Tag Archives: Dr Jessie Kabwila

MIM equips 22 public officers in effective financial report writing

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-About 22 participants drawn from Ministry of Finance, Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) and, Malawi Institute of procurement and supply (MIPS) have been graduated from Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) in Effective Report Writing Skills.

Speaking after awarded participants with certificate, MIM Acting Executive Director Dr. Jessie Kabwila expects outstanding and improved reports submission in government department.

Public officers training in effective report writing

Dr. Kabwila observes that finance governance needs effective reports hence the training

Kabwila therefore disclosed that MIM will continue to monitor and evaluate participants’ output after the training for improved work performance

“This is a historic and memorable occasion for us at MIM because we have been given a rare opportunity by Chuma Cha Dziko Project to facilitate this course for 22 participants in four (4) days. The main objective of this training course is to equip participants with skills and knowledge necessary for effective writing of work reports.

“It is a common practice that every job holder is required to report work performance and results for a particular period to their line authority,” she says.

Kabwila presenting certificate to a participant on effective reporting

Kabwila adds, “It is only through good reports that supervisors are able to make appropriate decisions and actions in an organisation. In this modern era, good decisions are made based on empirical evidence and therefore reports provide necessary information to facilitate the decision making.

“Recently, we have heard of an outcry in public service for substandard reports, letters and memos that are provided to the Cabinet members from their subordinates. Therefore, this course has come at the right time as it will address some of these challenges”.

Ministry of Finance’s Director of Public Finance Management Reforms (PFMR) Mrs. M. Mhango therefore lauded MIM for equipping officers with skills.

Mhango expects outstanding work output than before.

The training therefore covered following areas fundamentals of effective report writing, setting clear objectives, general requirements of an effective report, report templates and formats, writing rules, use of graphics and charts, use of citations and references, report presentation skills and among others.

Through Chuma Cha Dziko program, the training was funded by European Union (EU).

This is the first cohort MIM has trained after the passing of Malawi School of Government Bill.

The training ran from September 6 to 9, 2022 at MIM Lilongwe campus.

MIM board appoints Dr. Jessie Kabwila as Acting CEO

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) board has appointed Dr. Jessie Kabwila as acting Executive Director

Dr. Kabwila appointment follows the suspension of three top managers of over MK20 million expenditures for a conference with ‘artificial’ participants in December 2021 which was presided over by Vice President Saulos Chilima.

Jessie Kabwira Under Fire
Jesse Kabwila now Acting MIM CEO

Board Chairperson Lewis Dzimbiri has confirmed suspending Acting Executive Director Samson Sikelo Phiri, acting Director of Training and Consultancy a Mr. Jambo and acting Director of Finance Catherine Mselemu.

Kabwila rises MIM’s hierarchy a year after joined the institution.

She once served as Salima North-West lawmaker from 2014 to 2019.

Former Malawi’ Salima North-West lawmaker Jessie Kabwila drags Health Sciences boss Chidyaonga to court for defamation

Dr Kabwila (carrying hand bag) coming outside the courtroom

By Angella Semu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Renown academician, rights activist and politician, Dr. Jessie Kabwila has dragged a Lecturer of Malawi Health Sciences Dr. Fresier Chidyaonga for defamation several months after a confrontation between the two at Malawi College of Health Sciences.

Kabwila the former Salima North-West lawmaker and Chidyaonga appeared in court for hearing on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Lilongwe.

According to Kabwila, the confrontation between the two happened on the morning of December 19, 2020 last year when they met at the entrance of Malawi College of health Sciences in Lilongwe when she visited the premise to find out the bid to supply tomatoes that the college advertised.

It is reported that Chidyaonga denied Kwabwila passage at the gate of the college and called her a “prostitute” when she was about to leave the place.

Kabwala also disclosed that Chidyaonga poured alcohol on her on top of the defaming act and delayed her for about an hour.

The politician reported the matter to Chitsime police before proceeding to Area 3 police.

According to Kabwila, prior to the first court hearing, she received some information that indicated that Chidyaonga wanted to settle the matter out of court but nobody came to her for such proceedings.

