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The Ulama Council of Malawi: A Little-Known Powerhouse in the Muslim Community

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The Ulama Council of Malawi: A Little-Known Powerhouse in the Muslim Community

By Twink Jones Gadama

In a country where religious and political affiliations often go hand in hand, the Ulama Council of Malawi has emerged as a significant force within the Muslim community.

While their influence may not be widely recognized by the general public, this grouping of Sheikhs has recently made headlines with their endorsement of Uladi Mussa’s decision to join the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

This move has sparked intrigue and raised questions about the Ulama Council’s history, representation, and overall impact within the country.

History and Background

The Ulama Council of Malawi traces its roots back to the Islamic scholars who migrated to the region centuries ago.

Their expertise in Islamic law, theology, and teachings earned them the title of “Ulama,” meaning “learned ones” in Arabic.

Over time, these scholars formed a council to address the religious and social concerns of the Muslim population.

Representation and Recognition

While the Ulama Council of Malawi has stated that it represents the interests of the Muslim community, there are doubts about its credibility and recognition among the country’s Muslims.

Our investigation has revealed that the council’s presence and influence appear to be limited, with many Muslims expressing surprise and skepticism about its existence.

Only a small percentage of those surveyed were familiar with the Ulama Council, raising questions about its overall effectiveness and reach.

Ulama Council endorsed Uladi Mussa Move to MCP

Ulama Council’s Endorsement of Uladi Mussa

The recent endorsement of Uladi Mussa, a renowned Sheikh who recently joined the ruling MCP, has brought the Ulama Council into the spotlight.

The council’s support for Mussa’s political move serves as a reminder that Muslims in Malawi are not a monolithic group, as some might assume.

The Ulama Council has emphasized its willingness to align with the ruling government due to its perceived focus on working with and empowering the Muslim community.

Role and Impact:

While the Ulama Council’s level of representation within the Muslim community may be subject to debate, its endorsement of political figures like Uladi Mussa sheds light on its potential influence.

By actively participating in the political arena, the council aims to advocate for the rights and interests of Muslims, while also contributing expertise to governance efforts.

However, the true impact of the council’s involvement in politics and its ability to bring about significant change remains to be seen.

Future Prospects

As the Ulama Council of Malawi gains more visibility and recognition, it may face both opportunities and challenges. It is crucial for the council to strengthen its presence within the Muslim community, enhance its representation, and actively engage with relevant stakeholders. By building credibility and demonstrating its commitment to serving the interests of Muslims, the Ulama Council has the potential to play a more influential role in shaping the socio-political landscape of Malawi.

Conclusion

The Ulama Council of Malawi may have flown under the radar for many, but with its recent endorsement of Uladi Mussa and participation in political matters, it has raised eyebrows and sparked a necessary discussion about its relevance and impact.

As it navigates its way forward, the council must strive to gain wider recognition, increase representation among Malawi’s Muslims, and demonstrate its ability to effect positive change within the community.

Only then can the Ulama Council truly position itself as a powerhouse for the rights and interests of Muslims in Malawi.

DPP condemns torching of its regalia in Ndirande-Blantyre

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DPP condemns torching of its regalia in Ndirande-Blantyre

By Vincent Gunde

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has strongly condemned the torching of its regalia by a group of noticeable sympathizers of expelled former DPP Vice President for the South Dr. Kondwani Nankhumwa.

During Nankhumwa’s visit to Ndirande Township in Blantyre, a group of women were seen mobilizing each other to put DPP regalia-zitenje at one place and set it ablaze as a sign of showing anger with the expulsion of their leader from the DPP.

In his address to the party sympathizers, Nankhumwa said he was expelled from the DPP for committing a sin of expressing his interest to stand as a presidential candidate during the party’s elective conference slated either in June or July, this year.

Nankhumwa assured the sympathizers that even though he was expelled from the DPP, his desire of wanting to stand as a presidential candidate are still alive and come the elections day, his face will appear on the ballot paper.

Writing in a statement dated 29th January, 2024 signed by its Spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, the DPP says the act of torching DPP regalia was a sheer expression of their anger to DPP based on the recent expulsion of Nankhumwa from the party.

The DPP says politics of antagonism and hooliganism displayed by the Nankhumwa followers is too archaic for today’s democracy and do not subscribe to prosperity, justice and security that DPP as a party and its regalia stand for.
It says the party feels sorry for the full length the followers unfolded their political, spiritual and moral decadence by doing the act within the vicinity of a religious compound, Makata CCAP Church of the Blantyre CCAP Synod-Ndirande.

The DPP says it believes in progressive politics which is all about competition of ideas, it has nothing to do with barbaric or emotional outbursts that eventually impact nothing towards uplifting lives of the common person.

“It is our anticipation that sympathizers of Nankhumwa and others, will learn to respect different opinions without any semblance of hooliganism,” reads part of the statement.

The DPP has finally advised its members to refrain from any retaliations saying the core focus of the DPP is working on strategies aimed at healing the country from the economic cancer that has sucked its vitality dry due to implementation of faceless and inhumane economic policies by the Chakwera’s regime.

Education, powerful tool for sustainable peace – Mdooko

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Education, powerful tool for sustainable peace – Mdooko

By James Kanyenda

Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko says the theme for this year’s International Day of Education resonates very well with the reason the day was set aside for; to ensure peace prevails in the world, aided by education.

Speaking Tuesday during the commemoration for the day held at Mkwichi Secondary School in Lilongwe under the theme, ‘Learning for Lasting Peace’, Mdooko said the day is important to reflect on milestones gained towards achieving sustainable development and peace.

