Tag Archives: Ralph Jooma

Malawi, Politics

Chakwera’s Tonse Govt operating on deaf ears

Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Opposition parties have faulted President Lazarus Chakwera Tonse’s Alliance government for failing to get advice which continues to land on deaf ears.

Responding to the Finance Minister’s Mid-Year Budget statement, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Ralph Jooma said the party is working within the mandate by giving advice to the Tonse Administration that is constitutionally charged with the responsibility of policy implementation “but it seems the advice lands on deaf ears”.

Jooma said the Tonse Administration is the problem, not the opposition parties “For the past three years, they have been offering pieces of advice to the Tonse Administration but they have chosen to be non-respondent, insensitive and indifferent”‘

He said being in the opposition will not abandon its responsibility to the citizens.

“We are a true representation of our people who are currently sleeping on empty stomaches yet they were promised three meals a day.

We represent the majority of the Population who are Jobless yet they were promised 1 Million Jobs in the first year of the Tonse Administration,” said Jooma

He observes further that the 44% Kwacha devaluation has hit farmers very hard and he is sure a good number of them have given up farming this Year which means the country’s recovery hopes for next year have already started diminishing.

Echoing the same, United Democratic Front (UDF) Ishmael Mkumba said the Chakwera government must begin to be realistic and honest especially when dealing with locals’ lives.

Mkumba said life was already difficult but it is getting even more difficult for the ordinary Malawian due to the recent 44% devaluation.

He adds that hospitals continue to lack essential medicines and schools lack basic learning materials.

“We need to deliberately give more government business contracts to indigenous Malawians despite their political and regional affiliations because Malawi will never become financially independent if Malawians remain poor,” said Mkumba.

In his response, Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) spokesperson, Yeremia Chihana urged the Tonse government to have a listening ear to resolve the problems which Malawians are facing.

Chihana therefore asked all the political parties in the house to join hands to eradicate problems that Malawians are facing regardless of party affiliations.

Politics

MCP parliamentary candidate Gerald Kazembe takes Jooma, MEC to Supreme Court

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment
Gerald Kazembe

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Battle for Mangochi-Monkey-Bay constituency is not yet over as Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary candidate for the constituency in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections, Gerald Kazembe, has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, protesting Justice Jack Nriva’s verdict.

On Wednesday last week, at the High Court in Blantyre, Justice Nriva dismissed an application by Kazembe, who wanted the court to nullify the 2019 Parliamentary election results for Mangochi-Monkey Bay constituency.

But Court documents in possession of Maravi Post indicate that Kazembe, who is also the Deputy General Secretary for MCP and indisputably the face of the ruling party in the eastern region, has taken the matter to the highest court.

In a telephone interview with Maravi Post, Kazembe, who strongly feels people of Monkey-Bay were robbed of their votes, denied to divulge much but said “I understand how democracy works and had always anticipated that this (case) would go all the way to Supreme Court for final settlement.”

Kazembe narrowly lost the election to Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Ralph Jooma in a chaotic 2019 parliamentary elections.

He went on to petition the Court arguing that the election was marred by irregularities and that the outcome did not reflect the will of the people in the Constituency.

Despite being the first case to be filed at the high court, Kazembe’s election petition was the last to be disposed of by the High Court of Malawi having nullified election results of at least six constituencies.

Kazembe is challenging the results after Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared incumbent member of Parliament (MP) Ralph Jooma (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) winner with 9 341 votes against his 9 052 votes.

He alleges several irregularities in the results. He alleges MEC committed fraud by exaggerating figures after polling was closed, adding that there were fake result sheets that were used instead of the originals.

Kazembe also told the Blantyre High Court that his monitors, who where two at each polling stream including the district tally centre, faced a hostile environment from his opponents monitors.

The results were also altered using a correction fluid Tipp-Ex, according to Kazembe.