During the court hearing yesterday, Chidyaonga made an appeal to the high court to find out if his rights have been infringed.

However, the court dismissed the appeal and the case was adjourned to August 12, 2021.

Dr. Fresier Chidyaonga Maseko is Executive Director and Lecturer in Health Systems Management, Policy and Research and the Deputy Head of the Department at Malawi college of Health Sciences.

G20 challenged on unconditional debt cancellation for poor countries to tackle Covid-19 spike

G20 challenged on unconditional debt cancellation for poor countries; FEAM

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Feminist Macro-Economic Alliance Malawi (FEAM) on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 called upon G20 (World rich countries) to unconditionally cancel debt for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in a bid to tackle Covid-19 crisis.

The call comes in the sidelines of The Global Week of Action (GWOA) for Debt Cancellation underway worldwide.

This to contribute raising awareness about the debt issues and call for the cancellation without conditions attached.

The campaign is the way of amplifying civil and social movement’s voices on issues of fiscal justice and public services.

With Covid-19 worldwide, people have lost loves ones; communities been shattered as the global health crisis has a terrible impact on countries’ economies hence the call for debt cancellation.

For instance, Malawi being one of LDCs faces debt crisis from foreign lending institutions that its fiscal deficit continues to widen above SADC set threshold of 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Dr. Jessie Kabwila, former Chairperson of SADC Parliamentary Women’s Caucus addressing the news conference

Addressing the new conference in the capital Lilongwe feminist alliance observes the stock of debt Malawi has accumulated in the past five years from MK2.41 trillion to MK4.1 trillion is a burden to implementation of developmental projects.

“With such unsustainably high debt, Malawi will in 2020/2021 fiscal year spend more money on debt payments to rich governments or foreign lender institutions than in healthcare or other key public services.

“The situation is pathetic especially considering the current public health crisis of Covid-19 and therefore is no doubt that this will force government to take fresh loans to finance the global pandemic response and recovery which will result in deeper debt problems soon”, reads part of the statement.

Leading the presser Dr. Jessie Kabwila, former Chairperson of SADC Parliamentary Women’s Caucus observes that Malawi including other countries in the region cannot fight Covid-19 amid huge debts that victims are women, children and young girls.

Kabwila says debt cancellation is the fastest way to keep money with LDCs to enable them increase spending on healthcare, providing safety net to vulnerable people, financing the building of economies and among others.

“Debt cancellation should not be a question of mercy or forgiveness but as question of justice and survival,” challenges Kabwila, former lawmaker for Salima North-West constituency.

Action Aid Malawi Executive Director, Assan Golowa chipped in urging governments to commit to proper usage of resources freed from debt addressing immediate needs for vital and universal healthcare and social protection.

Jessica Mandanda, Activista Youth Network echoed on the same that freed resources from debt cancellation must efficiently reach youth on economic empowerment programs.

Feminist Macro-Economic Alliance Malawi (FEAM) composed of Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) NGO Gender Coordination Network, Actionaid, Every Girl In School Alliance (Egisa) OSISA, Activista and mHub.

Malawians fired up against COVID-19 lockdown……Citizens demand incentives

Locals against lockdown

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawians in all most corners of the country on Friday, April 17, 2020 showed anger against government decision on 21 days lockdown aimed at reducing further spread of the virus.

Residents from Mulanje, Chitipa, Karonga, Mangochi and Lilongwe went on rampage against the decision.

They demanded sedatives before the lockdown including free food, free electricity, water and among others if the decision was to be implemented.

For instance residents of the impoverished slum of Kawuma in the capital Lilongwe vowed that come rain and sunshine will defy a 21 day national lockdown arguing that no money and food could sustain them during that period.

The residents said this when rights activist and politician Dr. Jessie Kabwila visited the area as former Malawi’s Parliamentary Women Caucus chairperson on a mission to appreciate people’s concerns of the planned lockdown.

Vice Chairperson for Kawuma market, Emron Manyenje lockdown was a non starter based on their incomes.

“We are rejecting this. We will continue business as usual because that is how most of us earn a living. We will not just sit there and watch ourselves dying of hunger,” said Manyenje amid cheers of approval from scores of other residents.