“Education is key in creating a safe place to live. As such, we should ensure learners have access to their fundamental right to quality education and gain knowledge, competences and become agents of peace,” she said.

Nancy Chaola Mdooko at Mkwichi Secondary School

The Deputy Minister expressed worry with cases of indiscipline and violence in schools leading to loss of valuable property and closure of schools which greatly affect the learners themselves.

She said it is now time to bang heads and find solutions to deal with the vice once and for all.

“The responsibility of finding these solutions in not for the ministry only; parents, school committees, teachers and community leaders should also get involved in ensuring peace in schools. Violence puts the affected school at a disadvantage as damaged property takes time to be fixed, and learners stay at home while their colleagues in other school continue with lessons,” Mdooko emphasised.

She added that parents and communities should be actively involved in shaping their wards to become responsible citizens with good morals and well-disciplined learners at school.

Chairperson for Development partners in the education sector, Allian Zonolin, said lack of peace in schools demonstrated through corporal punishments and teasing among others leads to school dropout out hence the need for collective efforts to ensure peaceful learning environment.

“Education is a powerful tool to shape the mind, bring enlightenment and solve problems and, therefore, we need to guard against anything that might prevent learners from accessing it including violence in schools,” she said.

Parents Teacher Association (PTA) Chairperson for Mkwichi Primary School, Israel Kaunda, called upon all PTAs to be functional and help in preventing tension among teachers, learners and parents by ensuring each of the three is taking its part in creating violent free education institutions.

He asked learners to be submissive to their teachers and teachers to act as role models to learners while parents to shape the behavior of the learners.

Minister of Lands Deus Gumbafor professional district land registrars, clerks

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Minister of Lands Deus Gumbafor professional district land registrars, clerks


By Gift Chiponde

The Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba, has urged the newly recruited District Land Registrars and Land Clerks to execute their jobs professionally.

Gumba made the remarks in Blantyre on Tuesday during the official opening of the orientation for land clerks and land registrars.

The training is being offered by the Malawi School of Government.

Government, through the Ministry of Lands, facilitated recruitment of 34 District Land Registrars and 319 Land Clerks to help in dealing with lands issues in district councils across the country.

Minister of Lands Deus Gumba

Gumba said the recruitment of new staff in the ministry will help the government improve service delivery at the local level and embrace decentralisation.

He urged the newly recruited officers to take the training seriously and execute their duties with competence.

“I want to have well trained officers who are conversant with Malawi land laws and regulations. It is my expectation that once these officers are inducted, I will have well trained officers who will assist to champion the country’s development,” said Gumba.

Secretary for Lands, Devie Chilonga, said land in Malawi is a very big issue in all the 35 councils hence recruiting the officers is a big achievement which will make a difference in all the councils on how to settle land matters.

Chilonga has advised the trainees to embrace discipline during their training and has instructed officials from Malawi School of Government to report any case of indiscipline.

“For all those who will not be serious with their training please inform management of the Ministry of Lands so that we can discipline such officers accordingly,” said Chilonga.

Dedza MP Savel Kafwafwa explores farming interventions for food security

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Dedza MP Savel Kafwafwa explores farming interventions for food security

By Steve Chirombo

Member of Parliament (MP) for Dedza North, Savel Kafwafwa, has emphasized the need for more cassava farming interventions to ensure a household has food throughout the year.

Kafwafwa made the remarks when he led distribution of cassava cuttings to over 500 households at Senior Chief Tambala court in Dedza district on Monday.

He said hunger has been the story of each passing day in the area hence his intervention to ensure a more sustainable means of ensuring that households have something to eat every day.

“If you listen attentively, you will notice that the hunger stories are almost the same year in year out. And I thought it is now time to consider some more sustainable means because maize is more demanding. One needs new inputs every season,” he said.

Kafwafwa for cassava farming

The MP added that maize farming is weather sensitive such that if anything changes in terms of weather, people suffer while cassava farming survives any weather and keeps multiplying itself thereby benefitting others in the process.

The Dedza North legislator, who pumped in K1.5 million for the intervention, further said both weather and soil in the area favour cassava growing and that it is his vision to make the constituency famous for cassava growing.

Senior Group Village Headman Chibwana Mlozi, who is also Senior Counselor for Senior Chief Tambala, said hunger situation in the area is dire, adding, unlike in the past when people relied on mangoes and other fruits, communities are currently hands tied.

He hailed the MP for the strategy, saying it diversifies farming methods in the area and that any family that does not heed the call risks being disciplined.

Some of the beneficiaries, Manuella Thomas and Mussa Kausa, expressed gratitude at the initiative, saying cassava farming does not need much and is a great relief when it comes to hunger. They both promised to multiply the stems so that others also benefit from the same.

Dedza District Principal Agriculture Officer Lana Chikonkheni said currently, 15 percent of the households in the district are facing hunger. She, however, said the families have coping mechanisms; for example, doing some casual labour or being assisted by their neigbours which she said are not sustainable ways.

“One of the sustainable ways is what we have witnessed today where hundreds of families have received the cassava cuttings. Naturally, these do not need much labour which will be simple for families that are run by females or child headed.

“This initiative will go a long way in improving welfare of the households in the area and Dedza as a whole because the tuber itself can be sold, so too are the stems and the leaves. On top of that, these are hybrid; something that gives us an assurance that within six months, communities here will start harvesting,” said Chikonkheni.

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