system or laws that make people steal; it is just because we have people that get into those positions to steal poor people’s money. Plato famously said: “good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.”

I have been writing and blogging for few years now, and I am an active user of social media. The clear picture that I have from this is that majority of Malawians in these circles is that it is acceptable that folks get into power merely to look after personal interests. Jimmy Kainja

I have been writing and blogging for few years now, and I am an active user of social media. The clear picture that I have from this is that majority of Malawians in these circles is that it is acceptable that folks get into power merely to look after personal interests.

Those that prioritise national interest are seen as fools. Bakili Muluzi, then as a president poked fun at his out of favour deputy, Justin Malewezi for not ‘developing’ his home district, yet Malewezi’ duty, as a Vice State President was to all Malawians. Priorities could have been elsewhere, not in his home district. You may want to compare Muluzi and Malewezi’s respective legacies, but the point is that Muluzi’s idiotic way of doing things is now embedded in the national psyche, it is pathetic.

Malawi has developed a sickening culture that harbours theft and corruption. Instead of holding public office holders to account, we admire their loot – public thieves have become role models. The whole thing is rooted in a materialistic culture the country has developed, losing our Umunthu in the process.

There are Malawians that would work hard not to fight against corruption, but to get into positions where they loot public resources themselves. This is why ruling party zealots in this country are particularly ruthless with anyone standing up to their corrupt political masters.

These are promised, or given paltry sums of the loot – from UDF’s young democrats to DPP’s cadets. PP has its own foot soldiers, look around; especially on social media, you wont miss them. They are shamelessly defending this blatant loot, calling it a “breakthrough”, when the truth is someone has been caught with their pants down.

Personalising issues of national importance will not take Malawi anywhere. Indeed, for 49 years we have been here, doing two  steps forward and three  steps backwards. Politicising governance issues will not take Malawi anywhere. Millions of lives depend on government’s service delivery, at the time of writing there are reports that health workers in Dedza and Kamuzu Central Hospital have down tools, demanding their September salaries.

Meanwhile the money is in junior civil servant’s car boot driving away from Capital Hill. Their bosses remain scot-free; they are allowed to continue serving in their discredited positions?

Malawi can do much better, but we must change our mentality first and the way we do things. We must love our nation; we must owe our allegiance to our country and our fellow Malawians.. Jimmy Kainja

Malawi can do much better, but we must change our mentality first and the way we do things. We must love our nation; we must owe our allegiance to our country and our fellow Malawians. As the Capital Hill scandal becomes political issue by day, and party royalist continue to defend their own, it is important to realise that if there is anything to defend here it is reputation of Malawi, not individuals and their personal interests. Individuals will move on but our country remains.

The Capital Hill plunder is not just a case of rotten government acting with total impunity; it is also a symptom of a rotten nation.

Sadly, I can foresee that the national discourse will soon shift to CSOs versus government; opposition parties versus the ruling part etc., all because political games is what Malawians do best, not governance.

ATLANTA  – 7 October 2013, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed an arrest warrant against Walter Osapiri Barasa, Kenyan citizen, born in 1972. 

 He is charged with several offences against the administration of justice including corruptly influencing or attempting to corruptly influence ICC witnesses. An under seal warrant of arrest was issued against him on 2 August 2013. 

 This is the first case before the ICC where a suspect is charged with an offence against the administration of justice, in accordance with article 70 of the Rome Statute. 

Judge Cuno Tarfusser, Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II, considered that the evidence presented by the Prosecutor established reasonable grounds to believe that Walter Barasa is criminally responsible as direct perpetrator for the crime of corruptly influencing or, alternatively, attempting to corruptly influence witnesses by offering to pay them to withdraw as ICC Prosecution witnesses in the context of the Kenyan cases before the ICC. Allegedly, he has been and is still acting in furtherance of a criminal scheme devised by a circle of officials within the Kenyan administration. 

Based on the Prosecutor’s evidence, Judge Tarfusser also found that it is necessary to arrest Walter Osapiri Barasa to ensure his appearance at trial, to ensure that he does not obstruct or endanger the investigation or the proceedings, and to prevent him from continuing with the commission of the crime. 

The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT MUST SUPPORT THE ICC
AND THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY, SAYS SALC

JOHANNESBURG, October 7 – With tension mounting between the African Union and the International Criminal Court (ICC), South Africa must publicly confirm its support for the ICC and the fight against impunity for genocide, war crimes and other crimes against humanity, said the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) in letters to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

SALC sent the letters just days before an extraordinary African Union Summit on 10-11 October, which was called to discuss whether member states should withdraw from the Rome Statute that established the ICC – a move that was precipitated by the controversy over the trials of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in relation to crimes against humanity after the December 2007 elections.