Tanazio Seka who survives by doing piece works observed that government could find other means of containing the spread of the pandemic.

“I walk everyday to places such as area 18, 14, 15 and several others to wash clothes just to earn some money to buy food for my seven children. I also live in a rented house. What will happen if they say I should stay home?” she wondered.

Mphatso Jumbe, fish seller chipped in; “We order our fish from central market almost daily. So, if those markets are closed, where are we going to source fish. This is none starter. We wont accept this”.

The former Salima North-West therefore said she visited the area to hear people’s concerns over the planned lockdown while giving them a platform to air out their sentiments.

“This lockdown has been hurried and declared without considering the plight of poor people such as these. Most of them are just mere labourers or small scale business operators who aim at earning some little money to buy food for the day. Telling them to stay home is just the same as telling them to die.

“The lockdown could have been a good thing especially if authorities considered providing social safety nets to the poor to cushion them from the effects of the lockdown. Otherwise, we find this to be a bad policy aimed at impinging on people’s rights to food and livelihood which we will not allow,” said Kabwila.

Consequently, later the afternoon High Court Judge Andrew Kenyata granted Human Rights Defenders Coalition injunction stopping government from implementing the lockdown for the next seven days waiting judicial review.

President Peter Mutharika announced the lockdown which was slated from midnight on April 18 to May 9, 2020.

President Mutharika justified the decision warning that Malawi risks losing up to 50,000 lives if the country does not act with haste and slow the spread of Covid-19.

The lockdown will, among other things, restrict movements, confine people in their homes and allow them only to trade or buy in their localities within specified time limits.

World Health Organization (WHO) this week observed that poor countries including lockdown would be not an idea without providing sedatives.

As of April 17, 2020, Malawi had 17 COVID-19 cases with two deaths.

Desperate time; Aspirant Enock Phale sets up primaries for MCP Salima North West Constituency

Enock Phale 

 

By Nenenji Mlangeni

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-Pure comedy has unfolded in Salima North West Constituency where aspirant Enock Phale through his campaign manager Samson Kennedy also known as Mzimuwoyera has organized Malawi Congress Party  (MCP) Parliamentary primaries for the constituency undermining the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Regional executive Committee arguing that they are delaying in setting up exercise.

 

This follows a meeting attended by aspirant Phale,his father,Salima MCP District Chair Mr Chimphoyo, Samson Kennedy and others where it was initially agreed that they should just bring people disguised as Party Area committee members at Kanjuwi Primary School where they will demand that there should be no primary elections.

But rather the District and Regional Chairmen should recommend a candidate rather than the incumbent Dr Jessie Kabwila as the party’s candidate in next year’s Parliamentary elections.

 

This was an apparent indirect endorsement for Enock Phale who however is not popular with the legitimate Party areas and cannot therefore win a genuine election.

 

Sensing that this scheme would not work,the group  changed plans and decided to still use the same people to turn up for a staged primary elections on Monday, December 17, 2018 where Phale will be made the winner.

 

It is not known how this plan will be taken up by the Party hierarchy as the legitimate Area Committee members have vowed to come on the day and die  for the party they have served for years on end to ensure nobody steals their right.

MCP declares Kabwira as their torch bearer for Salima North West Constituency in 2019 Polls

MCP declares Kabwira as their torch bearer for Salima North West
Constituency in 2019 Polls

By Christina Matoga, Mec Stringer

The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President Sidik Mia has declared
Jesse Kabwira as the party’s candidate for Salima North West
Constituency during the2019 tripartite elections.

Mia has therefore urged her and
other aspirant members of parliament from other constituencies and
councilors respectively to work in unity and make the party strong.

Speaking during a political rally on Tuesday at Works ground in the
district, Mia advised party officials from Lake Shore regional and
district offices to work together with party contenders in all the
constituencies and wards saying the unity will strengthen MCP and win
the elections.

“We need unity so our party becomes stronger and this enables MCP
defeat the current government which is putting majority Malawian lives
in misery with squandering of tax payer’s money meant for drugs,
alleviation of hunger through universal subsidy, good infrastructures
such as roads, modern markets among others,” he said.

