Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrate Court on Monday June 6,2022 ordered a 60-year-old Herve Milhade, Managing Director for Castel Malawi Limited , to pay a K1 million fine for cultivating Indian Hemp popularly known as Chamba or serve a one-year jail if he fails to pay the amount.
Milhade and his accomplice Murie Jan, aged 50, pleaded guilty of the offence on June 2, 2022.
Here Milhade, Castle Managing Director
passing his judgment, Justice Chipofya told Milhade and Jan to appeal for the case if not satisfied with the ruling.
The two were arrested on April 8,2022 at Milhade’s residence at Kabula Heights in Blantyre.
A total of 59 plants of the hemp weighing 45 kilogrammes were found at Milhade’s home.
The plants were forfeited pursuant to Section 17(6) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Malawi Congress Party Vice President, Harry Mlekanjala Mkandawire has assured people of TA Khonsolo that the Government is so committed to develop Mzimba South East Constituency through working together with chiefs who are custodians of developments in respective areas.
Speaking at Kamimba Teachers Development Center on Sunday, June 5,2022 during an interface meeting with chiefs under TA Khonsolo, Mkandawire said the government of President Lazarus Chakwera has lined a number of developments for the area, and that he was there to interact with them to hear from them on which developments can be prioritized, and see how best the government can implement such developments.
Harry Mkandawire meeting local leaders
Mkandawire who admitted that the country is facing some challenges, was quick to say that the war in Ukraine, and the mismanagement of the economy by the DPP led government increased the challenges, but he assured them that President Chakwera is working hard to address the challenges.
“Economy has been affected worldwide owing it to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Fertilizer that we have been using is manufactured in these two countries currently at war.
Another thing is that when we got into government, we found that the previous government has cheated the World Bank and IMF on how the country’s economy was, which led the two organizations to suspend assisting Malawi, but we are happy that now they are back.” Said MCP’s Vice President, adding that it is a serious offence to cheat the two organizations.
“It baffles me that the same people who mismanaged our economy are now blaming us to have failed with the aim to blindfold the citizenry especially in rural areas. That is a lie. There is no way DPP can lecture the current government on how to run economy of the country, yet it is the same DPP that put the country’s economy in a great mess.” Lamented Mkandawire who was franked by the Regional chairman for North South in MCP, Joseph Chavula, and several other party officials.
He then urged the chiefs to encourage their subjects to work hand in hand with the government to have meaningful developments, adding that the increment of CDF from K40 million to K100 million is a sign that the current administration would like to develop all areas in the country.
Further, Mkandawire warned chiefs against listening to the failed politicians who go around telling lies only to score political miles.
During the meeting, Mkandawire also tackled issues to do with corruption, saying President Chakwera is so serious in fighting the vice as evidenced by the 21 days ultimatum he has given the ACB to come up with a report on the recent corruption report released in UK, that he is not tolerating corruption.
He has since assured the chiefs that he will discuss with various line ministers to see how their concerns can be properly addressed.
In his welcoming remarks, TA Khonsolo thanked the Chakwera administration for the AIP in his area which he said did not have many challenges.
He also thanked the government for other projects in the area, while pleading for more projects in his area, saying it has been neglected for years.
The annoited heir to the DPP presidency, Dr. Dalitso Kabambe on Monday paid a courtesy call on DPP’s former regional governor for the North Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira at his residence in Mzuzu.
The visit comes after a ground breaking mass rally the previous day at Katoto Ground where the party’s Vice President (North) Goodall Gondwe led other senior DPP gurus in calling for unity and respect for the party’s leader Professor Peter Mutharika.
Mzomera’s presence at the rally was his first public apperance after being set free by the High Court sitting in Mzuzu four weeks ago, following his appeal of his conviction and sentence.
Kabambe meeting Mzomera
In his speech at the rally, Kabambe said the DPP was in a self-reflection mode, gearing up to get better and stronger ahead of the 2025 elections.
