BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)— Immediate-past Minister of Local Government Ben Phiri has been arrested by the Fiscal Police.
MaraviPost understands that Phiri is being questioned by police in Lilongwe on offenses related to monitory dealings.
Ben Phiri became a billionaire overnight soon after his boss Peter Mutharika ascended to power in 2014.
More details momentarily…
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)–Former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) director general, Bright Malopa, who was one of the outgoing governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) strategists before Peter Mutharika assumed the office of the president in 2014, has accused Ben Phiri of bringing nepotism in DPP, which has eventually led to the downfall of the party.
Malopa, who has already congratulated the president elect Lazarus Chakwera on his victory in the fresh presidential election, says DPP’s downfall has not come as a surprise as the party started digging its own grave long ago.
“Dpp decided to wear itself down to the state they are in. They really shouldn’t have started street fights with SKC (Saulos Klaus Chilima) when it was 100% clear that SKC was the winning formula. I saw this in 2015 and I did not hope for anything better after engaging some of the architects of the APM SKC infightings and realized they were determined to get rid of him.
“SKC was not plucked from the street as most of them were meant to believe. He was way higher up in the Bingu Machinery and this was the Machinery that controls systems,” wrote Malopa on his facebook page.
He further blames the party officials from the Lhomwe belt for entrenching nepotism tendencies in the party by discriminating and blocking other equally important figures from contributing ideas to the party’s daily operations.
“The Siwathu (not one of us) syndrome and an insatiable appetite to fight every one with a contrary view point forgetting that democracy offers a market place of ideas emboldened this self belief and they have paid a social Price .They are history, they are frightened with the prospect of accountability and we know they messed up but that’s their business. Let’s not waste more time with more blames. Nyekhwe or no Nyekhwe, let the rule of law be the guide to each one of us,” he wrote.
He, however, was quick to say that there are many good people of Lhomwe tribe who are highly ethical and professional.
“There are good people of Lhomwe tribe who are highly ethical and very professional. Then there are bad people like any society. It must be mentioned here that all the praise being attributed to the Malawi armed forces during this election has occurred under a professional Army Commander who rose to the occasion to defend the constitution order.
“He did not mind that any change in leadership could signal the end of his career. What was important to him was the flag he vowed to defend and the constitution that protects it. These traits are shared by many other people of Lhomwe tribe. And then ofcourse there is Ben Phiri the architect of “Siwathu label.” The man whose deeds literally plotted the downfall of APM. That story requires a thesis on its own from Cypress university of Akolose,” he added.
Malopa has further cautioned the president elect Lazarus Chakwera and MCP gurus that the task ahead is huge since they come at a time the country faces the negative impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that has led to under-collection of revenue by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), uncertainty and global recession.
“The regime is has also come at a moment of grave crisis during which violent and fanatical men made attempts to destroy the unity and the freedom of lives of men and women, the independence of men of the bench and governance institutions .
“Our assumptions of a democratic Malawi may have been naive as has now been demonstrated to us by few misguided persons just how fragile a democratic society can be if democracy is not prepared to defend itself,” he says.
“When we compare ourselves to those who lost properties in the ensuing commotions on all sides and consider that we now have orphaned children in Lilongwe following the death of their parents by deeds of fire, we must prepare to face those children and ask ourselves, how did we come to this how did concepts such as love, friendship, compassion, humility or forgiveness lost their depth and dimensions?” he adds.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—People of Thyolo Central Constituency, the youth in particular, have all the reasons to smile following the inauguration of the construction works of a K50 million telecentre which is expected to boost internet services in the area.
The telecentre is bankrolled by Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) under Connect a constituency project which aims at providing a seamless ICT connectivity across constituencies in Malawi.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony, Minister of Information, Communications and Civic Education Mark Botomani said it is the wish of Government to connect all areas through reliable internet connectivity so that people are able to access services without hiccups.
Botomani said it is the wish of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to make sure that all areas across the country have easy access to internet.
He described the construction of the Telecentre as a “game changer” to the people of Thyolo Central because they will be able to connect to the world with a click of a button.
