Tag Archives: Lilongwe City Council

District News

Lilongwe Asian business community donates repaired fire engines to Lilongwe city council

Maravi Post Reporter

By Twink Jones Gadama

The Lilongwe Asian Business Community on Monday handed over two repaired fire engines to the Lilongwe City Council (LCC). The fire engines, which were repaired at a cost of K5 million, are expected to boost the city’s firefighting capabilities and enhance its response to emergencies.

According to Anis Ismael, a representative of the Lilongwe Asian Business Community, the decision to repair the fire engines was motivated by a recent fire scare in Lilongwe’s Area 2. During the incident, the LCC’s response was delayed due to faulty fire engines, highlighting the need for reliable firefighting equipment.

“We were moved by the incident and decided to take action to support the city council,” Ismael explained. “We believe that the repaired fire engines will make a significant difference in the city’s ability to respond to emergencies and keep its residents safe.”

Lilongwe City Mayor Councillor Esther Sagawa praised the Lilongwe Asian Business Community for their generosity and commitment to the city’s well-being. “We are grateful for the support of the Lilongwe Asian Business Community,” Sagawa said. “Their contribution will undoubtedly enhance our ability to provide effective firefighting services to the city’s residents.”

The Lilongwe Asian Business Community is also working on repairing one more fire engine, which is expected to be completed soon. This additional fire engine will further boost the city’s firefighting capabilities and provide an added layer of safety and security for its residents.

The donation of the repaired fire engines is a testament to the strong partnership between the Lilongwe Asian Business Community and the LCC. It demonstrates the community’s commitment to supporting the city’s development and well-being, and highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the city’s challenges.

As the city continues to grow and develop, the need for reliable firefighting services will only continue to increase. The Lilongwe Asian Business Community’s donation of the repaired fire engines is a significant step towards addressing this need, and will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the city’s safety and well-being.

Health

Lilongwe’s Tsoka Flea Market temporarily closed over Cholera outbreak

Maravi Post Reporter
Tsoka Flea market closed

By Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a bid to contain Cholera outbreak, Lilongwe City Council (LCC) on Sunday, January 8, 2023 temporarily closed Tsoka flea market.

In an interview one of the vendors,Thom Bandawe told Maravipost on Sunday that all the business personnels where told not to use the market as health authorities were spraying Cholera prevention chemicals.

Touring the Market, The Maravi Post established that the market has litters all over without any bins around.

On Saturday, January 7, LLC also closed Kawale and Area 23 markets in control of cholera spread.

Recently Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo urged all city councils to have by laws that will help to curb cholera spread.

Business, Malawi

Lilongwe City Council bans cars displaying for sale, hiring in undesignated places

Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has banned the displaying of car vehicles for sale and hiring in the city’s undesignated places.

According to the council, displaying cars for sale and hiring in undesignated places is not in line with its by-laws governing the city and is fully prohibited.

Lilongwe City Council bans cars displaying for sale

However, in a letter signed by its Acting Chief Executive Officer Vitto Mulula the council has requested all car sellers and hires who are doing their businesses in undesignated places within the city to adhere to the by-laws and liaise with the council officials so as they direct them to proper designated car sites where such type of business are acceptable.

The council has also given July 19,2022 a due date to all those who are displaying their cars for sale and hire in undesignated places to stop.

” It is this respect that you are being requested to stop displaying your vehicles for sale and hiring along the streets by July 19,2022,” reads the letter in part

The council has further warned that failure to do as requested, it will compel to exercise its powers to remove any vehicle found on display for sale and hiring along the streets and that it shall not be responsible for any damage that may occur during operation.

Malawi

Councilors gang against LCC CEO John Chome over MCP offices’ closure

Maravi Post Reporter
John Chomwe: LCC CEO

Lilongwe City Council (LCC) Chief Executive Officer John Chome is likely to be transferred as councilors have ganged against him following the closure of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) headquarters over unpaid city rates last week.