The former Central Bank Governor was accompanied by Hon. Mganda Chiume (former Minister of Foreign Affairs); Hon. Baxter Kita (DPP Deputy Director of Political Affairs); Madame Joyce Chikukula (DPP Northern Region Women’s Director); Kelvin Chirambo (DPP North Regional Youth Director); Madame Eluby Kandeu (DPP Eastern Region Women’s Director) and Steven Bamusi (DPP Eastern Region Youth Director), among others. ▪️
Kabambe is one one of the lead candidate for the DPP leadership, however he is seen as the chosen successor and is receiving backing from the incumbent Arthur Peter Mutharika
Malawi national football team, the Flames have started the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Ethiopia at a fully-packed Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday.
A Gabadinho Mhango’s brace was all the Flames needed to collect maximum points and top Group D while waiting for Egypt and Guinea to clash in the pool’s match day 1 second game.
A foul by Yared Bayeh on rampaging striker Stein Dave prompted South African referee Abongile Thom to award the Flames a penalty and Mhango coolly buried it to the left corner in the 10th minute after sending the Ethiopian goalkeeper the wrong way.
Another foul by Mignot Debebe on the former Orlando Pirates star convinced referee to award yet another penalty and this time, composed Mhango sent it right into the middle of the net just when the goalkeeper thought he would put it on the same spot.
Ethiopia responded with a barrage of attacks on Malawi half, but though they enjoyed massive ball possession (Ethiopia-70, Malawi-30), they failed to penetrate Flames defence that fiercely protected their goal area resulting in the visitors registering no attempt at goal at half-time.
Gabadinho Mhango making a bold statement
Ethiopia coach made some substitutions at half-time bringing in Shemeles Bekele in place of Mohammed Mesoud, Gatoch Panom in place of Surafel Dagnachew while Gugsa Beshah came in for Amanuel Gebremikiel, hoping to pile more pressure on the hosts.
But the Flames stuck to their game plan: Let the visitors enjoy possession and hit the with long balls from flanks into their final third where Mhango, Khuda Myaba and Davie were causing havoc.
But the visitors finally pulled one back in the 66th minute from the spot kick after a foul in the box by sit in captain John Banda.
President Chakwera was in attendance
Abubakker Nasirs slotted past a rooted Thom, giving the visitors hope of salvaging a point from the match.
But Flames coach Mario made three substitutions pulling out Chimwemwe Idana, Stein Dave and Gerald Phiri Jnr who were replaced by Charles Petro, Chiukepo Msowoya and Francisco Madinga, respectively.
Gaba almost grabbed hat-trick but his 77th minute header was ruled off side.
Marinica also made some final changes in the dying minutes of the match, bringing in Micium Mhone to replace Myaba in the 83rd minute while Gaba was pulled out in the 88th minute and replaced by defending midfielder Chikoti Chirwa to seal the game.
So, Ethiopia’s fate was sealed as it ended Malawi grabbing three points to give the Flames an advantage going into match day 2 on Thursday when they face Guinea away in Conakry while Ethiopia face Egypt at Bingu National Stadium.
Marinica admitted that Ethiopia gave the Flames a good run for their money.
He said: “It was a very tough game. Ethiopia is a fantastic team. They play very good football. They have fantastic players.”
His counterpart Wubetu Abate felt their good performance was betrayed by the two penalties from needless tackles from his defenders.
“But congratulations to Malawi. They deserved it,” Abate said: “ Starting Line-Ups:
Malawi: Charles Thom, Stanley Sanudi, Gomezgani Chirwa, Chembezi Denis, Lawrence Chaziya, John Banda, Gerald Phiri (Chimwemwe Idana, Gabadinho Mhango (Chikoti Chirwa), Khuda Muyaba, Stain Davie
Some Concerned Members of Staff-Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) have written to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Ombudsman, Anti Corruption Bureau and to the Ministry of Energy- Controller of Statutory Corporations to express their concerns over what they call unauthorized contract renewal of Director of Fuels contract by MERA CEO Henry Kachaje
In a letter which we have seen the concerned members wrote;
“We members of staff of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) would like to put to your attention of the machinations of our CEO Mr Henry Kachaje in trying to use off-book strategies in renewing the contract of Mrs Alinafe Mkavea to the position of Director for Fuels whose contract expired on 31st May 2022”.
