Tag Archives: Dr. Jessie Kabwira

Law and order, Lifestyle

Omega Protection Services sheriffed over Malawian workers’ MK6m nine months unpaid wages

Lloyd M’bwana
Concerned workers at IRC in Lilongwe on Friday

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Industrial Relation Court (IRC) on Friday, October 8, 2021 ordered sheriff to seize security firm, Omega Protection Services’ properties to settle MK6,050,000.00 unpaid wages owing workers.

The ruling comes after Omega failed to pay 43 workers in Lilongwe for the last nine months following legal complaint to the IRC.

The case No.IRC 418 of 2021 as consolidated with IRC 417 of 2021 between Etta Lifa, Christopher Dizimoni and others against Omega, the court ordered the company to settle the payment by October 7, 2021 after several attempt to settle the matter outside the court.

The concerned workers are being represented by Dr Jessie Kabwira while a Mr Banda represents Omega before IRC deputy chairperson H.Mpemba.

Concerned workers told The Maravi Post on Friday outside the court in the capital Lilongwe that the court had done them favor to seize the company’s properties for wages settling.

“The court has ordered Sheriff to impound Omega properties to settle our nine months wages. We are tired and sick over the company’s hide and seek. We have our families to feed. We cant stay working without pay,” says Betha Chary outside the court.

Dr Kabwira also lauded the court for bailing out concerned workers saying companies must able support their workers in times of need not hide and seek.

She however reminded authorities to help the poor when need be.

According to court documents show that Sheriff will seize Omega’s properties at head office in Blantyre on Monday, October 11, 2021.

There was no immediate reaction from Omega officials on the court ruling.

Lifestyle, Politics

Former Malawi’ Salima North-West lawmaker Jessie Kabwira quits active politics: Back to academia

Maravi Post Reporter


Kabwira: Let me concentrate on academic issues now.

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Vice President Saulos Chilima’s UTM party senior member Dr Jessie Kabwira has resigned from the active politics.

Kabwira’s quitting from active politics comes barely few months after UTM’s Publicity Secretary Chidanti Malunga resigned from his position and left the party.

Firebrand Jessie Kabwira is set to resign from the party and politics in general to concentrate on academic work.

In her WhatsApp post she said” Greetings Comrades. Just to let you know that I will be resigning from active politics with immediate effect. I am joining Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) as Executive Dean. Will be posting my resignation letter soon. Though you should hear it from me first”.

She confirmed to The Maravi Post of joining MIM but did not give more details of her political future.


Kabwira who was pushed out of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for her refusal stand on leadership’s undemocratic tendencies. She later joined UTM.

The former Salima North West lawmaker has had her political career going side ways for some time now after losing her Parliamentary seat on UTM ticket in Salima.

Her resignation has triggered different reactions with quarters of the society questioning UTM stability strategy as senior and key members keep jumping off the ship.

Kabwira was among the forefront campaign organizers who did their best for Tonse Alliance to lead in the 2020 fresh Presidential Elections.

Politics, Top News

MP Kabwila snubs MCP’s Salima North West illegitimate ‘primaries’ called by aspirant Phale

Maravi Post Reporter

MP-Kabwila-with-Salima-North-West-Constituency-committee-addressing-the-news-conference-at-Parliament-Building.jpg 

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Salima North West Constituency, Dr Jessie Kabwira on Monday turned down the participation of primary elections which her competitor Enoch Phale planed to hold.

MP Kabwila has described the elections as  ambush, illegitimate which her opponents want to use to disturbilize the party’s popularity.

The outspoken lawmaker told news conference at Parliament building that aspirant Phale is the Democratic Progressive party (DPP) agent wanting cause havoc among MCP supporters a head of 2019 elections.

