LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera’s son in-law Sean Kampondeni has been removed as Director of Communications at the Malawi State House.
Kampondeni has made the announcement on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 during the Quarterly State House Brief which he hosted art Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Addressing the media towards the end of the briefing, Kampondeni said Wednesday’s briefing is his last as the Director of Communications as the President will soon appoint a new Director of Communications at State House.
He added that he is set to be given a new role at the State House.
“It has been a great honour to serve in this office. The president is keen on having me serving in another capacity,” said Kampondeni.
Kampondeni, who is married to Chakwera’s daughter Tapiwa, was appointed as State House Director of Communications and the president’s Executive Assistant in 2020, weeks after Chakwera was elected president of Malawi.
Kampondeni also worked with Chakwera during the president’s time as an opposition politician and during the campaign period for the presidential election.
However, the appointment of Kampondeni in 2020 was condemned by some quarters who accused Chakwera of nepotism.
Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government has been characterized with tribalism, regionalism, favoritism and nepotism in public appointments the same way former regime of Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progress Party (DPP) used to do.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Executive Assistant to President Lazarus Chakwera, Sean Kampondeni, has said Brian Banda remains in his position.
Kampondeni assurance comes hours after Banda said he would be leaving his post on August 6 2021 to take part in a four-month scholarship at Peking University in Bergin, China.
He said he would, after the four months, return to the State House but was not sure as to whether he would retain his post.
“There is no malice. I asked the President and he allowed me to proceed. After the school, I will get back to State House but whether I will come back as Press Secretary or not; that is the President’s prerogative,” Banda said.
Kampondeni later told The Daily Times that, currently, Banda remained in his role.
“Brian Banda remains the Press Secretary for the President and is in the State House Press office presently,” he said.
Chakwera appointed Banda to his role in August 2020.
Sean Kampondeni: State House Director of Communications
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Tonse Alliance government has decried a call to have the contents of the Public Sector Review Report revealed, saying President Lazarus Chakwera will only communicate the decisions that will be made from the recommendations.
Speaking at Mtunthama State House on Monday, State House Director of Communications Sean Kampondeni told journalists that the President received the public sector reforms report last week from the Taskforce he instituted, headed by Vice President Saulos Chilima.
He said the President had earlier planned to make the report public but changed after noting some recommendations that needed to be looked at before they are made public.
He said the President is looking at the recommendations and will soon address Malawians on what his government will do.
“The president will only communicate the decisions that will be made from the recommendations,” said Kampondeni.
Information Minister, who is also government spokesperson, Gospel Kazako also asked stakeholders to give President Lazarus Chakwera ample time to study the report, which was received in private.
However, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Chairperson Gift Trapence decried the secrecy around the report.
“While we celebrate this milestone, we are disappointed by the privacy surrounding the presentation of this highly-anticipated report to the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace,” HRDC said in a statement.
It added that public sector reforms require the active participation of citizens. The secrecy around the report has forced some people into speculation that the Tonse Alliance government officials, especially those from Malawi Congress Party (MCP), are not comfortable with the recommendations.
Unandi Banda, Billy Banda, Phillip Kamangira and Luther Mambala (from left) addressing the press on Thursday
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Civil Society leaders led by Malawi Watch on Thursday, December 10, 2020 took to task President Lazarus Chakwera’s Executive Assistance Sean Kampondeni for siding with State House on the decision to hire former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for technical expertise.
Kampondeni who is Chakwera’s over trusted son-in-law has defended Blair Institute’s hiring saying Malawi government will not coffer any penny to the institution’s operation.
Addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe, Malawi Watch Executive Director Billy Banda teared apart Kampondeni and his father-in-law Chakwera taking the nation for granted.
Banda reminded the state house that former President Joyce Banda also made similar decision which cost Malawi millions of kwacha to pay Blair whose work impact could not be traced on the ground.
He therefore dared statehouse not to make a mistake hiring Blair warning that his grouping will mobilize Malawians to chase Blair out of the country when he starts working.
“We are so much shocked with revelations that President Chakwera and his Tonse alliance have hired Tony Blair Institute to provide technical expertise to his administration for free, this is blue lie, this is taking Malawi back into colonial status; we can’t afford to bring this country into factory setting.
