Flames Coach Marian Mario Marinica has said he is optimistic that his side will perform well as they face Egypt in the first leg of the Afcon qualifier in Cairo on Friday.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Marinica said he is satisfied with the preparations that the team has done so far and that as a team they are geared and set for the game.
” My boys are ready to face a strong squad like Egypt, they had been in that situation before. They faced big teams like Morocco, Senegal and other teams nothing new.
Flames getting ready
” I have instructed my boys to start the game on a higher note, they should defend the 50 percent of our chances and finish the game so that we should have positive result at the end of 90 minutes.” Said Marinica.
Marinica however, bemoaned lack of game time by most of the foreign based players in their clubs but was quick to point out that the technical team has worked very hard to make sure that the players are well prepared for the big game.
The Malawi Flames will play Egypt in Cairo tomorrow March 24th, 2023, and again host the same side at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe four days later.
Some Malawians on social media have blamed former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for not attending a ‘ Former Heads of State’ meeting which President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera held at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Thursday.
President Lazarus Chakwera announced last week that he will engage former Heads of State ( Dr. Joyce Banda, Dr. Bakili Muluzi and Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika) to deliberate measures to mitigate effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
Surprisingly, only two former Heads of State, Dr. Joyce Banda and Dr. Bakili Muluzi honoured the President’s invitation to the meeting.
Meanwhile, Peter Mutharika’s absence at the meeting has raised several comments saying he could not do this as it is not something to do with politics but saving lives of Malawians.
Peter Makina says : “If it was a political debate, his absence couldn’t surprise anybody, he is not good at that and he knows it. But this is something to do with the national tragedy before us, why withhold his participation? I know he doesn’t attend funerals but the interface isn’t about that ceremony either, they will just bang heads on how to respond to the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy as Senior leaders.
“The behaviour Peter Mutharika has projected is tantamount to declining to serve Malawians in times of real and great need. This is the time for all our leaders to display unconditional unity, pooling response efforts towards Cyclone Freddy victims.”
The other social media user Paul Ngulube writes:”If the rationale behind Peter Mutharika’s absence at the meeting in the neutrality of the venue, then we are destined for doom as a country. For me, this is no time for politics. The devastation by Cyclone has no respect for party colors whatsoever!! This is the time we need to stand and rebuild together.
“I can only assume that Peter Mutharika has his ‘valid reasons’ for not attending other than the neutral venue gimmick. We are responding to a crisis for God’s sake and Humanitarian Action principles provide for bending of some protocols.
“If indeed Peter is committed to taking Malawi forward in the spirit of Unity, Peace and Progress, then this was a great opportunity to share his insights on how we can help each other in these Freddy induced desperate times. Unfortunately, it remains a lost opportunity.”
” So, this former President called APM decided to boycott a very important meeting with servant leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and other former heads of state.
“This was ridiculous and ridiculous. Malawi is in a crisis now following the devastating tropical storm Freddy so for Professor Peter Mutharika to bring in politics on the issue is very cheap propaganda.
“This shows that APM lacks humanity, umunthu. But anyway, even if he attended the meeting, he could have contributed nothing, he could not have added any value to the meeting. Just last week, when he went to see victims of the cyclone in Ndirande, he turned the whole meeting into a political affair, embarrassing his corrupt and violent DPP,” says veteran journalist Dickson Kashoti.
As he continues bringing Malawians together with “Tigwirane Manja” campaign which he launched last week, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday held talks with former Heads of State Dr. Joyce Banda and Dr. Bakili Muluzi at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre where he gave them an update on the effects of Cyclone Freddy.
The announced inviting all former Heads of State, including Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, after witnessing the devastation caused by the cyclone in the Southern Region and how it has affected people, goods and even crops. After the official photos were released, it became clear that former President Peter Mutharika shunned the meeting
Joyce Banda, Chakwera and Bakili Muluzi
Writing on his official Facebook page, Chakwera said he was humbled to receive such support from the two former presidents.
“In the spirit of Operation Tigwirane Manja, the two eminent citizens have pledged to support all efforts lined up by Government in providing necessary respite to affected communities,” said Chakwera in the post
He said the two Heads of State have presented to him valuable insights on how best they can provide immediate the displaced then rebuild resiliently against climate-induced disasters.
The President then appealed to all Malawians to set aside politics and instead hold hands during this calamity.
On his part, His Excellency Dr. Muluzi commended President Chakwera for coordinating government’s efforts in providing assistance to the affected areas.
On Wednesday evening, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala disclosed that he has discontinued a matter involving former DPP Steven Kayuni and Senior Assistant Chief state advocate Dziko Malunda who were being accused of fraud and abuse of office by Anti Corruption Bureau ( ACB).
In an interview with local media, Chamkakala indicated that the resources in question were already recovered.
Steven Kayuni
“The matter should be handled with the prescribed terms of the MPSR [Malawi Public Service Regulations],” said Chamkakala
Last month, reports were rife that ACB had obtained warrants of arrest for the two public officers .
A copy of the warrant for Kayuni which went viral at the time, stated that the former DPP allegedly directed Sky Links Travel to change his travel destination on an air ticket from Vienna, Austria to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia costing Malawi government the sum of K7, 498, 197.00 for his personal benefit.
On the other hand, the warrant for Malunda alleged that he abitrary directed Sky Links Travel to change his destination on an Air ticket from being Vienna, Austria to Johannesburg, South Africa, costing the Malawi government the sum of K984, O38.00 for his personal benefit.
As one way of complementing government efforts in realising the Vision 2063, Farm Radio Trust ( FRT) is on Saturday March 25,2023 set to launch a pro-agriculture Radio Station called Mlimi Radio.
This comes as the station has been testing its frequencies in districts of Mangochi, Nkhotakota and Mzuzu for the past 4 months.
Speaking to journalists in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer of Farm Radio Trust, George Vilili said the radio will be a platform for agriculture policy makers and farmers to engage.
“Our goal as a national radio station is to reach every part of Malawi and provide digital agriculture extension services.
“We are committed to providing up-to-date and accurate information to farmers for sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
Vilili further hinted that very soon,Mlimi Radio will be in all regions upon given frequencies by Malawi Regulatory Authority ( MACRA).
He said Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale and Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu will attend the launch.
Farm Radio Trust was established 14 years ago with an aim of harnessing ICTs to scale up Agriculture solutions.