He therefore advised people to own the project until it starts serving them.
Local Government and Rural Development Minister Ben Phiri, who is MP of the area, said the “Government of Professor Mutharika understands that no country can develop if internet penetration is slow.”
“It is the wish of the Malawi Government to make sure that all areas across the country are connected to the internet. We hope that in the near future people will be able to among others buy goods and services from abroad on the internet”
“The majority of people in this area are youths who are very active when it comes to internet usage,” he said.
Senior Chief Nchilamwera said his people have been facing difficulties to access internet services but this will be history soon.
“My people have been facing challenges when it comes to internet connectivity. Young people in this area travel to Blantyre just to access internet services. We thank Government for coming to our rescue,” he said.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been dealt with a heavy blow after their efforts to have the date for fresh poll reversed proved futile as the opposition Members of Parliament vehemently denied to discuss the bill today Wednesday.
On Tuesday the opposition and some independent MPs in the Parliament hijacked government business through a provision on Standing Order 211 and managed to set 23 June as the date of fresh presidential election amid protests from the government side.
The motion was moved by the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) Mzimba North lawmaker Yeremiah Chihana and it was seconded by Lilongwe Mpenu MP, Eisenhower Mkaka of Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
But today Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Bright Msaka instead of presenting four bills government was supposed to present, indicated that they would present only two bills that is bill number 11, 2020, Constitutional amendment of section 80.
This bill proposes amendment to provide for date for holding fresh presidential elections on June 23 2020.
The other bill was for Members of Parliament liberty to determine whether they want Malawi to maintain the previously used first past the post system or change to the 50+1 system as determined by the court.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri also insisted that the house ought to amend the Constitution to set the date for fresh polls saying what happened on Tuesday (setting the date) amounts to “raping” the procedure.
However, opposition members opposed to the motion by Msaka saying the house already set the date through a resolution yesterday.
Standing on a Point of Order, Lilongwe City West MP George Zulu said it was not right for the minister to bring the bills when the date was already decided.
However, 88 members said yes to a motion to waive the 28-day notice to have the Minister of Justice to table the Constitutional Amendment bill (section 80), 81 said no while 20 were absent.
This means the motion to present the constitutional amendment bill is granted.
However, the bill requires two thirds of the house to pass.
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The bill gives members of Parliament liberty to determine whether they want Malawi to maintain the previously used first past the post system or change to the 50+1 system as determined by the court.
The last time the legal affairs committee of Parliament presented a similar bill in the house it could not get a required two-third majority and it was defeated.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Bright Msaka, while winding up debate, mocked the opposition saying they only win elections in court and not on the ballot.
The remarks came amidst a verbal war between the two opposite sides in the chamber that has characterised debate this today.
Blantyre, March 27, 2020: In the light of Coronavirus pandemic, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri has disclosed plans to decongest flea markets across the country as one way of adhering to preventive measures against the virus.
The minister made the remarks on Thursday at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre during the official launch of prevention and awareness campaign on coronavirus.
Phiri observed that much as the virus has not hit the country, it is imperative for Malawians to start adhering to preventive measures which among others emphasize on observing social distance.
He said there is congestion in flea markets which needs to be addressed due to the scare of coronavirus that is devastating many nations including our neighbouring countries.
“As such, apart from placing hand washing facilities in the places, plans are at an advanced stage to regulate number of people plying their merchandise in flea markets because we might not know the carrier of COVID 19.
“We will do this by formulating a shift that will be followed by vendors. Meaning that others might wish to sell their merchandise in the morning while some in the afternoon until the ban is lifted,” he said adding: “this will also be applied to industrial companies.”
Phiri who is also a member of a special cabinet committee on COVID 19 instituted by President Mutharika weeks ago, said police will also start patrolling social gathering such as wedding and funerals to ensure that limited number of 100 is observed.
He then called for concerted efforts among different people in order to successfully implement all preventive measures and handle coronavirus should the virus hit the country.
In his remarks, Traditional Authority (TA) Kapeni thanked the minister for stepping up efforts to encourage people to embrace best hygienic practices and also monitor social gathering to prevent coronavirus.