“We are aware as a country that Dr. Chakwera made a number of appointments of Chief advisors namely:Chris Chaima Banda –Strategy and Manifesto implementation, Adamson Mkandawire – Rural Transformation and Development, Chancellor Kaferapanjira- Economy, Samson Lembani- Public Policy and Governance, Coleen Zamba- Sustainable Development Goals and International Relations, Advisors: Moses Kunkuyu- Chiefs and rural governance, Maxwell Thyolera- Parliamentary Affairs, Ephraim Chivunde- Political Affairs, Overstone Kondowe- People living with albinism and disability Reverend Brian Kamwendo- Religious Affairs Sheikh Hashim Abbas- Religious Affairs (Deputy) Lucius Banda- Arts and Youth,” Banda pointed out.
He adds, “Then if Dr. Chakwera has indeed hired the Tony Blair Institute, what is the purpose of having this bunch of Advisors who are equally enjoying the benefits as Cabinet Ministers?
According to Sean Kampondeni, the most powerful man in Tonse Alliance, he claimed that the Tony Blair Institute is so much moved with our poverty that unlike the many other countries which paid USD17 million in 2018 for TBI’s services. We are not children to be fooled by such foolish and stupid thinking that lunch is for free. Malawi will not pay a cent.
“Well, does he really know that the PP administration did the same and each of the 9 people that were hired from TBI was paid MK6.1m on a monthly basis? “
Banda fumes, “Mr. Kampondeni, stop this excitement for power, it’s too early for you to grow wings. We are therefore informing Malawians that we as a people are not able to accommodate Tony Blair Institute in this country and President Chakwera must take this warning very seriously that we are not relenting on TBI.
“These people are not welcome in this country. If anything, Tonse Alliance should pronounce its failure to govern this country, resign honourably and allow Malawians to call for another Fresh Elections in which ably minded people can be elected to take this country forward”.
Below is the full state:
RUNNING A FAILED STATE THROUGH EXECUTIVE ARROGANCE, OPPRESSION, IMPUNITY AND SELECTIVE JUSTICE IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A DEMOCRATIC ERA
“Political and Legal Power derive from the people of Malawi; anyone exercising such power does so on sustained trust” (Section 12 Republican Constitution).
A time has come when people have to safeguard their rights. Malawi has reached that point. We Malawians shall never accept impunity, treachery and lies to rule.
We are a nation that is over half century free from the yoke of colonialism. One would have thought that now we have germinated and grown up enough to stand alone, to stop fooling the people that propel us into power, to respect the will of the people and live by the aspirations of the people of our motherland.
A time has come for accountability. We can no longer keep on dancing to the tom-toms of lies. Enough is enough. If we are to hold people accountantable then there is no best time than now.
Our dreams are splintered day in day out. The wishes and the will of the people get smothered on a daily basis. We are a nation that has risen beyond the ostrich mentality of burying its head in the sand when the storm rages.
We are here to face the storm. We are here to conquer the storm. Tonse Government has backtracked on the aspirations of the people.
The Government headed by Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has evidently failed to accord Malawians what they deserve.
We have been estranged from living the promised aspirations that had been sold to us during the campaign period.
Lies can no longer deceive us. People have to live by the promises that were made to them. No excuses.
No papering over cracks No more deceit. Enough is enough.
We keep on remaining a country burdened with promises that are never fulfilled. It would appear therefore that the battle against the monster of corruption is targeted in its sweeping power.
While others are persecuted without providing detailed reasons why they are being treated in such a manner, others are treated with toddler gloves and if anything.. It is time that we Malawians now have to start questioning some of the things happening in our beloved country.
In the Malawi that belongs to Tonse we all ought to be treated equally as citizens of the motherland, the only place we can call home. What is justice if its wheels can only roll fast in one direction and take the snails’ pace in another direction?
Malawians have seen the nascent aspect of selective justice scrunching its teeth in the century of progress and fairness.
The Tonse government we were promised is getting perforated with selective justice. Has justice decided to crucify itself on the cross of choosing faces and political patronage?
Corruption fight by the ACB and selective justice
The President continues faulting corruption in the country saying it was time for action starting from the top to bottom. President Chakwera claims that corrupt people are leading this country into impoverishment and yet he cannot display in any way to have passion in the fight against corruption.