Despite the ‘loss’, Maravi Post has established that Kazembe is continuing with his noble duty of assisting the people of Monkey-Bay by providing them with different basic needs. For instance, almost 46 boreholes have been drilled in the constituency by him as he strives for bringing potable water to every village.   

The 2019 Malawi presidential election was dubbed the ‘Tipp-Ex election’ on social media, referring to a brand of correction fluid, after ballot tally papers emerged with areas painted with the white liquid and written over, supposedly altering results.

The Supreme Court of Appeal already ruled that the use of Tipp-Ex was against electoral laws and consequently the 2019 presidential elections and parliamentary elections in some constituencies were annulled on the ground.

Law and order, Lifestyle, Politics

Chakwera’s MCP falls in Mangochi Monkey Bay as court rules out of polls’ rerun

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court Judge Jack N’riva on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 ruled that the 2019 parliamentary election results for Mangochi Monkey Bay, were not affected in any way by some irregularities which marred the voting processes.

The verdict comes after Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Gerald Kazembe, petitioned the court arguing the election was riddled with lots of irregularities.

The court also found out that the elections results were the true representation of the will of the people.

The Judge in his ruling said the petitioner’s evidence was insufficient to prove that the irregularities indeed affected the final results MEC announced.

Kazembe narrowly lost the election to Jooma.

Both Kazembe and Jooma were present in court when the judgement was delivered.

This means Jooma remains Mangochi Monkey Bay legislator that Kazembe needs to wait to compete again for the post in 2024.

Law and order

Blantyre High Court rebuffs MCP candidate Gerald Kazembe in Mangochi Parliamentary election case

Maravi Post Reporter
Gerald Kazembe

The High Court in Blantyre has dismissed an application by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Gerald Kazembe, who wanted the court to nullify the 2019 Parliamentary election results for Mangochi-Monkey Bay Constituency.

Kazembe narrowly lost the election to Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Ralph Jooma but failed to come to terms with Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) declaration of the winner.

He went on to petition the Court arguing that the election was marred by irregularities and that the outcome did not reflect the will of the people in the Constituency.

Making his ruling on Wednesday afternoon, Justice Jack N’riva stated that the results were not affected in any way by some irregularities which marred the voting processes.

Justice N’riva further stated that the petitioner’s evidence was insufficient to prove that the irregularities indeed affected the final results MEC announced.

He therefore upheld a decision by the electoral body to declare Jooma as duly the winner for Mangochi Monkey Bay Constituency.

Law and order, Politics

Mangochi Monkey-Bay parliamentary election case judgment Monday: Gerald Kazembe vs Ralph Jooma

Maravi Post Reporter

By Innocencia Chikuse

Mangochi Monkey-Bay parliamentary election case judgment Monday: Gerald Kazembe vs Ralph Jooma

The first-ever election petition to be deposited in the 2019 chaotically managed tripartite election will ironically be the last to be disposed of next week.

According to Registrar of the High Court, the judgment is set to be delivered on Monday, 23 August 2021 by the Honorable Jack N’riva, Judge of the High Court.

“Take notice that the court shall deliver its judgment on the petition on the 23rd day of August 2021 at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon in open court,” reads a ‘notice of delivery of judgment’ from the Registrar of the High Court. 

Gerald Kazembe, who narrowly lost the election according to Electoral Commission results to Ralph Pacharo Jooma, petitioned the court arguing the election was riddled with lots of irregularities the outcome of which was not the true representation of the will of the people of the lakeshore-based constituency of Mangochi-Monkey-Bay.

This will be the last election petition to be disposed of by the High Court of Malawi having nullified election results of at least six constituencies, three in the shire valley, two in Mangochi, and one in Phalombe district on similar allegations as that of Kazembe.

More importantly, the courts also declared a sham the 2019 presidential election and ordered a fresh election whose outcome ushered into office the incumbent republican President, then the opposition Malawi Congress Party presidential candidate, Lazarus Chakwera.

Recently, some quarters of the public grew impatient for this long overdue judgment. They wondered as to what was going on in our courts not to expedite delivery of time sensitive judgments, citing this case as an example.  