Here is the full statement of Kabwila to  Director of Elections,

Hon Dr. Jessie KABWILA not attending the ambushed, illegitimate ‘primaries’ called by aspirant Phale

 

I would like to let you know that I’m not attending the ‘primaries’ that have been called by aspirant Enock Phale’s Campaign director and vice constituency chair Mr Samson Kennedy for the following reasons:

 

In MCP primaries are called by the Director of Elections through the Regional office. They are not called by a constituency chair. To make matters worse Mr Kennedy (also known as Mzimuwoyera) is infact not constituency Chair but rather vice to Mr Makamu who was duly elected via the party’s sanctioned polls.

 

Mr Mzimuwoyera came second and immediately decided to work with my rival , Phale .Please find attached ,the letter he wrote informing me of the primaries. The letter was not even given  to me directly but rather through one of the Councillors for the area, Mr Amos.

 

The second reason is that the Regional chair in no less than three meetings attended by Lakeshore directors stated  that there would be no primaries in my constituency following two failed elections which your office is well aware of. One of the meetings was held at Waka Waka.

 

As late as this last  evening at around 17hrs, he assured me that on Monday he was going to see the Director of Elections to inform him that the Region has decided not to have elections in Salima NW  but go for a political solution.

 

He told me to wait at Jacqueline motel in Salima where we had held our meeting so that he could put everything in writing. I waited until 11 pm but he did not turn up and ignored my messages let alone picking my calls.

 

I therefore find these primaries bogus , illegitimate and clearly tailored to ensure that I lose.  I was not informed of them properly and have not prepared for such unlawful primaries because the RC emphasised that he had spoken to the Region and that there would be no primaries.

I have to say at the least, I have been ambushed.

Yours Sincerely ,

Dr Jessie Kabwila MP, Salima Noth West.

 

However, MCP Spokesperson, Maurice Munthali also described the elections as illegal that the party is not aware of such arrangement.

Malawi, Politics, Top News

MP Kabwira dares detractors over her loyalty to MCP despite party’s political punches

Maravi Post Reporter

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Salima North-West constituency, Dr. Jessie Kabwira on Sunday dared detractors who are spreading rumours that she is no longer the party’s member.

Dr Kabwira has once again reaffirmed total commitment to MCP saying will not leave for other parties.

The outspoken lawmaker Dr.says she remains MCP loyal members despite the party’s political punches she keeps on getting when striving for constitutionalism.

The Salima-North West lawmaker added that she will die in the party no matter how hard the path might be when she is pushing for law and order in the party.

Kabwira was addressing the political rally at Katitima Primary school ground in her constituency following the party’s Lake shore regional committee along side with district chairperson dissolving the constituency committee.

She wondered as to why the constituency committee be dissolved without following party procedures when a normally was committed.

“Its still absurd to learn that some party members are still on my neck. Even going further to dissolve my constituency committee. They are doing all this despite my issues with the party is in the court.

“Let me remind, my detractors that despite all type of plots to end me politically, I will never leave MCP to another party. I will remain MCP and die MCP,” fumed Kabwira franked by MCP vice district chairperson and constituency chair.

Kabwira along side with Secretary General (SG) Gustavo Kaliwo, Vice President Richard Msowoya, deputy secretary general James Kaunda, treasurer general Tony Kandiero were suspend by MCP NEC for unknown reasons.

Consequently, High Court seating in Blantyre on February 01,this year came to their rescue after granting a stay order stopping MCP leadership to suspend them until inter-parte hearing.

According to the civil case number 34 of 2018 is between claimants; Secretary General (SG) Gustavo Kaliwo, Vice President Richard Msowoya, deputy secretary general James Kaunda, treasurer general Tony Kandiero and Publicity Secretary Jessie Kabwira, and defendants; MCP President Lazarus Chakwera, Ezekiel Ching’oma and NEC members.

The court therfore ordered the MCP NEC not to summon any claimants to the disciplinary inquires and from suspending them until trial of action or until further order of the court.

“Until the hearing of the inter-parte application for an injunction or until a further order, the defendant by either themselves, their agents, servants or otherwise however be and are hereby restrained from inviting the claimant to a disciplinary or suspending them from their member of Malawi Congress Party or from perform their duties of the position that they hold in the party.