We find such sentiments rhetoric and political as the vice continues evidently seen on the rise even under his watch within the last 6 months. While President Chakwera and his Tonse Alliance are busy painting a scare rosy picture in the fight against corruption, we are shocked with overwhelming evidence of gross mismanagement of public funds at State House and abuse of office by senior government officials.
The Anti- Corruption Bureau dealings appear to be very manipulative and selective to say the least. Malawi as a country deserves to have people of high calibre and not politically influenced as it is being observed.
ACB must know that as a people we know the law and should not pose to be doing things diligently without any influence when it is open and clear that all they are claiming is false.
We are seriously concerned that despite having raised the alarm in so many ways, ACB chose to give a blind eye to matters of such concerns. It is against this background we propose the following:
ACB should give a public report on progress made in the fight against corruption including the State House –Crossroads Hotel accommodation corruption scandal, the NOCMA allegation, and the AIP within the next 7 days.
The judiciary should temporarily suspend hearing cases of corruption managed by ACB until such a report is released
The ACB should tell Malawians as to what happened to funds spent after the cancellation of 6th July, Celebrations due to Covid19 pandemic when all preparations were already done. Chakwera said that he will declare to Malawians all the expenses that were incurred. This has not been done.
The ACB should inform Malawians on the progress over Presidential Jet sale under PP Administration and how the proceeds were managed
The ACB should unfreeze the accounts of Former Head of State Professor Peter Mutharika for failure to notify Malawians on the crime that were committed. We feel this is nothing but political persecution aimed at crippling the opposition through undemocratic torture. We had an imprint that the Anti -Corruption Bureau would be unbound from the yoke of one sided view of corruption aspects. What do we tell the nation? What do we tell generations to come of our commitment to curb corruption? How slippery has corruption become to those whose hands are sunk deep in the sand of political power? ACB, we need answers. This nation needs illumination. We will not go to sleep when justice is inlet undercoat selectively. We will never get tired of seeking answers. We will never only be eloquent in silence. We will raise our voices until we are heard and responses, convincing responses are accorded to us. For Malawi we shall live and if need there be, die for. President Chakwera and ACB have demonstrated total failure in the fight against corruption in the country due to their silence on the matter that is directly involving state house gurus. The silence of ACB on the matter is raising serious questions in the fight against corruption. ACB has been finally captured. It is getting instructions from HRDC as to who should be arrested. This is unprofessional and shambolic in the administration of justice in this country. HRDC does not have any Constitutional obligation to be the advisory board for ACB. This is tantamount to childishness and recklessness by ACB.
Hiring of Tony Blair We are so much shocked with revelations that President Chakwera and his Tonse Alliance have hired Tony Blair Institute to provide technical expertise to his administration for free, this is blue lie, this is taking Malawi back into colonial status; we can’t afford to bring this country into factory setting. We are aware as a country that Dr. Chakwera made a number of appointments of Chief advisors namely:
Chris Chaima Banda –Strategy and Manifesto implementation
Adamson Mkandawire – Rural Transformation and Development
Chancellor Kaferapanjira- Economy
Samson Lembani- Public Policy and Governance
Coleen Zamba- Sustainable Development Goals and International Relations Advisors Moses Kunkuyu- Chiefs and rural governance Maxwell Thyolera- Parliamentary Affairs Ephraim Chivunde- Political Affairs Overstone Kondowe- People living with albinism and disability Reverend Brian Kamwendo- Religious Affairs Sheikh Hashim Abbas- Religious Affairs (Deputy) Lucius Banda- Arts and Youth. Then if Dr. Chakwera has indeed hired the Tony Blair Institute, what is the purpose of having this bunch of Advisors who are equally enjoying the benefits as Cabinet Ministers? According to Sean Kampondeni, the most powerful man in Tonse Alliance, he claimed that the Tony Blair Institute is so much moved with our poverty that unlike the many other countries which paid USD17 million in 2018 for TBI’s services. We are not children to be fooled by such foolish and stupid thinking that lunch is for free. Malawi will not pay a cent. Well, does he really know that the PP administration did the same and each of the 9 people that were hired from TBI was paid MK6.1m on a monthly basis? Mr. Kampondeni, stop this excitement for power, it’s too early for you to grow wings. We are therefore informing Malawians that we as a people are not able to accommodate Tony Blair Institute in this country and President Chakwera must take this warning very seriously that we are not relenting on TBI. These people are not welcome in this country. If anything, Tonse Alliance should pronounce its failure to govern this country, resign honourably and allow Malawians to call for another Fresh Elections in which ably minded people can be elected to take this country forward. Signed Billy Banda
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi leader Lazarus Chakwera has told the general public that he will not grant favours to Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and will not meet anybody in relation to the case of the money laundering suspect who fled South Africa last week.