Malawi

Judge Jack N’riva playing skullduggery on Mangochi Monkey-Bay election petition?

Maravi Post Reporter

By Innocencia Chikuse

Judge Jack N’riva playing skullduggery on Mangochi Monkey-Bay election petition?

Pressure is mounting on High Court Judge, Jack N’riva, to deliver judgment on the first-ever 2019 election petition in Mangochi Monkey-Bay constituency, the delay of which has made certain quarters of the society to suspect skullduggery.

Background

This was the first election petition to have been deposited to the High Court of Malawi following the chaotically managed Jane Ansah 2019 tripartite elections. The catchword here is that this was the first-ever election petition to have been made to our courts even before Dr. Chilima and Dr. Chakwera thought of taking their matter to court. The Mangochi-Monkey bay election petition by the then Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Gerald Kazembe challenged the election of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sponsored candidate Ralph Jooma, arguing the election was replete with irregularities such that its final outcome would not be considered as representing the will of the citizens of the Monkey-Bay constituency.

Other cases after already decided

Following Kazembe’s petition, the court was flooded with other election petitions, one in Phalombe, two in Mangochi and one involving three candidates from Nsanje and Chikwawa. As we all know, High Court Judge(s) who were presiding over these cases, expeditiously released their judgments. Fresh elections were ordered and conducted such that those constituencies, today, have genuine representation in Parliament.

Mangochi Monkey-Bay Judgment still hanging in the air under Judge Nriva

However, despite other Judges expeditiously disposing of their election petitions; the one under Judge N’riva is yet to be set-down for Judgment.  It has been learnt that the final submissions took place a few months ago and the delay has caused some to suspect fishy business.

A legal expert who did not want to be mentioned pointed out that the law is clear on when Judgment should be given after final submissions. According to him, the law clearly states that Judgment must be delivered within 90 days after final submissions. However, he noted that the other Judges released their judgments pretty much quicker.

“The election petition before the Judge already has binding legal authority, the Supreme Court decision. Moreover, there are plenty of other Judgments on similar recent cases in the High Court thereby making it simple to release the Judgment quickly. Maybe the Judge wants to utilize the entire 90 days. This is peculiar nevertheless let us have patience” said the expert.

Time Limits for Delivery of judgments in the High Court

According to Order 16 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) rules, 2017, stipulates that the Judge has 90 days to deliver the judgment. The rule, Order 16, Rule 9, states as follows:

“9.―(1) The Court shall deliver its judgment within 90 days from the last date the parties in a trial file written submissions. (2) Where the Court has not delivered its judgment under sub-rule (1), the judge who conducted the trial shall―(a) within 14 days of the expiry of the period in sub-rule (1) set down the proceeding for mention; (b) provide reasons to the parties for the failure to deliver the judgment; (c) fix a date, within 30 days from the expiry of the period in sub-rule (1) for delivery of the judgment, with appropriate directions for such delivery of the judgment.”

Efforts to talk to the Registrar of the High Court did not succeed as we went to press. 

Development

A call for Malawi’s CDF increase, necessary?

Maravi Post Reporter
Malawi lawmakers pushes for CDF increase

By Thandie Chadzandiyani

LLONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Currently, at least six legislators are under investigation while former Mzimba Hora Lawmaker Christopher Mzomera Ngwira was convicted for abuse of Community Development Fund (CDF) resources

CDF was introduced in 2006 to facilitate development in constituencies.

The fund has, however, been prone to abuse with several audit reports highlighting weak accountability and management tools.

However in Parliament Ad hoc Committee on Constituency Development Fund and Water Development Fund Guidelines chairperson Ralph Jooma in Malawi Parliament this week presented a report on the impact of CDF and how it is being managed

He said there is need for a substantial increase to ensure that more projects are carried out Jooma, who is also Mangochi Monkey Bay legislator called on government to be increasing the fund every year.