“If you disobey this order, you may be found guilty of contempt of court and may be sent to prison or fined of your assets may be seized. Within the next 14 days an inter-parte summons must be issued,” reads the stay order.

The claimants are represented by lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale and the stay order has been served already to MCP leadership and NEC.

The inter-parte hearing has been slated this week after it failed to commerce last week over technical issues that needed to be addressed before the proceedings.

Malawi, Politics, Top News

MCP “black sheep” Mkaka left in the cold for defying Chakwera’s unity calls

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party'(MCP) “black sheet” member Eisenhower Mkaka has been left in the cold following his defying tendencies of the party’s leadership unity calls.

Mkaka who has been acting as both MCP Publicity Secretary (PS) and Secretary General (SG) before party President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s December 1, 2017 reinstatement of some National Executive Members (NEC), fails to swallow his pride for unity course.

On Friday, Mkaka who held Second Deputy SG, a position which does not exist in the party structures, told Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) that the press conference which Dr. Jessie Kabwira held in the capital Lilongwe on various issues that has been affecting Malawians in the year ending 2017, was done without the blessing of the party leadership.

He went further arguing that Dr. Kabwira was fired that MCP’ NEC has not reinstated her hence the Friday presser was out of Kabwira’s personal interest not of the party.

This did not go down well with SG Gustavo Kaliwo who told the same radio station on Saturday that the party was not happy with infighting on positions.

Kaliwo clearly backed Kabwira who is also the Member of Parliament (MCP) for Salima North-West that she remains the party legitimate spokesperson arguing that Mkaka’s position does not exist in MCP current constitution.

“I am equally unhappy with this infighting of who holds whats in the party. As the secretary general of MCP, has not written any letter informing the public that Dr. Kabwira was fired from her position. She remains the legitimate MCP spokesperson.

“With the current MCP constitution, Mkaka position does not exist. So, he dont have the mandate to speak for the party. If any issue rises that needs the party’s verification, better consult MCP President, Vice and my office of the Secretary General,” clears out the mess Kaliwo.

Even ZBS reportedly verified with other senior party members backing Kaliwo and Kabwira’s stand on the matter consequently leaving Mkaka alone as a “Black sheet” without a backing including party leadership Chakwera and Richard Msowoya.

This also just vindicate The Maravi Post article came up with early this month that some three MCP lawmakers Amon Nkhata, Richard Chimwendo Banda and Dimba were unhappy with the party’s leader Chakwera decision to mend fences with members deemed to be rebels, “Nkholokolo”.

Some of notable “Nkholokolos” (rebels) including MCP SG Kaliwo, Joseph Njovuyalema, MCP PS Kabwira, MCP treasure Tony Kandiero and MCP Director of Research Lingison Belekanyama among others whose positions have been reversed to them per 2013 MCP convention.

The trio even threatened to quit if Chakwera decision materialized in its totality per announcement made during the December 1, press conference.

Inside MCPs sources at time told The Maravi Post that the three lawmakers who have been behind feeding the party’s leadership lies which ended up labeling some members, “Nkholokolo”.

Despite the trio’s threat to quit the party, the source added that Chakwera told the disgruntled legislators that the matter was under the bridge which cannot be reversed as the party was towards rebuilding a head of 2019 elections.

The MCP President who is also opposition leaders in Malawi Parliament condemned and challenged them to quit because he is there to defend the party’s constitution.

But one of the lawmakers Chimwendo disputed the allegations arguing that he was not aware of such plans of against anyone in the party.

Chakwera publically re-instituted party positions including MCPs First Deputy President (Richard Msowoya), deputy president (Macdonald Lombola), Secretary General (Gustavo Kaliwo), Treasure General (Tony Kandiero) and deputy SG (Chatonda Kaunda).

This follows the inner circle meeting Chakwera had with them prior to the news conference at the party’s headquarters in the capital Lilongwe after a year of loggerheads.