Chakwera’s executive assistant Sean Kampondeni made the remarks at the weekly press briefing held Monday morning at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
On Saturday Bushiri held a press briefing saying he had fled South Africa to seek the Malawi Government’s intervention over the trial he is facing in South Africa. He asked the Malawi government to intervene for his safety.
But Kampondeni said Chakwera will not be involved in the issue concerning Bushiri’s presence in Malawi because it is the domain of the country’s law enforcement agencies.
“President Lazarus Chakwera will not be involved because it has nothing to do with him, will not hold a meeting with anybody on the issue and will not grant any favours because it is not his domain to grant favours and he will not issue directives. President Chakwera will let law enforcers do their job in accordance with the law,” he said.
Kampondeni noted that the South African Government has started the process of extraditing Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri but said State House has no answers on what the law enforcement will do about the extradition request and the presence of Bushiri in Malawi.
Bushiri and wife Mary were on bail in South Africa where they are being accused of laundering about K6 billion.
Meanwhile, following the susepcts’ escape to Malawi, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has issued warrants of arrests for Bushiri and wife Mary and the court has also revoked bail for the two.
Interestingly, Prophet Bushiri is allegedly to have endorsed ex-president Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika during the 2020 fresh presidential in which Chakwera emerged winner.
Bushiri, a man of God who commands a large following in Malawi and beyond the borders, had steered a hot debate prior to fresh election among its members following his ‘careless attire’ that had left many with strong conviction that the Prophet had endorsed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF).
A picture which went viral on social media showed Bushiri posing with his wife Prophetess Mary in blue and yellow attire, colours that are associated with the ruling DPP and UDF respectively.
Commenting on the picture on Bushiri’s official facebook page, followers of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) had condemned their spiritual father for ‘cleverly’ showing political colours.
“There are devout Christians on both sides of Malawi’s political aisle. It is naïve and utter lack of seriousness for our spiritual father to display attire which is clearly associated with two political parties that are in an alliance.
“That can’t be a coincidence. In my view, he is trying to subconsciously send a message to DPP and UDF alliance that he is with them,” he commented.
Impeccable sources indicated that Bushiri had struck a deal to work with the ruling DPP by providing financial support ahead of the fresh presidential election in which the political pendulum was relentlessly swinging towards the then opposition Tonse Alliance—a grouping of nine parties led by Lazarus Chakwera.
Rumours had it that one of Bushiri’s employees, popularly known as LordDenning QB on social media, was fired in January this year after writing scathing article against the ruling DPP and its leader President Peter Mutharika.
Ironically, Bushiri has been in the past years in fierce battle with the DPP leadership.
“The DPP has been attacking our Papa. Why is he trying to imply that he is in support of the DPP-UDF alliance, or is he following the rule that if you can’t beat them, join them?” wondered another Zambia based ECG member.
In 2016, the ruling DPP took the fight with Bushiri to another level as the party paid some youth in Blantyre and sent them to the funeral of gospel singer Grace Chinga where they chanted anti-Bushiri songs.
“Mmanja mwako tachoka Bushiri, tili mmanja mwa Mulungu,” the mob of cadets sang.
On 10th June, thugs, strongly believed to be sent by DPP top gurus stormed the ECG crusade armed to the teeth looking for Bushiri who was fortunately not present during the material day.
However, in the run up to 2019 tripartite elections, Prophet Shepherd Bushiri said he would vote for the ruling Malawi President Peter Mutharika and the Democratic Progressive Party “if elections were held today because APM is greater than his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika.”
Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera’s his son-in-law, Sean Kampondeni is behind statehouse decisions
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)– Busted! President Lazarus Chakwera’s Chief of Staff Prince Kapondamgaga, Presidential Chief Advisor on strategy and manifesto implementation Chris Chaima Banda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eisenhower Mkaka have replaced former president Peter Mutharika’s personal bodyguard Norman Chisale, wife Gertrude Mutharika and Advisor Francis Mphepo as architects of the downfall of a president.
Chisale, Gertrude and Mphepo’s actions are believed to be the main cause of former Mutharika’s fall from grace.
The three were a government within the government and wielded so much power that Mutharika did not know some of the destructive things the three did ‘on his behalf’.
The new three musketeers are said to be so powerful to the point that President Chakwera is becoming powerless to control them.
Among many decisions that the three have already done without consulting the president or hoodwinking him to believe lies, is the decision to strike out names of people that were submitted by parties in the Tonse Alliance government for consideration as board members of parastatals.
The three have already invited the wrath of four human rights organizations including Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) for what they call ‘failure to comply with the law’. The bodies have given government seven days to reconstitute the boards or face court action.
A source within statehouse told our reporter that the musketeers move was a deliberate ploy to sideline some Tonse Alliance members in order to break the alliance and let MCP stand on it’s own in the next presidential elections. That would allow MCP to field a presidential candidate against the agreement of a rotating presidency that is believed to be in the Tonse Alliance agreement.
Mkaka is a known supporter of MCP’s Vice President and Minister of Transport and Public Works Sidik Mia who holds ambitions to be Malawi’s president one day.
Mkaka wants Chakwera to stand again in 2025 so that Mia can stand as his running mate and get the position of Vice President which would be a stepping stone to the ultimate cake, the presidency.
MCP spent twenty six years in opposition and only tasted power again after teaming up with eight other parties. With the winning majority now at 50% plus one, there is no party among the major parties that can win on it’s own, not in the near future. Only a major event would change this fact and not how many traditional chiefs are bought, how many party materials are distributed or implementation of any known mickey mouse political strategies.
Mkaka, Kapondamgaga and Chaima Banda will only manage to do the opposite of what they think they will achieve; alienate alliance partners and send MCP back to the opposition.
Within a space of six years, Malawians have booted out two governments in favour of the opposition. It’s not by chance. It’s because they are tired of mediocrity and the never ending political manoeuvring aimed at enriching a few people.
Gerald Kazembe (Far Left) with his top Mangochi Chiefs posing with Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace
The face of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in the eastern region, Gerald Kazembe, whose party is headed by Malawi President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, escorted all Senior Chiefs and Traditional Authorities from Mangochi to pay a courtesy call to the new Malawi leader yesterday.
A picture circulating on the social media is showing Kazembe and the top Mangochi Chiefs with the President at Kamuzu Palace. Kazembe confirmed of the meeting when quizzed to authenticate the picture.
“As State House Director of Communication Sean Kampondeni hinted during their newly introduced Weekly State House Presser, the top Chiefs from Mangochi indeed had an audience with the President and of course I escorted them as their son,” he said.
Pressed to divulge on what his Chiefs discussed with the President, Kazembe declined to disclose.
“The meeting was held in camera and therefore it would be remiss of me to disclose to the media as to what transpired. I suggest you get in touch with State House press officer Brian Banda for such information,” he said.
Pressed further as to why he was being economical with information, Kazembe said he was simply following protocol.
“We went there as state house guests, ask our host, I think thus what protocol demands. However, a big platform like that, it’s obvious that my top chiefs would make a development case for our district, stuff us, their sons, have been preaching [during campaign] requesting our President to do for us people of Mangochi.”
“Stuff like the need for an International Airport, Five Star Resort at Cape Maclear, tarmacked road networks around our beloved district, robust security presence in our border posts, improving mining and agriculture sector and declaring our district into a municipality with the ultimate aim of turning it into a city, stuff like that,” he said.
Kazembe therefore touted President Chakwera as the one the people of Mangochi have been waiting for to unleash the full economic potential of the lake-shore district.
“President Chakwera means business. Mangochi will no longer remain the same. You will agree with me after 5 years what this President will do not only for us in Mangochi but the entire country. Change is finally here and Malawi will now begin to make meaningful progress in our quest to become a middle income country,” claimed Kazembe.