“What is more worrying is the fact that Mr Kachaje himself is holding onto a position that he got dubiously as was exposed in the leaked Ombudsman report that faulted his irregular appointment as he did not have the required qualifications for the job”.
“The whole MERA board was eventually replaced due to the same fiasco but he has unashamedly hanged on.We are well aware the CEO with the aid of an invisible hand is maneuvering to backdate Mrs Mkavea’s contract renewal in order to escape from the restrictions of an executive order President Lazarus Chakwera gave on Tuesday, 31st March 2022 that effectively bans any contract renewals for senior management staff in all parastatals and MDAs save for special clearances.”
Alinafe Mkavea, MERA staff wants her contract not renewed
On Mrs Mkavea the concerned members says She has been hanging on that position even though a MERA staff appointment and disciplinary committee on 5th July, 2021 recommended her firing after she was found guilty on five charges relating to conflict of interest, putting the reputation of the organization into disrepute and insubordination following a series of repetitive acts of misconduct.
The members of staff are appalled by this deliberate ploy to avert justice first by shielding Mrs Mkavea from facing the consequences of her actions through pushing of the disciplinary report under carpet and secondly giving her another contract despite doing so being against the presidential executive order.
To paint a clear picture of her case; Mrs Mkavea was found guilty of breaching section 17 of the Energy Regulation Act of 2004 which bars MERA board members and employees from operating filling stations, the Director of Fuels was found by the committee to have lied to the investigating team that she had zero interest in Wenela Puma filling station when confronted on 8th May 2019, whereas the investigation revealed that she still was running the business up until September 2020 and beyond.On 19th March 2019, the then MERA CEO communicated to Mrs Mkavea, the Mera board position and direction that as a condition to the renewal of her contract which has just expired she and her family had to surrender the running of the filling station as it was standing in conflict with MERA’s policies as a regulator in the same industry she was running business.
Alinafe Mkavea was also found on the wrong for disrespect of authority when she petitioned former President Peter Mutharika, Vice President, Energy minister, Gender minister among other offices claiming that she was being harassed by her superiors on a matter that had already been put to her as conflict of interest which was in conflict with policies and laws guiding the organization.
In mitigation to the disciplinary team Mrs Mkavea had apologized as a sign of remorse for her activities which was treated as an admission of guilt from which a guilty on all counts verdict was derived on that attracted the recommendation of dismissal basing on her record of past misconduct.
However, to everybody’s amazement Mrs Mkavea was never fired nor did she face any disciplinary measures following the report. It baffles us to realise that there are machinations being worked on to renew her contract with the background we have provided and notwithstanding the president’s executive order.In all fairness Mrs Mkavea should not have been on MERA’s payroll up to this day if there was level headedness in the top management especially the CEO and at board level.We are even more concerned that our CEO Mr Kachaje has joined the bandwagon of shielding Mrs Mkavea whose handlers at the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) included the former Secretary to the President and Cabinet.
The concerned members claims that the two are suspected to be in a love relationship.”Everyone can only speculate as to what interest has Mr Kachaje in trying to push for the renewal of Mrs Mkavea’s contract, a person who has only done better in injuring MERA’s corporate image by wantonly disregarding laid down protocols of the organization” read the letter
The concerned members have set a string of demands that they want to be actioned. They are calling upon the senior management at MERA to follow the law and respect the president’s order by not renewing Mrs Mkavea’s contract based on the findings of the disciplinary committee whose report is in our possession. Furthermore, we beseech the new SPC Ms Coleen Zamba to quickly act on these matters including the outstanding matter of irregular recruitment of MERA CEO who is working illegally and is in front of maladministration at the state corporation.
They are threatening that Failure to adhere the demands will lead to
-Blocking of Mrs Mkavea from working at MERA premises
-They will leak the report that faulted Mrs Mkavea on her disciplinary issues
– They will Formally petition the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on the matter Commence industrial action until sanity prevails
Mera CEO Henry Kachaje has not yet responded to the staff concerns and Makvea refused to comment on the matter