Other re-instituted party positions were; Tony Kandiero moves back to his elected position as Party’s Treasurer General replacing Rhino Chiphiko while Khumbize Chiponda takes over from Chipuwa as Deputy Treasurer General.

Louis Chakhwantha moved back from Director of Youth to Legal Advisor whilst Lobin Lowe moves back to Director of Youth from Organizing Secretary.

Mkaka moved back to deputize Moses Khombe in Organizing Directorate such that Dorothy Chirambo takes back her position as National Director of Women Affairs.

Henry Kamata shifted back to Director of Elections as Veteran politician Lingison Belekanyama reclaims his position as Director of Research

Dr. Jessie Kabwira went back to her position as Party’s Publicity Secretary to be deputized by Ezekiel Ching’oma.

The MCP President disclosed that management meeting which will follow the party’s 2013 National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide on convention.

Health, Human Rights, Malawi, Top News

ARTs’ defaulting among men in Salima on rise

Maravi Post Reporter

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-The number of men defaulting the life prolonged drug, antiretroviral therapy (ART) that suppress the virus which cause HIV and AIDS is said to be on rise in the central and lakeshore district of Salima.

This is despite the decline of the district’s prevalence rate which is at 3.3 percent but still higher in urban than rural settings.

According to Salima HIV and AIDS district coordinator Lucius Njobvu, men are said to be absconding the drug due to a number of factors including discrimination, work and shyness among others.

Njobvu was speaking during this year’s district World AIDS day commemoration that was held at Chitala Primary School whose aim was to continue sensitizing communities on the pandemic’s scourge.

The HIV and AIDS Coordinator observed that only female patients are the ones patronizing public health facilities on ARTs uptake.

He therefore emphasized the need for those on ARTs to comply with prescriptions for the improvement of their health.

“The district’s general prevalence rate is down to 3.3% but its higher urban than rural areas. This is due to many men not patronizing the ARTs’ uptake. Men are defaulting the drug whose health tends to deteriorates for worse.

“My office will still intensify sensitization campaign on all aspects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic that we achieve the agenda of 90; 90; 90 by 2030,” assures Njobvu.

The lawmaker for the area-Salima North-West constituency, Dr Jessie Kabwira who was the guest of hour at the event, called for comprehensive sexual reproductive health among the youth that the scourge of the pandemic should not catch them.

Dr. Kabwira took to task those discriminating against others saying living with the virus was not a crime.

She therefore reminded the public of the passing of HIV/AIDS bill that discourage compulsory testing on pregnant women.

Malawi’s 2010 Demographic and Health Survey estimated that 10.6% of Malawians are HIV positive with different prevalence rates in geographical regions whereby the south toping the list at 14.5% seconded by central with 7.6% and the north at 6.6% while the rural populace trending at 8.7% so with the urban at 17.4%.

Of the estimated 1.1 million Malawians living with HIV an average of 590,517 are expected to be taking ART during 2015 and 775,202 in 2018 representing 70% coverage as currently only 27% are being met on Viral Load Testing (VLT).

Health, Law and order, Malawi, Obituaries, Politics, Top News

MCP demands commission of inquiry on Luanar’s student Prince Kamwanza death

Maravi Post Reporter

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) on Monday demanded thorough commission of inquiry surrounding the death of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar-Bunda Campus) student, Prince Kamwanza.

MCP has accused the Malawi Police Services for brutality towards innocent students who had rights to demonstrate on what was wrong.

The party observed that it is the same scenario which the former Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa went through in the hand of the police.

MCP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Jessie Kabwira told the gathering during the burial of the late Kamwanza at his home village Sombe, Traditional Authority (T.A) Nkhombedza in Salima that it was very unfortunate for the police to claim that the death was natural.

Dr. Kabwira, the lawmaker for Salima North West who represented MCP President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at the funeral observed that police brutality cannot go unnoticed for action.