“On our part, we are also doing everything possible to sensitive the subjects on COVID 19. However, we appeal to relevant authorities to try as much as possible to put the messages on coronavirus in vernacular language to ensure that target audience understands,” he said.
President Peter Mutharika allocated K2.4 billion towards coronavirus management.<
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri says the ministry has embarked on a recruitment drive of all priority positions in councils.
Phiri disclosed this in Parliament when he was responding to questions from Parliamentarians on what his Ministry is doing on high vacancy rate in councils.
“We are aware of the vacancy rate in all council and I am happy to report that we are going to fill all the vacancies soon.
“The problem will end soon because as a Ministry we have embarked on a recruitment exercise following instruction from His Excellency the President professor Arthur Peter Mutharika; so this will be a thing of the past soon,” Phiri said.
While on mismanagement of public funds in councils, the local government Minister says the ministry is implementing preventive measures that would help reduce the problem in all councils.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Local Government Minister Ben Phiri who is also President Peter Mutharika’s witness in the ongoing presidential election case on Monday confesses to the constitutional court that “Tippex” was used to collect mistakes on tally sheets during the May 21 polls.
Phiri told the court also that Tippex was not provided by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) but failed to disclosed whose sources was the fluid came from.
Below is part of narrative of the court hearing part of Monday, morning, November 25, 2019 as the roasting of “Dr” Ben Phiri by Mordecai Msiska, SC continues:
Mordecai: Can you mention the key officials from MEC you interracted with?
Ben: Munkhondia, Sangwani Mwafulira, CEO of MEC at times. Some I cannot remember their names.
Mordecai: One one on one you met none of the commissioners?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: Did you have interractions with APM? Even after announcement of results?
Ben: Yes
Mordecai: In your interaction with APM, did you explain to him about the audit report by BDO?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: Why?
Ben: He never asked for the report.
Mordecai: On your part does it mean APM doesnt know anything about the BDO Audit Report?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: Did you explain to APM the security features on Tally Sheets?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: Did you mention to APM that apart from security features, there were extra ballot papers?
Ben: Yes I did.
Mordecai: What reason did you explain to him as the reason for having reserved tally sheets?
Ben: I informed APM that this was to be used by MEC.
APM: Did you tell him that these reserve sheets will have no security features like the original sheets?
Ben: No.
Charles Mhango rises to object that the questions are not from the paragraphs that Mordecai indicated to cross examine from. Mordecai 13 November revised sheet that we submitted includes the paragraphs am raising questions from. In addition, he is a witness of APM hence the interaction between the two is very important for us to lay out our case. He is an agent for APM so we need to implore on that. It is the background check before I go into the specific paragraphs. Charles Mhango insists that this would have been also been indicated. In addition he insisted that APM is not in court. Court overules the objection but urged Mordecai to quickly do the exercise.
Mordecai: In relation to use of tippex, did you inform APM that tally sheets had tippex on them.
Ben: Yes.
Mordecai: What did you tell him?
Ben: I told them that there was misunderstanding of various terminology by MEC Presiding Officers hence mistakes were made and needed to be corrected with tippex. It was in the reconciliation part.
Mordecai: Did you discuss with him where this tippex came from?
Ben: No
Mordecai: How did you ascertain that Tippex was being used on reconcillation part?
Ben: From the Tally Sheets.
Mordecai: Did you notice the numbers below the tippex?
Ben: I couldnt see it.
Mordecai: But you are accepting that there was an error?
Ben: Yes because on top there was a correct number.
Mordecai: Was that the basis for you concluded that there was indeed an error?
Ben: Yes its because the final figures were adding up.
Mordecai: Were you informed by MEC that they will use Tippex? Or when there is an error go ahead use tippex?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: Did you look at the manual procedures of MEC on correction of errors?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: After the conclusion of the polling, where were the results supposed to be captured?
Ben: Form 66c and Form 60.
Mordecai: What was being recorded in the log book before polling?
Ben: Any activity on the voting day was supposed to be recorded in the log book.
