President Lazarus Chakwera has assured the country of fuel availability in all service stations in the short term.
Making his address on the current fuel crisis during the 2022 Malawi Investment Summit at Bingu International Convention Centre ( BICC) in Lilongwe on Wednesday September 7,2022, Chakwera said he has already engaged with officials from the Ministry of Energy, National Oil Company of Malawi and Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority to conclusively address this major economic setback that has hit the county’s economy for a couple of weeks now, adversely affecting manufacturing, businesses, work and domestic life.
“I want to assure you that we are seized of this matter to ensure that there is product in the service stations in the short term, while we work on the long term in respect of forex issues that are at the root of this problem,” said Chakwera
He said currently, the country has secured $28 million from local banks to address the problem and that it is in pursuit of another $50-million-dollar facility for the same.
Chakwera added that right now, there are over 6 million litres being brought into the country, plus doubling the daily distribution of the product from the county’s reserves to ease the burden.
“Going forward, I have instructed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to prioritise fuel procurement in the allocation of any forex we secure.
“I want to thank all Malawians for their patience as we attend to this problem as a matter of urgency,” said Chakwera.
President Lazarus Chakwera has elevated Traditional Authority Chimombo to Senior Chief.
Both Nsanje District Commissioner Medson Matchaya and Senior Chief Chimombo have confirmed the development.
Chimombo
Speaking in an interview with 247 Malawi News, Chimombo thanked the president for recognizing his chieftancy which is second in line from Senior Chief Tengani in the district.
Meanwhile, arrangements for a ceremony will be announced in due course.
Parliament of Malawi has migrated from analogue Hansard Transcription System to digital following installation of a new system that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated.
Speaking during the symbolic handover ceremony of the equipment, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Aisha Adams thanked #UNDP for the timely support to Parliament of Malawi which she said is a very big step in the history of Parliament and will go a long way in improving its service delivery.
Aisha Adams and UNDP Resident Representative to Malawi, Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara
“Previously, Parliament used to record parliamentary proceedings on an audio tape and Hansard Reporters and Editors had to continually listen to the tapes for them to transcribe. This analogue system was faced with a number of challenges in the production of the Official Report (Hansard) as there was scarcity of audio tapes on the market following phasing out of the technology and hiring of tape decks proved to be challenging and costly”. She said.
For his part, UNDP Resident Representative to Malawi, Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara said Parliament and UNDP have long understood that digital transformation is key to enabling an institution to be efficient, effective, transparent and accountable to the population and to key stakeholders.
He further said UNDP’s strategic digitalization drive with the Parliament is validated, reinforced and embedded in the recently launched Parliament of Malawi Strategic Plan (2021-2026) under strategic Outcome 5: Assets and Infrastructure Improved.
“You will recall that this Strategic Plan was launched last month and UNDP further facilitated the formulation of the first-ever digital transformation strategy, which we believe is on the point of being formally approved.” He said.
Parliament of Malawi was the only country in Africa still using the analogue Hansard Transcription System. With the new Hansard Transcription System in place, the official report of Parliament will be produced within 24 to 48 hours.
The Former leader of United Democratic Front Atupele Muluzi has announced the death of his mother in law. Writing on his Facebook page Atupele paid tribute to Mrs Lizzie Vachhani, mother to his wife Angela.
Mrs Lizzie Vachaan, aged 55 died on Saturday at a hospital in India after a long battle with cancer. According to the statement released by the family, funeral arrangements will be announced later.
In his message , Atupele wrote “You were our pillar, our strength. We loved you but God loved you more. Thank you very much for everything and for loving me as a son. My condolences to Uncle Sunnil, Junior, Bashir, my wife Angela and the entire family for losing such a beautiful soul. Let us keep our faith in our almighty God and believe that she is in a better place. Our mother is gone but will not be forgotten. May Her Beautiful Soul Rest In Peace “
Other tributes have come from a cross section of Malawians who knew Lizzie including the UDF party
Reporting by Mana Minister of Homeland Security, Jean Sendeza and Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule have rebuked illegal recruitment agencies that are leading to human trafficking and labour migration which have gone rampant in the country.
Minister of Homeland Security, Jean Sendeza and Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule have rebuked illegal recruitment agencies that are leading to human trafficking and labour migration which have gone rampant in the country.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Friday at a press briefing held under the theme “Trapped in Oman,” Sendeza said many Malawians seeking employment in foreign nations are working under unfavourable and unfair working conditions forcing them to cry out for help from the government.
Minister of Homeland Security, Jean Sendeza and Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule
“Issues to do with Trafficking in Persons are increasing due to unregistered agencies in the country from which a lot of cases are already in the courts. Most people working outside the country are facing a lot of challenges after being cheated that they will find job opportunities and yet it is modern slavery,” she said.
She, therefore, encouraged all Malawians to report any acts of trafficking in persons to the nearest police in their localities.
Sendeza also highlighted that investigations are underway to avail all those involved in the business that is rendering many to dire situations.
“My office has been informed that one of the police officers at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) who was involved in the clearing processes has been arrested together with a police officer from Area 30 and a health officer from Kamuzu Central Hospital,” Sendeza said.
Meanwhile, seven cases have been concluded by the courts and 71 other cases are still under scrutiny.
On her part, Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule highlighted that most of the current job agencies sending people abroad are illegal and the ministry is not aware of them.
“Our recent problem is with those that went to Oman. We are unable to assist them because we are being denied entry into the country and we do not have any bilateral or international agreements with them. However, we are using our embassy in Kuwait to find out more.
“The current situation is very sad and heart breaking. Our people are being trafficked as this is done outside the confines of the law and most of them are either underpaid or not paid at all,” she said.
Kamtukule further added that her Ministry is under discussion with Job Centre that has expressed interest in leading as a legitimate institution regarding labour migration issues.
“We are ensuring that we are working with our partners, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), to help us assist Job Centre to formalise their institution.
“We are going to amend our guidelines to reflect that if you are not a member of the institution then you are illegal,” Kamtukule said.
She further added that the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) is working hand in hand with member countries to ensure a reduction in the porousness of boarders to end illegal migration and trafficking in persons.
She, therefore, pleaded with all Malawians to be patriotic and inform them whenever they suspect such a behaviour in their communities.