Outspoken Kabwira reminded the authority of that taking law into their hands was against human right and international protocols the nation is aligned to.

“ It’s unfair to claim that the late Prince died of natural cause when evidence is all over that the police beat these students severely during the demonstration. This is total brutality the police shown to the innocent student whose course was nothing to battle with authority.

“If we keep on killing these students, how are we going to have a better Malawi? Do these police officers know how much a parent takes to raise a child till university does? MCP is therefore demanding a special commission of the enquiry on the death of Prince Kamwanza including the entire fracas,” demands Kabwira.

The Salima North-West lawmaker was together with MCP lakeshore committee but no police or government officials were present at the burial ceremony.

During the burial ceremony, the late Prince parents minced no word saying did not have answers to the death of their son.

“God has taken what was for our pride. The world will not give us answers. Its only God who will tell us what exactly happened to our child,” said the parent after the burial.

Luanar Vice Chancellor George Kanyama Phiri led the students burying Prince who was born in 1998 and he scored 14 points in his Malawi School Certification Education (MSCE) at Nkhatabay Secondary School.

Police National Spokesperson James Kadadzera declines calls on several times when Maravi Post wanted the law enforcers to respond on the allegation that they had a hand in the death of Prince.

Following the demonstration temporarily shut down the Bunda College a week after students hold a demonstration against the electricity crisis at the campus.

According to a letter dated 13th December, 2017 and signed by the University Registrar Dr Philip Kaonda this is because the students demolished private and constitutional properties during the demos.
The students were protesting against unstoppable blackouts that have inflicted the national’s social-economic welfare, the worst of the country’s history.

District News, Health

Hope for Cancer Foundation to upscale Think Pink activities, in January 2018 — Khondowe

Lloyd M’bwana

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-The Think Pink Malawi is on the verge of upscaling its activities through an indepenent body, Hope for Cancer Foundation (HCF) starting January, 2018.

The establishment of HCF comes amid high demand for public awareness on cancer through only the month of October engagements.

The Foundation is expected to embrace all Think Pink activities through out the year and reach the remotest areas of Malawi for awareness and screening activities.

In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post over the weekend, and on the sidelines of Think Punk public awareness and screening at Traditional Authority (T.A) Khombedza in Salima, Brandina Khondowe, Think Pink Malawi founder observed that the time was ripe to upscale the grouping activities to reach many rural areas in Malawi.

Khondowe, the former Miss Malawi said the HCF will carry out all the Think Pink activities throughout the year.

“The month of October has been the month for Think Pink campaign, which is not enough to reach many people. We want our activities to be ongoing on a daily basis, hence the establishmenent of the Foundation.

” The Foundation will carry all Think Pink activities starting from January 2018. We hope lead to scale up our awareness and screening activities as the demand is so huge,” she said.

Khondowe was overwhelmed with the response that Salima women made on screening; she said the initiative was bearing intended its fruits.

In her remarks, Dr. Jessie Kabwira, MP for Salima North-West constituency where the event took place, lauded the group for responding to her call for screening services in rural communities.

Dr. Kabwira called upon constituents to embrace the initiative, which will be continued at Khombedza health centre.

During the event, the Lilongwe Roundtable made a cask donation of MK700,000.00 for the purchasing of a mammogram machine.

The Think Pink Malawi this year partnered with International Women Association of Malawi (IWAM) to conduct breast cancer awareness through out the entire month of October.

Launched in 2014 by the former Miss Malawi, Brandina Khondowe, the Think Pink initiative has been run under the theme “early detection of cancer is key for survival.”

Since 2014, Think Pink has reached out to over 5,000 women with a total of 2,000 women physically examined and 50 others sent for further diagnostic testing at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.