He then introduced the party aspirants including Kabwira who some
party officials from the region and district declares as disqualified
and was burring her to contest in primaries elections in Salima North
West and were opting for her opponent Enock Phale.

In his part Kabwira said she is happy MCP still follows its four
corner pillars to bring sanity especially in her constituency where
primary polls was cancelled twice because of some greedy people.

“The coming of the Vice President of MCP here in Salima is very
important for the people of Salima North West Constituency because the
VP declares me as a torch bearer of the party in 2019 polls.

This is a
relief for me and people in my constituency,” she said.

She added that it is time for the party to work together as a family
and strategize well on how they can win the tripartite elections next
year and not wasting time in pulling each other down.

Kabwira then thanked MCP VP who honored the aspirants request to stop
by after attending IGITMA prayers at Chipoka and addresses people.

MCP up for primaries in Kabwila, Lunguzi, Daudi constistuencies Saturday

By Mercy Kawenga, MEC Stringer 

 

The much anticipated Malawi Congress Party( MCP) primary elections are set for Saturday in Salima North West and Dedza East constituencies respectively while for Dowa South East, still in court.

In all of these constituencies, there are women aspirants such as Dr. Jessie Kabwila, Juliana Lunguzi and Halima Daudi who is battling in court  after a court injunction was  obtained against her by the sitting M.P Harry Njoka Chipeni over the way the elections were being handled in Dowa South East.

This is the second time the MCP will be conducting primaries in Salima North West and Dedza East after the first ones were suspended due to violence and while for Dowa South East, the elections didn’t take place as their were differences on the number of  electoral colleges to vote which resulted to the sitting M.P obtaining a court injunction.

However, the party has communicated to all the aspirants advising them to be accompanied by bodyguards to the primary elections venue, a development which is strange and the first of its kind in the mighty MCP.

 

It has been reported that the party has agreed with all the aspirants that only area committees will vote and not constituency, district or regional ones.

Dowa District Council’s chair, Dowa West_ Kayembe ward councilor,  Simeon Nyemba, confirmed that Dowa South East primaries will not  be conducted until the High Court lift the injunction.

Nyemba expressed hope that in the second election to come for Dowa South East, a clear winner will be decided saying the party is working on the area committees to vote.

Primary elections in MCP have been marred by disagreements, complaints and violence prompting some losing candidates accusing the party officials conducting elections of coming with preferred names in their pockets and 23 aspirants are reported to have taken the party to court for failing to handle the primaries in the interest of all.

But, speaking during a District Multi party liason committee meeting held at the Dowa boma recently, Public Affairs Committee( PAC)  Dowa chair, Reverend Fr. Elias Chizule, called on organisations claiming to be supporting women in a quest for 50:50 campaign to assist losing women aspirants in primaries and have capacity to win the elections to stand independent.

Fr. Chizule recommended for a deliberate law which must be put in place to nominate women as MPs and councilors saying the current hostile political environment is not conducive for them to compete against men who have huge resources of supporting their campaign trail.

In his remarks, NGO Gender Coordination Network( GCN) Programs Officer, Anthony Mkupira said organisations for 50:50 campaign have no powers of guiding women who failed in the primaries to stand independent saying it is up the candidate herself to decide which way to go

MCP faction led by Msowoya pens party president Chakwera accusing him of abjuration from December agreement

Lazarus Chakwera
MCP Leader Lazarus Chakwera

The Malawi Congress Party group that was for most of the last two years at loggerheads with the party leadership led by Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, on January 12, 2018 penned their president accusing him of retracting from agreements made at the famous December 2, 2017 meeting.

During the famous meeting party president Lazarus Chakwera and the MCP faction made up of Vice President and Speaker of Parliament Msowoya, Secretary General Kaliwo and publicity secretary Dr Jessie Kabwila, were welcomed back into the party as president Dr Chakwera extended an olive branch to the group. Continue reading MCP faction led by Msowoya pens party president Chakwera accusing him of abjuration from December agreement