Tag Archives: Dr Lazarous Chakwera

Lifestyle

MCP holds Convention: Chakwera, Mia, Mkandawire take reigns unopposed

Malawi News Agency (MANA)
Sidik Mia and Chakwera
MCP President Lazarous Chakwera with his Vice President during the Convention in Lilongwe – Pic by Abel Ikilon

Lilongwe, 12 May 2019: As Malawians await to exercise their democratic rights to vote in the 6th set of General Elections in May 2019, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has become the second major party to hold its elective conference in preparation for the Tripartite General Elections.

 
The MCP re-elected Dr. Lazarous Chakwera as its President, Sidik Mia as his Vice and Harry Mkandawire as 2nd Vice President – all of them unopposed.
 
The Convention is taking place at MCP Headquarters in Lilongwe.
 
Former Minister of Health in the People’s Party (PP) Catherine Gotani Hara has been elected first Deputy Secretary General fpr the party and Salimu Bagus as Second Deputy Secretary General. The two also went unopposed.
 
The elections for other positions are still going on.
 
The Alliance For Democracy (Aford) was the first to hold its convention that was marred by disagreements and emerged with two camps – one for Frank Mwenefumbo and another for Enock Chihana – both claiming to have been elected as Aford’s leader.
 
MCP’s ‘former’ Secretary General Gustave Kaliwo has however indicated that the whole exercise is in futility as it is him only who is mandated to call for a Convention as per the MCP’s Constitution a charge dismissed by the MCP.
 
Out of the major parties, the United Democratic Front of Atupele Muluzi has announced that it will hold its elective conference on 1st August 2018, while the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) whose leader is state President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika is yet announce dates for its elective conference.
 
Former President Dr. Joyce Banda’s People’s Party (PP) is also yet to announce its dates.
 
According to the Malawi Electrical Commission (MEC) Calendar, Malawians will go to the polls on 21st May 2019 while registration of voters will run in six (6) Phases from 26 June – 4 October 2018 with official campaign launch slated for 19 March 2019 and closing on 19 May 2019 at 6:00am.
 
Determination and announcement of Presidential results will be done by 29 May 2019 while those for Members of Parliament and Local Government will be done by 4 June and 11 June respectively.
 
#MalawiElections2019
Politics

Malawi legislature admits the existence of bloodsuckers

Special Absalom

Mulanje south legislature Bon Kalindo has admitted the existence of bloodsuckers in his area and has since called the authorities to take the matter as an urgent.

Speaking with a local radio, Kalindo said it sad to see that some authorities are denying the existence of bloodsuckers in Mulanje district while describing the residents’ action as primitive.

According to him, the bloodsuckers change into dogs or ghost when the community wants to deal with it.

“As a legislature of Mulanje south, bloodsuckers are indeed there and they are tormenting lives of the community,” he said.

He said he don’t believe that the soldiers and police who have been deployed to the area will manage to deal with bloodsuckers.

Kalindo further warned strangers who want to visit the district at night hours saying the will be killed by the community.

“Don’t try to visit our area at night hours, if you do that see what the community will do to you because they will suspect you as bloodsucker,” he warned.

However, the legislature denied to comment on government position that there is no bloodsuckers in the district saying “I speak for my people who are facing this problem but those denying speak for government and they have their rights.”

Meanwhile, the community has penned President Peter Mutharika to address them as well as provide security concern the problem.

Almost six people suspected to be bloodsuckers have been killed by the angry mob.

The residents believe that the bloodsuckers are sent by government or politicians thus why they are failing to deal with the problem.

Government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi put the blame on opposition parties and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the problem.

However, President of Malawi Congress Party, Dr Lazarus Chakwera and CSOs are accusing government including President Mutharika for failing to save the lives of innocent people in the district.

Politics

DPP cadets caused havoc at Tumbuka cultural festival; many people injured

Special Absalom

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadets on Saturday, caused havoc at Gonapamuhanya Cultural Festival of the Tumbuka ethnic group in Rumphi, and injured many people in the process.

The cadets also blocked the vehicle of the leader of the opposition in Parliament, who is also the President of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Dr Lazarous Chakwera and other opposition party leaders.

The panga-wielding DPP cadets attacked opposition supporters, and left several with life-threatening injuries.

Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe condemned the development and used his personal vehicle to carry Dr Chakwera to the function.

Chakwera blasted DPP’s “culture of disturbing opposition,” adding that violence would not win them votes in the 2019 elections.

“Everywhere we are going, the story is the same: that DPP is intimidating people. It is unacceptable,” said Chakwera.

The DPP cadets were alleged to have been organised by Jappie Mhango, the Minister of Transport and DPP campaign director.

But when contacted, Mhango said the cadets were not DPP members.

Police tried to bring peace at the function by throwing teargas canisters, but to no avail as they were overpowered.

Despite the DPP violence, the ceremony proceeded with dance, recounting of history and beer drinking as the Tumbuka ethnic group celebrated their cultural heritage.

The Tumbuka settled in Malawi in the 15th century, after migrating from Timbktu in Mali. They were Swahili speaking business people, selling jewels, hoes and soap.

The name Chikulamayembe is a corruption of the Swahili words ‘chukuwa jembe’ (take a hoe).

Gonapamuhanya was the first Chikulamayembe to settle at Bolero, where the Chikulamayembe chieftaincy is today.

The present Chikulamayembe, Walter Gondwe, took over the throne in 1969 in an acting capacity after Chikulamayembe the 11th (John Hardy Gondwe also known as Ziwange) was sick.

In 1977, Walter was crowned Chikulamayembe the 12th. In 2002, Chikulamayembe was elevated to senior chief. And in 2007, he was made Paramount Chief.

In 2012, his son Mtima Gondwe was unveiled as acting Chikulamayembe at a similar event.

Gonapamuhanya is commemorated every year.