Football Association of Malawi (FAM) second Vice President Othaniel Hara who is seeking re-election at Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has refuted rumours that he has pulled out of the race ahead of the association’s December 16,2023, elections in Mzuzu.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday in Mzuzu, Hara described such reports as ‘baseless, misleading and pure acts of propaganda”.
Hara
“I do not know who is behind such reports but let me tell them that i am not a coward and i have not pulled out of the race.
“These are acts of propaganda but I am unmoved,” he said.
His refutal comes in the wake of social media reports, alleging that he has withdrawn from the race.
He is contesting against Northern Region Football Association(NRFA) Chairperson,Lameck Zetu Khonje while incumbent FAM President,Walter Nyamilandu Manda is facing Super League of Malawi (SULOM) President, Fleetwood Haiya in the election on the presidential post.
Fearless political activist, Bon Kalindo, who has off late become a frequent visitor in police cells, says he is not afraid even this government arrests him many times as it wishes.
He said this in Zomba on Friday following his re-arrest immediately after being granted bail in a case he is being accused of proposing violence in the recent anti-government protests.
Kalindo led the protests under the banner ‘Malawi First’, demanding answers from government on the prevailing economic hardships following the 44 percent kwacha devaluation.
Kalindo
But the protests ended up in violence with some people damaging property.
Police arrested 23 in the old capital city in connection to his protests.
Kalindo was sent to Mangochi where his grouping also conducted protests that resulted in a fracas; leaving vehicles destroyed, among others.
There, the law enforcers nabbed 45 suspects in connection to the violence.
Kalindo, who is also answering another case of illegal power connection, is quoted telling one of the country’s local media institutions Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) that he is not worried or afraid and that the current regime is falling down.
Last year, Police also dragged him to court for allegedly publishing false information when he told the now defunct Rainbow Television that he knows people behind the attacks, abductions and killings of persons with albinism in the country.
In a twist of event, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Legal affairs has penned the party secretary general Gelzelder wa Jeffrey asking her to disclose source of funding which they used during National Governing Council meeting which took place at Golden Peacock in Lilongwe.
In a strong worded letter , Mhango says he is giving the advise to the SG under Section 27 (2)’, (5) and (6) of the Political Parties Act, 2018, which gives political parties obligations to declare to the Registrar of Political Parties, the cash donations made to the Party.
“I have been informed by the Secretariat that you have not handed over any such funds or donations to the Treasurer General nor remitting any such funds or cash donations which you have received on behalf the Party into the Party Bank Accounts, ” Mhango argues
Mhango
In the letter Mhango says the advise is purely based on the law as read under Section 27 (2)’, (5) and (6) of the Political Parties Act, 2018,
“You are required to declare to the Registrar of Political Parties, the cash donations made to the Party. I therefore advise and ask you to promptly hand over the funds and cash donations to the Treasurer General or remit the same into the Party Bank Accounts. I further advise and ask you to declare all the cash donations which you have so far received on behalf of the Party, by declaring the names of individuals and organizations from whom you have received the donations and the respective amounts, ” argues Mhango.
In the letter Mhango says if she fails to hand over the funds and cash donations to the Treasurer General or to remit the funds and cash donations into the Party Bank Accounts and to declare the cash donations or if you give false information, she may be imprisoned for two years and pay back the money similar to those received. There was no immediate response from the SG.
Malawi’s journey towards economic growth is on course following the announcement by the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) which shows that the exchange rate between the kwacha and the dollar has not changed from the first week after the 44 percent devaluation of the local unit implemented on November 9 2023.
The dollar has been selling at an average K1666.67 at some commercial banks namely, National Bank of Malawi, CDH Investment Bank, Centenary Bank and FDH Bank plc.
All the banks listed here were selling the local unit at a flat rate of K1 700, as announced by the central bank on November 8.
Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) spokesperson Mark Lungu said in an interview response that the central bank is “satisfied with the stability” witnessed in the past two weeks and expects the local unit will fully stabilise in the long-term.
Reacting to the development, Malawi University of Science and Technology economics lecturer Bertha Bangara-Chikadza said the apparent stability is normal considering that some donors released forex into the markets after Malawi secured a $175 million Extended Credit Facility with the International Monetary Fund.
She, however, stressed that it was too early to conclude that the kwacha may remain stable because the country is not “exporting much” this quarter but is importing some critical imports such as fertiliser for the growing season, a development she says “still put pressure on the kwacha”.
To put it into context, RBM figures show that Malawi exported $111.9 million (about K125.8 billion at the prevailing exchange rate at the time) but imported $291.7 million worth of goods and services, representing a deficit of $179.8 million or 151 percent of the total exports.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda has hailed Kulima and Afikepo Programmes for improving the livelihoods of more than 1 million households across Malawi through advanced agriculture production and food and nutrition security.
Chithyola said this today during the official closing ceremony for Kulima and Afikepo Programmes at BICC in Lilongwe, under the theme: Sustainable Agriculture Production, Food and Nutrition Security – Cornerstone for a Resilient Malawi.
Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda
After touring pavilions of farmers under the project showcasing locally available diversified crops and produce in all six food groups, he expressed optimism that we are making great strides towards empowering our communities to eradicate hunger and ensure that every household has access to nutritious food.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale stated that the two programmes have further built the capacity of small holder farmers to improve productivity and value addition, and equipped frontline agricultural officers with vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles to ease their mobility with reliable transportation.
He highlighted that the two programs have contributed towards efforts to achieve an inclusively wealthy and prosperous Malawi.
“We celebrate that our people’s lives in the villages have improved, officers equipped with knowledge and expertise, rehabilitation of three agricultural research stations across the country, improvement in research technology, and restoration of the banana industry,” said Kawale.
The two Ministers expressed gratitude to the EU for financially supporting the project with approximately US$186 million.
EU Ambassador to Malawi, Rune Skinnebach underscored the transformative impact of the Kulima and Afikepo programs, emphasizing empowerment of farmers in diverse economic streams, promoting women’s empowerment, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.
He urged all stakeholders and implementing partners to join hands in building on the lessons learnt and scaling up to ensure continuity.
He further revealed ongoing support through a new project called “Ulimi ndi Chilengedwe” (UCHI), which will be rolled out soon.
