A Malawian based in Kuwait, Eddie Longwe, has come out to express his interest in contesting the 2025 general elections as an independent presidential candidate.
In a brief interview with this publication, Longwe said the socio-economic challenges that Malawians are going through under the current Tonse Alliance Administration are one of the reasons that have motivated him to contest in the elections.
“We all know that Malawians are going through many challenges under the current leadership.However,I am here declaring my interest to contest in the 2025 presidential elections as independent candidate. I have confident that I will win and rescue Malawians from these challenges,”said Longwe.
Eddie Longwe
He said among others, his agenda and campaign manifesto is structured on seven major blocks which include, privatizing the government ministries and institutions, promoting servant leadership, fighting corruption, promoting food security and production,improving the livelihood living standards of Malawians, promoting national security as well as improving health systems.
“I have a lot of good development projects that I have prepared for Malawians once elected into power and I am urging them to vote for me,” he said.
Longwe was born in Mzimba district and grew up there where he was staying with his grandmother.
His mother is from Mzimba and his father is from nkhotakota.
He holds a bachelors degree in business administration and higher Diploma in computer engineering.
Malawi’s prominent civil society organization Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has written Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda demanding, among others, a forensic audit into operations of Greenbelt Greenhouses Limited (GGL).
GGL is a company established in 2019 through the Greenbelt Authority (GBA) and was partnered by an Israel based company Innocellia to manage a vegetable farm in Lumbadzi, Dowa district.
Namiwa
In the letter to the AG dated January 8 2024, CDEDI wants government to institute an audit following allegations that the company does not declare dividends let alone annual financial revenue and reports.
Government through Treasury in 2018 made available funding amounting to $5.5 million and allocated 30 hectares of land to establish the said modern vegetable farm.
Then, a greenhouse fitting on a hectare of land was pegged at $100 000 and 16 greenhouses were erected by the Israeli company which became both the manager and partner.
“Just like the case with SSCL [Salima Sugar Company Limited], the partner [Innocellia] was expected to inject in funds as equity that should have translated into GBA having 49 percent shares while 51 percent shares were from Innocellia.
“It should be put on record that apart from the initial $ 5.5 million, the Malawi government pumped in K2.2 billion and K2.7 billion respectively. As if this is not enough, Malawian taxpayers pay this company every month huge sums of money in what is known as management fees. If the above is anything to go by, then this entity ought to declare dividends and also make public its annual financial statements,” reads the letter signed by CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa.
The organization also claims it has gathered that on two different occasions, between 2020 and 2021, a team of auditors from the Auditor General’s office was blocked from accessing the GGL premises.
CDEDI further demands GBA to explain to the nation on the process that was followed to identify Innocellia as both a partner and manager.
“GBA should demonstrate how it has exercised its delegated authority from Malawians and has managed to represent their interests given that the Authority has been prevented from placing an officer at the farm,” adds Namiwa in the letter.
Meanwhile, Chakaka Nyirenda says he has acknowledged the receipt of the CDEDI letter and that the government will look into the issues raised.
Recently, the AG decried the massive plunder of public resources at Salima Sugar Company where at least K51 Billion was not accounted for after a forensic audit.
He faulted some politicians and civil servants for being behind the plunder while pledging to expedite the process of recovering the funds and arresting the suspects.
Blossoming forward Christopher Gototo has penned a three year deal with the Central Bankers from Blue Eagles FC.
Gototo who scored 12 goals in all competitions in the 2023 season for the Area 30 side was unveiled on Monday at the team’s secretariat in Lilongwe.
New signing Gototo
Speaking after being unveiled, Gototo said he is eager to serve the Bankers knowing well that Silver Strikers is a side that thrives on good results.
“I am humbled to join the Central Bankers for the next three years and i would like to showcase my talent with the club. I feel me joining Silver is part of my growth and i am happy for this”, said Gototo.
The 21 year old played for Ascent Academy from 2017 before joining Blue Eagles in 2022.