While the councilors say their demand for firing of the CEO are due to delay of salaries for staff members at the council, Maravi Post is reliably informed that the decision has been made at a party meeting held on Sunday.

The councillors, led by Mayor Juliana Kaduya have today sealed offices of Chome and other senior officers at Civic offices in Lilongwe.

According to Mayor Kaduya, the action has been taken due delayed salaries.

Kaduya added that council staff received a letter that salaries will delay as the council has no money and that only junior members of staff will get salaries.

She further said that the letter does not indicate dates when the other employees as well as councillors will receive their salaries.

She also expressed doubts over claims that the council is financially struggling, saying even the Chairperson of Finance Committee is not aware that the council does not have money.

The councilors are demanding the resignation or firing of Chome, Director of Finance and Director of Human Resources.

This is happening after administration staff of  Lilongwe City Council on Thursday last week sealed the MCP Headquarters due to unpaid city rates.

The offices were reopened after the Mayor Juliana Kaduya who is a member of the Malawi Congress Party rushed to the premises and negotiated with officials from her council for the re-opening of the offices.

In 2017, the council told the party that it was required to pay K265 Million city rates for the property which is located at City Centre in the Capital City.

Law and order, Malawi

Lilongwe City council given two months to demolish illegal plots

Maravi Post Reporter

By Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s Parliamentary committee on natural resources has gave Lilongwe City Council (LCC) months ultimatum to demolish illegal plots that are being built in the city.

The buildings cited including the one next to Sana Mega that encroached Lilongwe rivers bank and two new buildings in city center next to National Bank of Malawi overshadowed the city roads.

Chairperson for the Committee,Welani Chilenga told the council officials on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 during the meeting on Wednesday ordering the council to demolish the building before the end of this year.

Chilenga observes that the building were built in disregard of the countries law.

In his remarks ,Lilongwe City council, Director of Planning Hillary Kamero agreed with the committee assuring the nation that the council will adhere to the directive.

Kamero disclosed that the council stopped building along Sana site after noticing on encroachment

He however observes that conflict of interetst, power contribute to the wrong distribution, demarcation of the land within the city particularly land under Lilongwe District council.

He assured the committee that will do the needful regarding to the dateline as they do respect the laws.

“Its very hard in the country to stop contractors who are already on site to stop the project but as a council will use the powers invested in us and make things right,” said Kamero.

Law and order, Lifestyle, Politics

Lilongwe council stops CDEDI vigil at Parliament over smuggled loan bill

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe City Council has refused to grant permission to the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) to hold a vigil at Parliament Building from Wednesday over the smuggling of the money Bill to Parliament.

Lilongwe City Council spokesperson Tamala Chafunya said the council had denied CDEDI the permission due to Covid-19 restrictions and security as the country hosts the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit.

Side meetings of the regional bloc started yesterday ahead of the 41st Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.

In a statement and letters served to Lilongwe City Council and Malawi Police, CDEDI said it panned to hold the vigil until Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba, Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara, and Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda address issues surrounding the Bill.

“CDEDI’s decision to hold a vigil at the Parliament building, follows an expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum we gave madam Kalemba, honourable Gotani Hara, honourable  Chimwendo Banda, and the Leader of Opposition, honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa, who has since given his side of the story, as per our earlier demands.

“Malawians may wish to recall that the Nation Publications Limited [NPL], reported last week, that the draft piece, No. 22 of 2021, Bank of Baroda [construction of residential houses under the National Housing Project, and various security institutions], Loan Authorisation Bill, allowing the Malawi government to borrow K93 billion, to finance the construction of houses for security agency workers in the country, found its way onto the order paper in the National Assembly, mysteriously,” reads part of the statement signed by the organisation’s executive director Silvester Namiwa.

“In view of this, Cdedi demanded President Dr Lazarus Chakwera to act decisively on the matter, by instituting an independent committee to investigate the scandal and report back to Malawians within 30 days.

“We further demanded   Hon. Gotani-Hara, Hon. Chimwendo Banda, Hon. Nankhumwa, and madam Kalemba, to exonerate themselves,” the statement reads.