Kazembe, whose election petition is still in court pending trial [due to covid19 situation], is challenging the victory of Ralph Juma alleging that there was a plethora of irregularities which marred the parliamentary election in Mangochi Monkey-Bay Constituency where his rival, Juma, narrowly escaped defeat with 200 vote difference. So far, two parliamentary seats in Mangochi were declared vacant following the court’s nullification of results on account of irregularities. In Phalombe, one constituency seat was also nullified. In Chaikwawa east, Nsanje North and Nsanje Central, MCP candidates also challenged those results, their cases were heard in court and now the country is simply waiting with bated breath as to what the position of the court will be.
President Lazarus Chakwera presenting State of the Nation Address at parliament
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has on Friday presented his first State of National Address (SONA) before Members of Parliament in the national assembly after almost two months into the office.
Having taken over from former president Peter Mutharika, who was heavily criticized for dragging the nation into the mud of abject poverty and depth of despair by leaving the government coffers in the hands of crooks, people glued to radios and television expecting nothing but a speech loaded with people’s aspirations from the court sanctioned election winner.
As expected, Chakwera, who together with his vice president promised a myriad of development projects during campaign for the highest office, eloquently narrated what his administration has in store for the people of Malawi on short and long term basis.
In his bid to emphasize that Malawi is not poor, Chakwera, for the first time, has disclosed to the nation one secret: Malawi has gold.
“Surely, my country, with 85 million dollars in gold exported to the Middle East every year, is not poor. My country, with a freshwater lake and multiple rivers capable of generating 100 million dollars a year in revenue, is not poor. My country, with soils fertile enough to grow the food needed to end hunger for good, is not poor. My country, home to the coffee-scented hills of Misuku in Chitipa and the tea- covered plains of Satemwa in Thyolo, is not poor. My country, home to the silhouettes of zebras and elephants grazing against the backdrop of a golden sunset, is not poor,” Chakwera roared with much determination.
Well, that is what motivation speakers have been preaching for several years yet the motivators themselves wallow in poverty too. Nevertheless, identifying one’s potential is one step towards harnessing the much needed kinetic energy. However, the president could tell the nation how gold has been exported to the Middle East? Who have been benefiting from the precious mineral? And what strategies have they put in place to make sure the country starts ripping benefits from it? His failure to address these questions gives us a right to speculate that his government will also not be transparent and accountable on transactions of the said mineral or it was just an illusion of Mr. Sean Tsanzo Kampondeni, the speech weaver.
Moving to much touted 1 million jobs, the man of God exuded rays of hope. He sounded more concerned with the levels of unemployment in the country, especially among the youths.
“Madam Speaker, this round up of focus areas in education naturally brings me to the subject of employment, without which our pursuit of the economic aspects of Sustainable Development Goals would be rendered futile. It is no secret that Dr. Chilima and I promised to create one million jobs in our first year in office.
“To realize this, we have embarked on a job creation initiative and are treating the creation of a conducive environment for further job creation as an ongoing and multi- sectoral effort. We are currently consulting with and collecting data from key stakeholders for use in our ongoing assessment of the economy’s current employment situation. That way, the actionable job creation strategy we are developing is responsive to the evolving fundamentals of the job market. The strategy is a cocktail of the right policies, incentives, partnerships, and microfinance programs that will be applied strategically to produce the enabling environment for sustainable job creation and the productivity of marketable goods and services,” he said.
While I support whatever he said in relation to job creation, the president missed a golden opportunity to update the nation the following as regards to 1 million jobs if the youths are to take his promise seriously: 1. How many jobs will be created from the budget to be presented? 2. When will the graduate interns be integrated into the mainstream since some of them have been on internship for over 2 years now? Failure to address these issues has left many of youths doubting the practicality of 1 million jobs. You can’t talk of 1 million jobs yet few graduates have been on internship for over 2 years without giving them permanent job. 2 years on internship? It must be probation, I suppose.