Mordecai: Activities like Ballot Papers, null and void ballot papers after voting?
Ben: Yes
Mordecai: What else?
Ben: Number of staff, time
Mordecai: Am saying in relation to polling materials before voting
Ben: Ballot papers receieved plus what yiu have indicated.
Mordecai: Was there any recording of received corrected ballot papers?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: So in your testimony, errors mean what you noticed and what you didnt see?
Ben: Yes.
Mordecai: Who was your source of information?
Ben: Our witnesses.
Mordecai: When material was arriving at KIA, were you there?
Ben: Yes.
Mordecai: Did you see the packing list?
Ben: Yes
Mordecai: Did you inspect them?
Ben: My team did.
Mordecai: Was there anything that was reported to you as unusual?
Ben: No.
Mordecai: When did you become awarr of the reserved Tally Sheets?
Ben: It was during one of the NECOF meetings.
Mordecai: Who gave that information?
Ben: MEC, Mr. Munkhondia
Mordecai: Did you pose any question on these reserves?
Ben: We did.
Observations by Cornelius Wa Mapira
On Friday Saulos Chilima’s lawyer Chikosa Silungwe cross examined Local government Minister and DPP director of elections Dr. Ben Phiri.
Counsel Tembenu set pace on Thursday when he told the court in his brief statement that despite some immaterial irregularities torch bearer won the presidency fair and square.
Dr Ben Phiri’s approach followed the same Pattern, accepting that there were a few issues that would have done better but these few mishaps does not warrant fresh nullification of results and a call for fresh elections.
Dr Ben Phiri confirmed that tippex was used, duplicate tally sheets were used, things that were already confirmed by the MEC chair prior to announcements of results and MEC lawyers during cross examination.
Dr Ben Phiri’s narrative is that DPP did not rig elections but as a party that took part in the elections, they also noticed some challenges which in his opinion does not warrant nullification of results.
Dr Silungwe used the audit report as the basis of his questions, issues like use of tippex, duplicate sheets, and some results that auditors queried but we’re signed by party representatives.
Dr Ben Phiri was composed and took questions very well up to the extent that Chilima’s lawyers suspected that he had notes somewhere he was referring to.
Then came the issue of Dr Ben Phiri’s qualifications. To be honest Dr Ben Phiri was not in a court as an expert witness. I wouldn’t mind if he was just asked about his qualifications but asking him about his thesis etc. was just too personal and in my lay man opinion am failing to relate that to the case in court apart from just want to embarrass the witness.
In Conclusion a thorough analysis of today’s cross examination will reveal that Dr Silungwe failed to establish anything with his cross-examination. It was utterly a waste of time and did not prove or disprove any fact. All his questions were left hanging in the air. It was as if he did not study in preparation for his cross examination.
Written by Patseni Mauka
In keeping with the tradition of making sure that a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President is a ‘Mutharika’, Gertrude Mutharika is planning to take over as leader of DPP when President Peter Mutharika retires or gets incapacitated. Despite being old and frail, 80-year-old Mutharika is standing for a second term.
Malawi politics is full of party dynasties which are a threat to democracy because leaders are chosen on family reasons not their capabilities. Parties like United Democratic Front (UDF) and People’s Party (PP) are almost at the point of extinction because of unilateral decisions by leaders who feel their families own the parties. UDF belongs to the Muluzi’s, DPP to the Mutharika’s and PP belongs to the Banda dynasty.
The DPP, which in the 2009 general elections scooped a majority of 112 seats in parliament and got 66 percent of the votes for the presidential election, is on the decline with latest research showing that its popularity is way below 25 percent. This is because the party is run like a tribal club and a Mutharika farm.
In what was supposed to be a secret plan, at first, Gertrude Mutharika wanted President Mutharika to select her as running mate, a suggestion that was quickly abandoned because of the realization that Malawians would oppose the terrible idea of having the president and his wife on a ballot paper.