“With exemplary legislation for international crimes and a Constitution committed to human rights and justice, South Africa must speak out at the African Union summit, reaffirming its commitment to the ICC and encouraging other African governments to back the Court – and the fight against impunity for crimes against humanity,” said Angela Mudukuti, SALC’s project lawyer for international criminal justice. 

“The credibility and future of the ICC is on the line. South Africa must stand up for international justice.” said Mudukuti. 

The ICC’s relationship with certain African governments has come under increasing strain in the past few years with critics accusing the Court of bias and only targeting African countries. Indeed, Kenya’s parliament recently passed a motion to withdraw from the Rome Statute. 

However, the majority of the cases currently before the ICC were actually brought by the countries where atrocities were committed – Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast and Mali. Two other situations, Darfur and Libya, were referred by the United Nations Security Council, with the support of its African members. 

Kenya is the only country where the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC used its own investigative initiative, after obtaining authorisation from the judges of the court – and after it became clear that the international crimes committed during the post-election violence would not be properly investigated, let alone prosecuted, by the Kenyan authorities. 

“African countries played a critical role in the formation of the ICC and – if countries like South Africa do not pledge their support to it now – could play a major part in its downfall,” said Mudukuti. “The only people celebrating if that happens will be the architects of the world’s worst crimes. South Africa must stand up for ordinary Africans who continue to back the ICC and, most importantly, for the victims of international crimes, who deserve to see justice done.” 

For more information:

Angela Mudukuti, International Justice Project Lawyer, SALC;
+27 11 587 5065; + 27 76 762 3869; AngelaM@salc.org.za 

Nicole Fritz, Executive Director, SALC;
+27 11 587 5065; +27 82 600 1028; NicoleF@salc.org.za

“Before God
we are all equally wise
and
equally foolish”
– Albert Einstein

I bumped into former Finance Minister Friday Jumbe in a department store in Blantyre last Friday. After the usual pleasantries I could not resist popping the question – jokingly though – about whether he wished he was still at Capital Hill today where millions seem to be had with relative ease nowadays.

I did not expect an answer, of course; the presidential laughter (remember he is president of some party) I got was all I had bargained for.

But, seriously, I asked Jumbe whether he thought what is happening on Capital Hill is unprecedented.

“No,” he said emphatically. “I think this has been in the making for some five, six years, this is just break-out time.”

Jumbe’s honest supposition is quite interesting. It is easy to blame all this flux on Capital Hill on the laxity of controls on the current leadership.

I must say, the Joyce Banda administration is not helping matters by behaving in a ‘business as usual’ mode, as if all is normal. Raphael Tenthani

I must say, the Joyce Banda administration is not helping matters by behaving in a ‘business as usual’ mode, as if all is normal. Abiti left for her extended trip to the United Nations when the issue was just erupting. Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo had just been shot in a mafia-style operation when President Banda was about to hit the skies for the Big Apple to address the world.

She in fact made some unfortunate remarks that she knew not only who was behind the hit but the motive as well.

Soon after the Mphwiyo shooting it was ‘open sesame’ on Capital Hill. It is no longer news that some lowly civil servant has been caught with stacks and stacks of ill-gotten kwacha stashed under a bed or in the trunk of a car. What is news now is how much is involved.

How it started

It started with some lowly civil servant being found with millions of kwacha after a maid helped herself to some K3 million after she stumbled on the loot as she did her cleaning chores.

After that it was free-for-all. Figures from as measly as K250,000 to as obscene as K1 billion are being linked to civil servants whose honest pay-slips hardly register K100,000.

In fact, as I write this, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has just nailed an Assistant Accountant in the Office of the President and Cabinet who allegedly made out payment vouchers totalling a whopping K1 billion to International Procurement Services which records show had no business contract with OPC.

Too boot, according to the ACB, Frank Mwanza was found with cash amounting to K120,000,000 in cash on his person back in August.

So what is happening?

Is the fact that people are being caught with the proverbial ‘hand in the cookie jar’ a sign that someone is fighting corruption successfully or just an indication of how much rot we have to contend with? Raphael Tenthani

Is the fact that people are being caught with the proverbial ‘hand in the cookie jar’ a sign that someone is fighting corruption successfully or just an indication of how much rot we have to contend with?

That our government financial system is in a mess – or, to be apt – is a mess is clear.

What is also clear is that Joyce Banda inherited a corrupt system that needs serious overhauling. She has two choices: clean up the mess or continue as business as usual.

President Banda came on the scene as a change agent. She has to show that she is on top of things. She has to act decisively. Gone should be the days when the systems makes an arrest, the subject is given bail and that is the end of the matter.