On corruption Chakwera was spot-on: “Executive is too powerful, the Judiciary is too underfunded, the Legislature is too subservient, and all three are too corrupt.” The emphasis should on corruption because this is the more reason why pupils are still learning under trees; shortage of drugs in government hospitals while found in abundance on black market; Neno district still remains an Island due to axle-snapping roads; police officers still leave in very poor ‘houses’; Community Day Secondary Schools remain civic education centres for the children of the poor and so forth. As such, it would make much sense if the president outlined tangible strategies to do away with the evil practice. What strategy has been put in place to control resources in District Councils? Money for improving the welfare of Malawians is being abused in councils but no affirmative action has been taken to savage the situation. Don’t tell me you will send auditors; we are in this mess because of the so called auditors. They need to be audited, too.
It is very encouraging that the president is committed to reduce his powers, but the question is: where will the powers go? To citizens or individuals already appointed by him in the very same corrupt organizations? Malawians did away with the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party and its leader Peter Mutharika because they got tired of unfulfilled promises and mere talk. They can’t afford to be cheated and taken for granted again.
On education the president failed to recognize the hell teachers are going through. Quality education can only be achieved if Malawi has quality teachers too. For so long, teaching has been the last choice for secondary school graduates. What does the president have in store to make teaching profession more attractive? We can build nice schools but if the teachers are still subjected to poor working conditions, the results will remain the same. You construct a nice C.D.S.S in very remote area without teachers’ houses and you expect a graduate from Chilunga to get accommodation in shabby houses in surrounding villages.
Compulsory education is a welcome idea but we must not compromise quality. Memories of the aftermath of free primary education are still fresh and we are still paying the price of compromising quality of education. Free primary education led to unexpected congestion in schools thereby increasing the teacher-pupil ratio. Bakili Muluzi, ‘Anyamata apatown’, resorted to hiring Junior Certificate of Education (J.C.E) holders to groom our kids. So as the president is embarking on this very similar journey of making primary education compulsory (very important idea of course) he must come very clear on how he intends to make teaching profession more attractive so that we should have dedicated and quality teachers.
On infrastructure, the president was supposed to be clear on which and how many roads will be constructed; which areas have been earmarked for the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP) and how the programmed has been progressing; the progress of the 250 secondary schools funded by our donors. Conversely, the president must applauded for showing commitment to resume the 350MW Mpatamanga Hydro Project, an initiative of the former president Peter Mutharika. It is unusual for incumbent to proceed with predecessor’s projects in Malawi.
“Madam Speaker, Malawi needs to start moving towards industrializing itself for it to become a middle-income country by 2063. Industry conveys a lot of spillovers including providing links to other sectors of the economy such as agriculture. My Administration will emphasize manufacturing as a base for transformation and creation of employment,” the president said tackling the issue of industrialization.
But why should the president, who looks more determined to develop the country, gather confidence to inform its citizens he wants Malawi to become a middle-income country by 2063? 43 years from now? No! That’s not the wish of Malawians. We need Malawi to become middle-income country not today or tomorrow but yesterday.
All in all, the president appears to have the welfare and wish of Malawians at heart. If he surrounds himself with necessary human resource Malawi can be a better place for all. Since Malawi Congress Party (MCP) stayed outside the government for almost 26 years, it is very imperative for the president to ask for advice on governance beyond the MCP fold. Many of MCP to officials are not that much smart in the art of governance. Yes, running the country requires much exposure and as a country we have such people in abundance and they are apolitical. The president can utilize them to his advantage as he is slowly learning the art of governance.
Malawi’s parastatal boards’ appointments early September: last hope for sidelined Eastern Region MCP officials
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi leader Lazarus Chakwera, who has been accused by some quarters of being slow in making crucial appointments, has indicated that by early September Malawians will know new members of boards of parastatal organization.
This was disclosed on Sunday by State House Director of Communication and executive assistant to the president, Sean Kampondeni, in an interview with Zodiak radio.
Two weeks after ascending to power, in what appeared to be a clean-up exercise, the Chakwera-Chilima administration dissolved boards of 67 parastatals including MRA, ESCOM and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
“As you are aware two weeks ago the president promised to make the appointments within the next 40 days. That period ends in second week of September. Be assured that by early September the president will have appointed the parastatal boards as promise,” said Kampondeni.
Kampondeni says the delay is understandable as the president is trying to strike a balance between merit and the issue of regional representation.