He said: “The fund has to be increased substantially. CDF is helping in many ways in the constituency development. There is really need to increase it

“This is the fund that everyone is putting his eyes on. Councils’ eyes are on this fund, chiefs’ eyes are on this fund and the public too. So, it’s a fund that can be tracked.”

Jooma said the Ministry of Finance should decide the rate of increment while Rumphi East Member of Parliament (MP) Kamlepo Kalua proposed that the amount be increased to MK200 million

Kalua’s proposal was supported by several legislators.

The Rumphi East lawmaker also called for the arrest of district council officials who abuse the funds.

He claimed that district councils use the CDF as a weapon to fight MPs by, among other things, discrediting them.

In his contribution, Rumphi West MP McLean Yona Mkandawire also called for stiffer punishment for people that abuse CDF.

He said MPs are failing to embark on projects because some council officials are abusing the funds.

Mkandawire said legislators are accused of squandering the money when council officials are the ones abusing it.

On his part, Mulanje Bale MP Victor Musowa proposed an increase from MK40 million to MK100 million or more for development to flourish.

The MPs have also proposed measures to protect the fund from being abused by local councils. The measures include opening of a special current account for CDF and restricting funds usage to CDF projects.

They also proposed that Parliament should recruit CDF desk officers to handle the CDF in local councils.

Another proposal is for the bursary allocation to be pegged at 10 percent of the CDF allocation instead of the fixed MK3 million.

Still the government is yet to give its answer on how to resolve the missing funds and also on how will help the MPs with their pleas

Malawi

Malawi Government projects opening of airports by July 15

Maneno Chimulala

Written by Richard Kayenda

Transport Minister Ralph Jooma

Ministry of Transport has proposed the opening of airports in the country following an international leeway on the air transport in other countries.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Minister of Transport, Ralph Jooma, said his ministry has proposed that the air transport should resume as countries across the globe seem to have put tightest measures on the Covid-19 pandemic within the transport sector.

Jooma further indicated that the ministry has arrived at the recommendation as one way of helping Malawians who are outside the country and wish to return home but cannot afford to charter planes.

In his remarks, Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus, Dr John Phuka, said such a recommendation is a good one but it is subject to scrutiny by his committee. Dr Phuka also said there are a number of proposals and documents which the committee is looking at but they will have to sit down and make their final say by next week.

Malawi closed down all airports as one way of controlling entry of foreigners into the country, who might import Coronavirus. Only planes carrying essential goods such as medical equipment were allowed entry. So far about 455 Malawians have tested positive for Covid-19 and four people have died of the disease.

Politics

DPP declares victory in Eastern Region at 2019 polls

Patience Mandowa

By Malawi News Agency

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has reiterated its determination to sweep all the parliamentary seats in Mangochi and the entire eastern region at the May 21, 2019 general elections, given the quality of politicians the party has taken on board.

DPP Secretary General, Griezeldar Jeffrey made the declaration on Wednesday at Nabale Trading Centre in Mangochi when the party officially welcomed Mangochi Monkey-Bay Member of Parliament, Ralph Jooma into its fold.

Jeffrey said with Jooma on board, his political influence coupled with the other DPP political heavy weights in the region would form a very strong team that would be hard to beat in May 2019.

“Ralph Jooma is not just another politician; he is intelligent and when he stands up in parliament, the whole august House shakes with his informed contributions,” Jeffrey said, adding: “He’s development conscious and well-disciplined because every time we approached him to come back to the DPP, he always said he would do that when his people asked him to.”

She said the party was very glad to have Jooma and all his 287 party structures back into the DPP camp, adding that the development meant the party was getting even stronger in the East.

Jeffrey, however, urged DPP members in the region to maintain the party’s open-door policy to avoid divisions within the party.

“Remain united as DPP and don’t be swayed by other disgruntled and frustrated people who think they can beat the DPP – they can’t and we are going to rule again come 2019,” Jeffrey challenged.