If truth be told, trust in her government is fast waning. She has to show us she is in control if she has to regain that trust. Politics of patronage will not help her.

She faces crucial elections in under ten months. Voters need assurance that the President is in control.

It does not matter whether the looting begun before her time. The fact is that the break-out time is happening on her watch. How she acts will make or break her presidency.

Donors still have confidence in her. But they, too, are watching how she acts. There are calls for heads to roll in the wake of the madness on Capital Hill. In a normal country some people could have thrown in the towel on their own.

 But Malawi is nowhere near normal. 

WASHINGTON, DC – According to Capital police and eye witness reports the tragic incident began around 2 p.m. when the woman steered a black Infiniti near the White House

She supposedly drove up to a barrier at the 15th and E street checkpoint and was approached by Secret Service officers. She hurriedly tried to drive away, pulled an erratic three-point turn, struck the barrier and backed into an officer before driving away, the source told.

According to Police the woman sped her car down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol, where security vehicles stopped it at Garfield Circle.

She slammed into reverse crashing into a cruiser and tried to get away. At that point officers began firing, a witness said.

Dramatic video footage by other witnesses showed the black vehicle then careening around a nearby traffic circle with a police car in close pursuit and then headed away. The car crashed into more security barriers a few blocks later, witnesses said. 

The police continued firing shots after the vehicle stopped, even after the woman was hit several times… Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier said the woman now identified as Carey was later pronounced dead, 

Inside the car was a 1-year-old child, who was not harmed. The child was taken into protective custody, officials said. Officers didn’t know there was a child inside the woman’s car during the chase, officials said. Also an early investigation revealed that there was no evidence that the woman had a gun or fired a shot.

American Authorities lauded the action of police – instead of questioning why they shot at UN armed civilian with no gun and a baby. 

BLANTYRE (MaraPost)—The battle for stakes in the Sunbird’s Search for a Star music competition, formerly E-wallet, rolls off this Saturday at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

Meanwhile, vocal and fitness trainers for the music contest have expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment by contestants currently camping in the commercial capital.

According to Dumisani Nfune, one of the trainers, most contestants are ready and determined to compete, come Saturday.

“They are getting prepared some obviously more that others and you can see those that are determined to win and those that are taking it for granted but I think they all are benefitting from this training so some are responding very quickly but some still need a little more time” said Nfune.

Sunbird Tourism’s Public Relations Manager Akossa Mphepo also disclosed that the organizers alongside all the contestants will have a tour of Thyolo on Friday where they will visit an orphanage before visiting several district’s tea estates. 

She said all is set for the launching ceremony.

The competition is being Sunbird Tourism and they are providing all the logistics, accommodation, foods and the prize money with this year’s winner expected to pocket K500,000 as a grand prize with a second and third runners up getting K300,000 and K200,000 respectively.-MARAPOST.

Johannesburg, October 3: After the success of the inaugural competition in 2012, the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) is pleased to announce the launch of OPENPhoto 2013 on the theme of Minority Rights in Africa – with the winners being selected by a jury comprised of some of Africa’s and the world’s top documentary photographers, and with a top prize of US$5,000.

Aiming to encourage analytical and critical thinking about society in Africa and support the development of photojournalism across the continent, OPENPhoto 2013 is looking for strong, interpretive documentary work on the theme of Victories and Violations: The Struggle for Minority Rights in Africa.

“Across the continent, many people remain marginalised and socially excluded because they are minorities. People are discriminated against because they are disabled or homosexual or indigenous or sex workers. Or because they are women living with HIV. Or men from a small ethnic group. Or children from a non-state religion. Or families fleeing persecution in another country,” said Richard Lee, OSISA’s Communications Manager. “OPENPhoto 2013 is looking to reward photo essays that depict the reality of life for these marginalised minorities – the good and the bad, their struggles and their successes.”

The competition is open to any photographer based in Africa – professional or amateur. And the prizes are definitely worth winning: 

• First Prize – US$5,000 plus a commissioned assignment with OSISA in 2014;
• Second Prize – US$2,000; and
• Third Prize – US$1,000 

OPENPhoto 2013 will be judged by a prestigious jury of award-winning African and international photographers. Convened by the Pulitzer Prize-winning South African photographer, Greg Marinovich, the jury includes João Silva, Munem Wasif, Patrick Baz, Robin Comley, Yunghi Kim, Enrico Dagnino, Andrew Lichtenstein, David Dare Parker and Janine Haidar. 

The competition deadline is November 30^th with the winners being announced on December 16^th. 

For more information and to apply:

www.open-photo.org 

Or contact:

Richard Lee, OSISA Communications Officer, +27 83 231 43192; Richardl@osisa.org