Then she pondered on the idea of having scandalous DPP’s Director of Elections Ben Phiri as running mate to Mutharika. Upon consultation with Mutharika’s other puppet-master bodyguard Norman Chisale, she settled for Everton Chimulilenji because he comes from Chisale’s home district of Ntcheu and is a puppet who can be easily manipulated.
Until the day for presentation of nomination papers, many DPP gurus didn’t know who would be picked as running mate. When Chimulilenji’s name was unveiled, senior DPP members were disappointed and sad. Among the most disappointed faces were Goodall Gondwe, Bright Msaka, Henry Mussa and Kondwani Nankhumwa. Even the foul-mouthed Charles Mchacha could not afford a plastic smile.
A few months after his appointment, there is still evidence that Chimulilenji is overwhelmed. He didn’t expect it and he know he is not good enough for the post. Although DPP is trying so hard to deny it, Chimulilenji is showing all signs of someone trying to seek acceptance from DPP members. Unfortunately, he is not smart enough to conceal his desperation to get accepted.
According to inside sources, with information on the president’s health, Gertrude Mutharika wants to initially have Chimulilenji as president if the president gets incapacitated. Chimulilenji would then choose her as vice president without having to face the electorate. The plan is then to use the position of vice president as a steppingstone to the presidency.
The first lady has become so powerful that government departments can’t offer contracts to any company before her verbal approval. All big contracts are now given to companies related to her or those that have made deals with her. She has become stinking rich although she has no salary or any business that could make her so rich. Among other things, she is now building flats in Lilongwe full of a tarmac road specially built for her flats. She uses her position as first lady to get money using questionable means.
According to The Nation newspaper, in November 2014 Madame Mutharika personally wrote a letter to NAC alongside, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and Mulhako wa Alomwe asking for funds that had nothing to do with Aids activities. Mutharika asked for K5 million for her Beam Trust, NIB asked for K43 million while Mulhako wa Alomwe was given K9 million.
The paper further reported that these donations came against the background of NAC announcing that it would scale down its funding mechanisms in HIV and Aids due to funding. Civil Society Organization (CSOs) tried to force the first lady to return the money but she refused.
Her current attempt to take over DPP and bid for the Malawi presidency is a continuation of her greed for money. Having easily gotten rich within the last five years, she wants to be the ultimate treasury keeper and fleece Malawi even more. A vote for Peter Mutharika is a vote for Everton Chimulilenji and a big vote for Gertrude Mutharika’s presidential ambitions.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the Publisher or the Editor of Maravi Post
In an Interview on Rainbow Television Malawi, the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of elections, Ben Phiri has sought to minimize the threat UTM Party led by Vice-president Saulos Chilima poses to the Re-election of his Boss Peter Mutharika.
Ben Phiri said that the strength of UTM is only on social media with more followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, higher posting frequencies, and more fan engagement (e.g. likes, comments and shares) but they have negligible voters on the ground in Malawi.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD1MH7IHAkI[/embedyt]
“Most people who make noise on social media in support of UTM are not in Malawi. They are not voters. They are well known noise makers and attention seekers on Facebook while staying abroad [UK, USA],” Ben said. He told programme host Aubrey Kusakala that the watershed elections are a battle between oldest Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and DPP.
Phiri said DPP is very popular due to various development programmes which the Peter Mutharika administration has undertaken, branding the President as “Mr. Deliverer”.
Dr. Ben Phiri cited various developments which the party has undertaken since being ushered into power in 2014.
The year after Mutharika took power in 2014, floods that wracked the southern African nation and forced more than 200,000 people from their homes and killed at least 176 were followed by drought and widespread food shortages.
He also cited that rebuilding efforts were hampered by a foreign-aid freeze after the Cashgate scandal during the Joyce Banda administration that saw as much as $33 million allegedly looted from state coffers.
However the DPP government took painful steps to stabilize the economy and the currency, the kwacha, and brought inflation down from a peak of 24 percent to a single digit.
Ben Phiri has promised in the past that he will do everything that he is capable of to see Mutharika return as the president in the May 2019 Elections. He has promised that Malawi President Peter Mutharika will rule till 2024 until God give us the alternative that time.