Parliament spokesperson Ian Mwenye said they are aware that there is public interest in the matter, but there are also investigations taking place on the Bill; hence, commenting on it would jeopardise investigations.

He said Parliament will only make a statement after investigations.

Recently, this paper reported that a money Bill was smuggled to Parliament without following proper processes and knowledge of key stakeholders such as the Attorney General, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Justice.

CDEDI is yet to comply with council order.

Environment, Lifestyle

Lilongwe City council teams up with Wildlife Center for ambitious US$800,000 ecological rehab

Lloyd M’bwana
Part of Lilongwe Ecological Corridor

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe City Council has teamed up with Lilongwe Wildlife centre in the capital for the ambitious US$ 800,000 (About MK100 million) Lilongwe Rivers Ecological Corridor Initiative which seeks to restore the city’s rivers and provide refuge for wildlife animals into their natural set up.

The ecological corridor is expected to have learning center, rehabilitation site for stressed up wildlife animals and recreation centre.

Director of Parks and Recreation Allan Kwanjana told environmental journalists after touring the site that plans are underway to engage the citizens on the project in considering that they are first people to benefit.

Kwanjana disclosed that the project is pegged at US$800,000 (About MK100 million) which will run for five years.

“As you know Lilongwe is surrounded by natural rivers such as Lilongwe River, Lingadzi River and other streams and they form a good ecosystem which currently is in danger due to environmental degradation. The aim of this project is to try to restore the natural state of this ecosystem.

“We will make sure that by-laws to government wildlife is serious executed the time of implementing the project. We want the community surrounding the corridor understand it fully for co-management ,” he said.

Journalists touring the ecological corridor

Lilongwe Wildlife Center General Manager Ian Dheygere disclosed that first phase of the infrastructure being constructed will be ready for public use in August 2021.

Dheygere hopes that once the project is fully done and utilized, Malawi will be able to generate from US$200,000 to US$300,000 annually through local and international visitors.

He disclosed that the facility will also provide medical care for wildlife animals that big five animals will not be available at the site.

“The project will help to improve Lilongwe city outlook while putting the city on the map as a tourist attraction and also to civic educate people on the importance of conserving nature and wildlife.We will be opening the facility in phases for the public to access the site,” says Dheygere.

Association of Environment Journalist (AEJ) President Mathews Malata observes that the facility’s revamp is long overdue saying Malawi has been sitting on natural gold for revenues.

Malata hopes that the project will help to reduce the issue of flooding and people in the city will be able to conserve the environment.

The ecological corridor covers over 145 hectors of land divided into two zones.

Malawi

Pressure on Lilongwe City council to remove Beam Trust statue at Malawi Parliament Roundbout

Maravi Post Reporter
Beam Trust statue

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Pressure mounts on Lilongwe city council on demands to remove statue at parliament roundabout.

This come as group of concerned youths petitioned Lilongwe City council in June to remove the statue saying it is dirtying the city.

The statue which is said to have cost MK110 million was built by Beam Trust of the former First Lady Gertrude Mutharika.

In a press statement made available to The Maravi Post by the petitioner who is also a concerned citizen Caleb Kawamba has asked the Lilongwe City Council Mayor Juliana Kaduya to remove statue arguing that is giving no meaning hence calling for its removal.

Kawamba has copped the letter to Chief Executive Officer John Chome and Inspector General Malawi Police Service

He added that if given go ahead by Lilongwe city council, as concerned group they are ready to solicit funds to take down the statue.

Below is the full petition:

CITIZENS ACTION, REMOVING OF STATUE AT THE PARLIAMENT
BUILDING ROUND-ABOUT


Following the petition to the city council written on 7th July 2020 that was delivered to your office that was signed by thousands of Malawians, and having met you personally on 30th July 2020 regarding this issue, although you and the city council expressed willingness to remove this embarrassing run-of-the-mill statue, I and all those concerned are dismayed by the delay to take action, and so it is for this reason that I write to notify you and the city council of citizens
action to demolish and remove this embarrassment from our capital city.

