At exactly 6:00 am on Sunday Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima led the athletics in the first ever Standard Bank’s “Be more” 21 km marathon.
a fitness enthusiast and basketball player joined the race to race during a routine gym work-out in the administrative capital, Lilongwe.
Speaking in an interview Chilima said it was unique opportunity for him to be part of history where road meets nature in a race
“It’s the first time not just in Malawi but across the continent where road meets nature in a race. So we it’s a unique opportunity for us to be part of history. As a fitness person I like to exercise and this morning instead of exercising alone I thought I should join other people and be part of the fun,” said Dr Chilima
He encouraged Malawians to keep fit and maintain their health by nurturing themselves through regular exercise.
“You see good health is also ones wealthy and so one has to invest in their own life, one has to invest in their own health. It’s extremely important that as human beings we must invest in our bodies; God given bodies perhaps are best asset we must look after them and make sure that we live long,” he said.
Chilima was joined by other high-profile individuals, including Minister of Sports Francis Kasayira ( 21 KM), Minister of Justice and constitutional affairs Samuel Tembenu ( 10km)Lilongwe City Mayor Dr. Desmond Bikoko, academic LUANAR Professor Emmanuel Kaunda, Standard Bank Chief Executive Andrew Mashanda and other prominent professionals in the race, a race whose goal is to raise funds for Keeping the Girl Child in while promoting wellness
Over K2.5 million was up for grabs for the top three winners for men and women of the 21-kilometre race.
The race was split into three key legs of 5 km, 10km and 21 km for both men and women and also children above the age of 12 years. The 21 Km and 10Km started at Standard Bank head office city Centre to Kumbali lodge
Indian High Commissioner to Malawi, Suresh Kumar Menon (R) Presenting Credintials to President Peter Mutharika (L)
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi is set to benefit from the Indian government commitment of US$10 billion to finance development projects in Africa.
The commitment follows the 12th CII-Export-Import (EXIM) Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership hosted last week in that country’s Delhi.
India’s President Shri Pranab Mukherjee opened the edition that attracted over 450 international delegations from over 37 African countries including King Mswati of Swaziland, Ruhakana Rugunda, Rugunda, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, Republic of Uganda and 32 ministerial delegations.
Malawi Foreign and International Cooperation Affairs Minister, Francis Kasaira, led the Malawi delegations to the conference.
The Malawi Minister broke the news in interview with The Maravi Post that US$10 billion was an opportunity for the nation to make use of which had the potential for investments.
Kasaira said the funds allocated to African countries including Malawi, will directly benefit the country with focuses on big investments on energy, youth developments, and agro-processing among others.
The foreign affairs minister also said Malawi will critically analyze all the serious and huge project proposal before submission to India for approval.
He added that the during the meeting, many stakeholders expressed great interest for Malawi’s pigeon peas saying India was a potential market for the crop.
“The meeting gave Malawi the opportunity to appreciate what’s at stake for us to benefit from this funding committed to African countries. We are planning to have big and regional projects, especially on energy, agro-processing and youth development.
“We are therefore appealing to our farmers and agro-dealers to embark on value added products, including pigeon peas which is in high demand in India. The market is already there. The nation has to organize itself for this opportunity”, said Kasaira.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)- Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Lazarus Chakwera, who is also the president of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) performed his constitutional duty on 8th December, 2016 to respond to the state of the nation address which president Peter Mutharika made in the National Assembly.
In his response, Chakwera said the leadership of president Mutharika and his government is in state of emergency as it is failing to respond decisively to the crisis the country is wallowing in.
DPP officials addressing news conference
“Our nation is in crisis. And in times of national crisis, leadership is critical. But unfortunately for us, the crisis we face is one of leadership itself. And so I have decided to address you directly on this issue, because the leadership of President Mutharika and his government is in a state of emergency, and it will take all of us working together to disabuse ourselves from its destructive effects,” read the statement at the beginning.
Chakwere further labeled Mutharika as a failed leader while accusing the DPP led government of leading a fantasy and luxury life when rest of the population was in deep socio-economic ills.
However, the MCP leader’s speech has not just gone without triggering political tantrums and Chakwera is finding himself at the centre of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) controversy.
Just some hours after Mutharika announced the removal of Malison Ndau from information ministry top seat, reports from well-placed sources indicate that the minister has seen the chop for allowing the opposition leader to continue gaining political mileage through his speeches.
Now, fearing to be the next victims, some DPP gurus, in an attempt to deepen their loyalty to the president, are masterminding a plan to topple Chakwera from leader of opposition in Parliament on grounds that the MCP leader is giving misleading information to the nation over current social-economic turmoil.
Addressing a news conference on Monday at the DPP’s Headquarters in the capital Lilongwe, the party’s Acting Secretary General, Francis Mphepo, Spokesperson Francis Kasayira, Chief Political advisor Heatherwick Ntaba and legal advisor Charles Mhango called Chakwera’s sentiments as unfortunate and misleading.
DPP gurus have described MCP leader’s remarks as hopelessly obsessed with his delusions of political self-righteousness.
The governing party has accused Chakwera of not telling the nation the truth of his own fantasy and luxury life by demanding posh and detailed security guards while Malawians were in dire need of quality public services such as health, education and food.
The DPP has also allegedly said the leader of opposition is struggling with electoral defeat he suffered in 2014.
The officials have disclosed that they will ask Chakwera to resign from leader of opposition in Parliament for failing to play a true leadership role.
“It is irresponsible for a leader of opposition to continue parroting issues that are baseless. But we understand his desperation and political motive for dragging useless matters.
“Hon. Chakwera’s continuing ranting that President Peter Mutharika is living in fantasy are frustrations of immaturity and gross inexperience. He has been calling the state president as failed leader for 57 times. Is this call in a good faith or for him to always say so?
“We will take him to task to justify all the accusations. Chakwera must resign from leader of opposition for failing to lead by example. Even his own party has been calling for early convention which he has always challenged. What is he afraid of”, challenged the DPP top officials.
In reaction to DPP’s fight back, Chakwera hinted that will always provide advice to the current leadership no matter how resistant government might be on critical issues affecting the nation.
“What I offered was in best interest of Malawians which the DPP has considered it a negative manner. It’s therefore up to them to work on the advice we offered”, said Chakwera.
But Political Analyst Ernest Thindwa has described the political confrontations between the governing DPP and opposition MCP as unhealthy for the country’s political growth.
Thindwa observed that the current political bickering is going to affect poor Malawians negatively who currently need provision of quality social services for their lives.
At exactly 6:00 am on Sunday Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima led the athletics in the first ever Standard Bank’s “Be more” 21 km marathon.