Speaking earlier, Group Village Headman (GVH) Chiwalo thanked DPP and its leadership for developing Mangochi Monkey-Bay in several ways, including the construction of the Mangochi-Monkey Bay-Mtakataka Road.

GVH Chiwalo concurred with Jeffrey, describing Jooma as development conscious, noting that his return to DPP was a welcome move to all the chiefs in the constituency.

“All the chiefs in this constituency are very thankful to Professor Peter Mutharika for all the development programs being implemented in our district and for keeping to his word that no-one will die of hunger as long as he is the president of this country,” said Chiwalo.

“To show our gratitude to the president and the party, we have a gift for the president and the DPP, that gift is our son, Ralph Jooma,” he pledged.

In his remarks, Jooma who is also National Director of Economic Affairs for the DPP said he and all his constituents were happy to ‘return home from the wilderness,’ saying: “I have always been a DPP member since 2009; I was the only MP to win in the elections on a DPP ticket from the Eastern region.”

Other speakers at the rally included, DPP Regional Governor for the East, Julius Paipi, Ntcheu West MP and DPP National Executive Committee member, Rev. Mwai Kamuyambeni, Zomba Central MP, Patricia Nangozo Kainga, Balaka South MP Frank Mapondo and Mangochi Central Shadow MP, Victoria Kingston.

Malawi, Politics

Uladi Mussa, Ralph Jooma booted out from PP; deny having alliance with DPP

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Former ruling People’s Party (PP) National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday fired Uladi Mussa from the party after it fired him from his position as vice-president responsible for the Central Region, for declaring himself as the Party’s President as well as proclaiming that party President Joyce Banda’s term had expired.

Peoples Party NEC members have vehemently denied any move to have an electoral alliance with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The party has also fired Ralph Jooma because of supporting ruling DPP without the party’s blessings.

PP deputy publicity secretary Ackson Kalaile Banda confirmed the development.

“Honourable Uladi Mussa and Ralph Jooma have been expelled from PP for bringing the party into disrepute,” Kalaile Banda said.

Kalaile Banda said PP has since appointed Beatrice Mwale as Mussa’s replacement as vice-president.

Mussa has also been flirting with the DPP and mooting an alliance with PP.

But PP politburo meeting could not endorse such a relationship, saying the party grassroots members have rejected any working relationship with President Peter Mutharika “rotten” party.

DPP already has a working relationship in Parliament with United Democratic Front (UDF) whose president, Atupele Muluzi, was drafted into Mutharika’s Cabinet in 2004.

There has been talk that DPP together with UDF and PP will forge a grand electoral alliance for 2019 elections to lock out southern region from Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

But PP has resolved not to be in any political relationships.
“PP is not in alliance with any party,” said Kalaile Banda, explaining that PP has solicited views of its supporters nationwide on the matter.

PP, whose two-year stint in government ended following its loss in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, had been divided following the initial meeting between the DPP leadership, including President Mutharika, and PP legislators in November.

Meanwhile, PP has also fired its vice president (eastern region)
Ralph Jooma who recently quit his position as PP chief whip in the National Assembly.

Jooma, who is also member of Parliament (MP) for Mangochi Monkey-Bay has been flirting with DPP and recently spoke at a DPP political meeting addressed by Mutharika where he drummed up support for the ruling party.

According to Kalaile Banda, Jooma has been replaced by Zomba Malosa MP Roy Kachale—son to former president Joyce Banda— as vice president and could also be the chief whip.

PP has also appointed Edith Mithanga as National Director of Women, according to Kalaile Banda.

Things have been falling apart for the erstwhile ruling party since losing the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections and commentators have said the situation is being aggravated with the absence of the party leader.

Banda established PP after her expulsion from DPP in December 2010 alongside Kachali for protesting a succession plan to have Peter Mutharika as Bingu wa Mutharika’s successor.

She served as the country’s Vice-President and ascended to the presidency in April 2012 in line with constitutional order after Bingu’s death.

PP was borne from a group initially called Friends of Joyce Banda at the time she was systematically detached from the government system.