We have planned to take down this statue on Saturday the 7 th of November 2020.

I would like to propose a meeting on Monday 19th October 2020 to discuss the issue and safety measures to be put in place on the demolition day.

To all concerned Malawians, get your tools ready, it’s time to hammer that thing down and CLEAR THE RUBBLE! details of the demolition plan will be provided through media outlets.

On behalf of my fellow citizens of the city of Lilongwe and Malawians world over, I humbly request for your cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Caleb Bright Kawamba

Development

Multiple landlords hunt Lilongwe City Council

Grace Dzuwa
LCC Director of Planning and Development Hilary Kamela

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Lilongwe City Council (LCC) is said to be troubled with multiple landlords a situation making it difficult for improved urban settlement.

This is due to the apparent neglect of urban governance, a situation whereby urbanization, has outstripped the government’s capacity to provide services and strategically guide urban growth.

Consequently, city authorities has been failing to take charge of proper designing for residents settlement.

LCC Director of Planning and Development Hilary Kamela confessed to the media orientation project on Urban governance and management that the council have failed to take charge of settlement saying many have turned to be landlords for land re-allocation instead of the assembly.

Kamela was quick however that the city was working along a crock to avert the situation for proper urban settlement and development.

He lauded Oxfam for the project that aimed at contributing to more inclusive, transparent and accountable democratic processes for urban governance in Malawi, through harmonisation and institutionalization of policy and systems that reflect the needs of and are responsive to an active citizenry.

“Many residents have turned into landlords whom they just sell land willy-nilly without consultation with the city. This has created numerous conflicts. The project therefore will help us to be closer to the residents for better planning development in the city,” says Kamela

Mathias Kafunda, Oxfam Malawi’s Governance Programs Manager says project will be able to mobilise and organise non-state actors (particularly Media) and independent public institutions that are engaged in policy influencing on urban governance by ensuring formal partnerships are rooted in informal processes of networking, characterised by trust, cooperation and mutual advantage.

” It is a deliberate objective of this project to strengthen non-state actor’s networks on urban governance to influence implementation of appropriate policies to bring about change in urban governance and development,” says Kafunda.

The project runs to 18 months with financial support from European Union (EU) through Tilitonse Foundation.

Sports

All is set for Standard Bank “Be More” race …… Lulu, Sonye to perform

Ausborn Banda 1 Comment

Leading by example- Standard Bank Chief Executive Andrew Mashanda with his wife Terry

As all roads lead to Lilongwe for first ever “Be More” race, Standard Bank says all is set for the event which bring together customers, community, civic leaders and professional athletes.

Head of Marketing Thoko Unyolo said the “Be More” said to date about 500 participants have registered to take part in the race

“We are very prepared as a bank to host this first ever race. The race collection started on Thursday and people should expect to experience more than a race but a family and friends fun day to interact with new people, “said Unyolo

Unyolo said the bank was overwhelmed with the support it received and continue getting from its customers and partners.

She said the race aims to become a platform by the bank to create partnerships with customers, families and community with the goal of promoting health, wellness and education in society.

“Our sponsorship of the ‘Be More’ race underscores Standard Bank’s passion in taking the lead to create meaningful engagement for customers and other stakeholders. The theme “Be More” describes how far as bankers we are willing to go to demonstrate that we can do more than banking. Beyond the bank, we realise that we live in communities where we can do more to impact positive change and move lives forward,” she said.

The race has been split into three key legs of 21 km, 10km and 5 km for both men and women and also children above the age of 12 years. A registration will close on July 30 at around 5 am.

After the race they will be performances from renowned artists Lulu, Sonye traditional dances as well as Aerobics.

Standard Bank has partnered, Lilongwe City Council, Rab processors, Quench, Nation Publication, Zodiak, mHub, KK security, Umodzi Park, Kumbali lodge and Biz Malawi