Lifestyle

Malawi Parliamentary Women Caucus secures Scottish First Minister Sturgeon’s Malawi visit; to bankroll retention program

Lloyd M’bwana

Jessie Kabwira and Minister Nicholas Sturgeon
Dr. Jessie Kabwira on Friday disclosed that the Scottish First Minister Nicholas Sturgeon will visit Malawi in 2018; the first time in the history of the partnership between the two – Pic @Maravipost 2010

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)– Malawi’s Parliamentary Women Caucus Chairperson, Dr. Jessie Kabwira on Friday disclosed that the Scottish First Minister Nicholas Sturgeon will visit Malawi in 2018; the first time in the history of the partnership between the two.

 

First Minister Sturgeon’s (Scottish head minister) visit to Malawi will enhance the mutal relationship between Malawi and Scotland, that dates to the explorer and missionary, Dr. David Livingston in the 1860s that led to Great Britain declare then Nyasalanda protectirate in 1891.

 

Sturgeon will among others, observe women’s roles in national politics and their aspurations to achieve 50:50 agenda across the board in Malawi. Continue reading Malawi Parliamentary Women Caucus secures Scottish First Minister Sturgeon’s Malawi visit; to bankroll retention program →

Human Rights, Politics

SADC Parliamentary Women’s Caucus pushes for sexual reproductive health rights’ operationalization

Lloyd M’bwana

HARARE-(MaraviPost)- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Women’s Caucus on Sunday urged the regional’s heads of state to urgently operationalize Sexual Reproduction Health Rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS. They also stressed the importance of this for vulnerable girls and women.

The call comes as the region still registers the heavy burden of HIV and AIDs and STIs related diseases, high maternal mortality rate, high fertility rate, and the recent upsurge in teenage pregnancies, obstetric fistula, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as breast cancer and cervical cancer among others.

In a capacity-building session held at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Center in Zimbabwe from September 28 to October 1, 2017, the SADC lawmakers agreed on three thematic areas, which need to be pushed within the next six months.

In the communiqué released and made available to The Maravi Post, the session resolved to focus on among others, advocating for amendments to the Electoral Act to guarantee 50/50 representation at the political party level; pushing for the allocation of 15% of the National Budget to health services in compliance with the Abuja Declaration on Health Spending, and conducting awareness campaigns on SRHR issues for women and girls in Members’ respective constituencies.

Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, which was at the centre of the session, will be on executing resolutions in its six-month project span.

The meeting further acknowledged that Parliamentarians in general and women Parliamentarians in particular, have a critical role to play in exerting and maintaining political pressure, influencing and scrutinizing policies and stimulating national responses to SRHR.

The workshop therefore, called for unity of purpose among women Parliamentarians regardless of their political affiliation and encouraged the women legislators to ride on the collective strength of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, as a unique platform for women to identify their needs and speak with one voice on issues affecting them, including SRHR issues.

In an interview with The Maravi Post, the Chairperson of SADC’s Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Dr Jessie Kabwila, who served as a resource person in order to enhance cross-learning during the session, emphasized the need for governments in the region to take women’s health rights issues with urgency.

Dr. Kabwira, the Malawi Parliamentary Women’s CaucusChairperson and Member of Parliament (MP) for Salima North-West, said the SADC block needs to have one voice when championing health rights for women and girls.

The lawmaker observed that women participation in leadership positions remains a challenge in the region, hence the push for 50/50 women representation at the political party level.

“The block needs to champion the agenda that empowers our local women on leadership positions for development of their countries. Even access to sexual reproductive health services, must be guaranteed to women and girls, hence these series of sessions, which next will be Namibia after Zimbabwe,” said Kabwira.

The workshop aim was to enhance the capacity of women Parliamentarians, under the ambit of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, to influence strategic national responses to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and HIV and AIDS Governance in Zimbabwe and to review the progress made by the Eighth Parliament in the implementation of the SRHR Project and to chart the way forward in the remaining 6 months of the Project’s implementation.

The session attracted twenty four (24) Members of the ZWPC, including the Chairperson Monica Mutsvangwa, who is also the Vice- President of the SADC PF, the Deputy Chairperson, Paurina Mpariwa, and representatives of the SADC PF Secretariat.