Tag Archives: Mike Chinoko

Malawi

Be fair and impartial—Pres. Mutharika advises newly-appointed senior government officials and Commissioners on maize deal

Maravi Post correspondent

Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika has called upon senior government officers to execute their duties with utmost impartiality and fairness towards citizens of Malawi emphasizing that that is the only way the nation can register social and economic growth.

Malawi Pres. Mutharika: tells members of maize-gate commission to be fair and impartial

He was speaking on Friday at Kamuzu Palace during swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed senior officers and members of a special commission of inquiry on maize procurement.

Those sworn in as new appointees were new Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Nicholas Dausi; Chief Secretary to the Government, Llyod Muhara and High Court judge, Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa.

From the Special Commission of Inquiry on Maize Procurement those sworn in were Retired Chief Justice Anastazia Msosa (SC),Solicitor General Dr. Janet Banda, Mr. Isaac Kayira and Mr. Mike Chinoko from the Law Commission.

The President reiterated the need for the officers to execute their cause nobly.

“Let me remind all of you that the eyes of the nation will be on you by virtue of your positions. As public figures, your professional conduct and the decisions that you will be taking will be scrutinized and sometimes harshly so,” he said.

“You must all remember to follow what the laws say, and be impartial. Malawians will expect you to be above question at all times,” he added.

The Malawi leader further called upon the new appointees to work collectively with colleagues in order to attain desired results in public service delivery.

“Above all, let us work as a team. No arm of Government can single-handedly do everything without support from each other. Let us work to end poverty, to protect the environment, to make Malawi a performing society and restore integrity in our systems.” Mutharika advised.

Dausi was appointed weeks ago replacing Malison Ndau while Muhara moves in to take over from George Mkondiwa who is heading to India for a diplomatic responsibility.

As for the Special Commission, it was instituted following media reports and subsequent outcry from Malawians over a maize purchase deal between government grain marketer, Admarc and Zambian suppliers.

The commission will wind up its investigations on January 31 and thereafter present its findings to the appointing authority.

Malawi

Pres. Mutharika demands MK26bn maize-gate report by  January end, establishes Commission of Inquiry

Maravi Post correspondent

President Peter Mutharika has on Sunday established the commission of inquiry to investigate the ADMARC rotten maize deal with the Zambian private company Kaloswe.

Malawi President Peter Mutharika: establishes Commision of Inquiry on ADMARC maize-gate

This is with immediate effect according to the Chief Secretary to government Justice Lloyd Muhara.

He said the commission which will be headed by the ex- Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa has been tasked to bring the results to the President before 31 January, 2017.

“Yes, the President has indeed appointed the commission of inquiry to the Zambia maize saga and the commission will start its duty today Sunday,” said Muhara.

The members of the commission include Muhara himself, Mike Chinoko who is the group’s secretary, Dr Janet Banda (the Solicitor General) and Isaac Kayira (the public auditor).

The development has come at a time when some of the country’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) called for the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda and ADMARC boss Foster Mulumbe.

The CSOs are also asking Mulumbe to vacate the court injunction that ADMARC got to restrict Times Group from carrying the maize-gate stories.

Malawi’s ex-Chief Justice Msosa: heads the Commission of Inquiry on ADMARC maize-gate

While commending the President for the initiative, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament worried that there will be no transparency in the process especially if Chaponda, Mulumbe and his team continue with their position.

However, ADMARC insists that it is purchasing maize from Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) and not Kaloswe as reported in the media.

Meanwhile, it is not known whether Mutharika will order the Agriculture minister and ADMARC boss to resign as demanded by the CSOs.

Malawi

Malawi Law Commission attacks religious leaders for opposing the proposed abortion bill

Maravi Post correspondent 3 Comments

As the debate on the proposed abortion bill rages on, the Malawi Law Commission has taken a swipe at religious leaders for failing to differentiate church and state regulations when carrying their duties.

The Law Commission’s remarks come barely few weeks after thousands of Malawians across the country marched against the tabling of Abortion Bill and also urged the Malawi Government to say no to homosexuality.

The march was organised by the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) of the Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), an umbrella mother body of 68 church denominations and 54 Christian organisations.

But speaking during the sensitization workshop organized by Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre in partnership with parliamentary committee on health over the weekend, the Law Commission’s deputy chief law reform officer Mike Chinoko asked the church clergies to start differentiating church regulations from those of the state.

People in Blantyre marching against abortion, homosexuality

Chinoko said the amendments to the already existing law will not be as amending church rules.

“What the men or women of God should know is that there is a big difference between the church and the state,” said Chinoko.

Chinoko said a Special Law Commission report (of the proposed abortion bill) yet to become a law was adopted by the clergy who formed part of the commission.

Few days ago, Traditional Authority Nthondo of Ntchisi also attacked the members of the clergy for protesting against the proposed abortion bill.

He said as the chiefs through their caucus are supporting it in order to protect their subjects.

However, the members of the clergy have maintained their position, arguing it is against the will of God and have asked the law makers not to pass the bill.