Looking at the appointments made by Chakwera so far, this seems to be the last hope for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) members in the eastern region who vigorously campaigned for the party prior to both 2019 tripartite elections and the court-sanctioned June 23, 2020 fresh presidential election.
In the cabinet, there is completely nobody from the eastern region MCP fold except Roy Kachale of People’s Party (PP), who is also son to former President Joyce Banda.
In the recent appointments, districts like Mangochi, Balaka, Zomba and Machinga have unfairly treated as the list is dominated by people from the Centre, North and partially the Southern region.
Tonse Alliance performed poorly in the eastern region during the fresh presidential election.
Gerald Kazembe, one of the MCP pillars in eastern region, in the thick of an interview with Brian Banda of Times TV during Mangochi Monkey-Bay Tonse Alliance mega rally ahead of June 23 presidential election
One of the country’s legal experts Sundu Madise takes on Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera’s personal assistant Sean Kampondeni’ comments for the MK7 billion legal fees Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has been ordered to pay Chakwera and his deputy Saulos Chilima for 2019 presidential electoral case victory.
Here is Kamponden’s comments:
7 BILLION KWACHA QUESTIONS
Does anyone really believe that if the two Petitioners had lost the elections case at the Constitutional Court, the bill their lawyers would have presented to them for legal services for eight months would have been 7 billion kwacha?
If not, doesn’t the State’s loss of the case with costs mean that the tax payer should only pay either whatever bills the lawyers would have charged their clients had they lost or whatever bills they agreed to when they negotiated the terms of representation with their clients?
Even in the unlikely event that the 7 billion kwacha bill is more reasonable than extortionate, is there a reason tax payers are not being told how much of it will be shouldered by each of the two respondents, just as taxpayers have been told how much of it will be awarded to each of the two petitioners?
And if the triumphant lawyers have chosen to burden the taxpayer with such a bill as their just recompense, should the lawyers still be regarded in the court of public opinion as sacrificial contributors to the cause of justice in the court case or should their public esteem now be reduced to something more mercenary?
Doesn’t this bill justify and warrant a repeal of the general approach of assessing legal costs only after a trial instead of continuously throughout the trial so that the court already knows the costs on each side when it is delivering a judgment on costs?
Kodi Brian Banda, kufunsa chonchi nkulakwa?
Sundu Madise
Sundu takes on; Sean, as Executive Assistant to the Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera, you should desist from such posts. Because of the position that you hold, you can no longer distinguish guide your writings as Sean the private individual from Sean the President’s Press Secretary.
Your post has gone viral and the comments are around the fact that “wamkati uyu.” It’s as if you have been sent by the President. Or have you?
That said, you post takes off from the wrong premise. You confuse Solicitor and Client Costs with Party and Party Costs.
Your first question is evidence of that confusion. Unfortunately , your second question derives from the wrong premise in the first one.
The third one also indicates you have not read the ConCourt and Supreme Court judgement. Costs were only awarded against the Electoral Commission and not former President Peter Mutharika. So referring to the two respondents is misleading and wrong.
I infer you have not read the judgement because even your fourth question is wrongly framed.
The “triumphant lawyers” as you call them have not chosen anything. First of all it’s the President and Vice President who were triumphant. And it is because of that triumph that you are Executive Assistant.
The lawyers were simply hired by them. However, to the more substantial issue, costs are awarded by the Court. Even the assessment is done by the Court.
In this case it is the Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal. You have a problem? Blame the courts. Calling them mercenary is beneath you and I will not dignify that with any more comment.
I cannot fathom your fifth question. What do you mean repeal of the general approach of assessing costs? You should know that legal fees are gazetted in law. Are you proposed repealing the law?
Maybe you should approach the Attorney General and Minister of Justice who I am sure you interact more than us commoners. However, having called the mercenary, hhmmnnnn.
Lastly but not least, isn’t it rich that you of all people are saying this? Is the journey now looking easy because you have crossed the desert?
Are you really ready to throw lawyers who stood by and with the President for almost a year under the bus in this manner.
Do not be fooled, it was the ingenuity, their methodology and their dedication to their duty that ensured the triumph of the petitioners. You applauded them then, do not vilify them now.
As you execute your duties at state house, do you really think the lawyers you have demeaned publicly here deserve this?
Spare a thought Sean, spare a thought.
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