Catholic Church parishes in Malawi, Sunday held Epiphany celebrations marking a missionary day for children running from November 2023 to November 2024 under the theme ‘Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet’ with a call for parents to send their children to school.
The national event of the celebrations took place at St Albert the Great Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu and all proceedings except Holy Mass Celebration were conducted by children.
In an interview, Auxiliary Bishop for Mzuzu Diocese, Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda said levels of education in the country are still low and advised parents and guardians to ensure that their children are educated.
Nyirenda then appealed to government to ensure that it provides suitable learning and teaching conditions to encourage children to remain in school.
Commenting on the essence of the day, Nyirenda said Epiphany which is also known as Theophany gears at encouraging children to persistently pray for their parents and fellow children.
“It also aims at motivating children to actively participate in church activities and charity initiatives towards the needy,” he said.
Delivering her homily, Virginia Longwe advised fellow children to love God, every one, respect their parents and carry out charity works in addressing the challenges being faced by the needy in their areas regardless of their religious affiliations.
She also advised parents against abusing children for them to grow into God fearing people and trustworthy citizens who can contribute to the development of the church and the country as a whole.
National Coordinator for the Laity in Malawi, Virginia Mahata commended St Albert the Great Parish for hosting the event and expressed hope for continued success of similar events in future.
According to Fr. Joseph Sikwese who represented National Coordinator for Pontifical Mission Society in Malawi, if children are trained at tender age, it would not be difficult for them to serve the church, love others, as well as love and serve God.
President of Muvi wa Chilungamo Revolution Party (MRP) Bantu Saunders Jumah, has urged Malawians regardless of their political party affiliations to deny to be taken as fools by politicians claiming that 195 people cannot deceive 20 million plus people with their personal agendas.
Jumah has observed that 193 Members of Parliament (MPs) joined by two executives, President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and his Vice, Dr. Saulosi Klaus Chilima have managed to deceive Malawians advancing their personal agendas by extending the election date to 16th September, 2025.
Jumah,leader of Muvi wa Chilungamo
He said the decision to extend their terms of office by one year making it 6 years for MPs and 5 years for the President is wrong, saying Malawians could have been consulted through holding of a referendum for the citizens to speak their views.
Speaking through his face book page widely followed by millions of Malawians and Africans in the continent, Jumah said Malawians are not stupid as if they don’t have their eyes to open reminding the authorities in Malawi that the Republican Constitution is very clear that elections must be held every after 5 years.
He said it is very sad that 193 Members of Parliament (MPs) have changed the laws of Malawi with President Chakwera and his Vice, Dr. Chilima endorsing it disregarding Malawians that voted for them into the high office on the 23rd June, 2020.
The MRP President said Malawians will go to the elections on 21st May, 2024 and will not be forced to go to the polls on 16th September, 2025 describing the elections of 2025 as for the individuals advancing their personal interests in government not for 20 million people in Malawi.
‘I appeal to all patriotic Malawians to stand up so that elections must be held on 21st May, 2024 as the Constitution demands not 2025, 20 million people in Malawi cannot be deceived by 193 MPs to change the laws of the country,” said Jumah.
He assured Malawians that Muvi wa Chilungamo Revolutionary Party (MRP) has come in Malawi to give answers on why Malawi is still poor besides having all the resources to make it rich appealing to men and women, youths to join and support the Revolution in a quest to liberate the country. Jumah said he is aware that there are many men, women and youth that distanced themselves from dirty politics in Malawi and are standing on the terraces watching corrupt politicians destroying the country, same time is now to join and support the Revolution.
He said MRP is a philosophy not ideology informing Malawians that they will not see a face of an individual saying it is a generational party urging those that have chosen to be on the corner because the political space has been taken by corrupt people that time is now to walk with the Revolution.
Jumah said MRP foundations are on Union of Malawi and Africa through Mindset “Change, Conformity, Law and Order, and Patriotism urging all Malawians to be with them in 2024 as they start a journey of liberation towards a better Malawi.
