The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it is taking a thoughtful and deliberate approach to selecting a new candidate for the Parliamentary Service Commission, following the recent rejection of Member of Parliament (MP) for ZombaChingale,Chijere Phiri.
This comes after concerns were raised by Ulemu Chilapondwa, MP for Ntchisi South, about potential disruptions to the commission’s upcoming activities due to the delay.
Chaponda
Leader of the Opposition(LoP) in Parliament, George Chaponda, attributed Phiri’s rejection to political motivations and assured the house that the party would soon announce a new candidate.
During the deliberations, government members proposed Victor Musowa, MP for Mulanje Bale, as a potential candidate, but the party is insisting on making a careful selection to ensure the best candidate is chosen.
The Parliamentary Service Commission is a critical institution responsible for managing the Parliamentary Service, with constitutional and statutory powers to consider recommendations on service conditions, approve new positions, and set terms and conditions.
24-year-old Violet Pondakwao has released a book titled ‘From a Girl to a Lady’.
In an interview with our journalist Chisomo Phiri, Pondakwao said her book guides women on a journey of personal growth and development, exploring the difference between a girl and a lady, and offering insights and advice on how to cultivate qualities that define a mature, dignified, and purposeful woman.
She said she was motivated to write the book due to her own experiences growing up, where she had to figure out many things on her own, such as how to break out of toxic relationships, appreciate her body, and build confidence.
Violet Pondakwao
The young female author said she learned these lessons through experience and decided to share them with others through her book.
She said the book is currently available for purchase by contacting her on WhatsApp at +265987731252 or via email at violetpondakwao@gmail.com.
Unfortunately,she said she is not planning to launch the book soon due to funding constraints.
When asked about the writing industry in Malawi,Pondakwao noted that it is growing rapidly, but the number of readers is decreasing.
She emphasized that most people do not enjoy reading books, which poses a significant challenge for writers.
In her closing remarks, Pondakwao advised young women that it all starts with identity, knowing who they are, and that identity carries confidence, purpose, and beauty.
Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, Han Zheng, has praised President Dr.Lazarus Chakwera for strengthening relations between China and Malawi.
Zheng expressed his warm welcome to President Chakwera and the Malawi delegation at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China, on Monday evening, ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit.
“We are delighted to welcome you back to China for the FOCAC Summit, following your successful visit last June, where you delivered a keynote address at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE),” said Zheng.
Chakwera and Zheng
He noted that relations between the two countries continue to flourish, and President Xi Jinping looks forward to exploring more areas of cooperation with President Chakwera during their meeting.
On his part,Chakwera expressed gratitude for China’s support and the strong bilateral relations between Malawi and China, formally established in 2008.
“Malawi is thankful for China’s generous support of numerous influential projects in our country, facilitated through grants and concessional loans during our nearly two decades of diplomatic relations,” said Chakwera.
He highlighted China’s successful implementation of vital infrastructure projects in transportation, education, healthcare, and energy, including the rehabilitation of the M1 road and the National Fibre Backbone Project II.
Additionally, Chakwera appreciated the Chinese government’s feasibility study for the construction of the Judiciary Complex in Lilongwe through grant financing.
Chakwera also expressed Malawi’s support for the inclusion of the Belt and Road Initiative in this year’s FOCAC Summit, emphasizing infrastructure development and regional connectivity projects.
The 2024 FOCAC Summit will focus on building relations and cooperation in supporting Africa’s industrialization, energy, and trade as a priority, as well as talent development, accelerating agricultural modernization, belt and road cooperation, and agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Chakwera is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping today Tuesday and meet with various industry captains and partners to foster developments in Malawi.
FOCAC was established in 2000 to foster relations between China and the 53 African nations and the African Union (AU), with summits held every six years and ministerial conferences every three years.
Malawi’s most loved hip-hop artist, ‘Hyphen’ is back with a new song titled “Experience” which features renowned music producer Eugene Suwedi popularly known as Pon G in music circles.
The new song has been produced by Pon G as well as Tricky Beatz and mastered by BFB while the video has been directed by VJ Ken.
As expected, the song has attracted positive feedback from most music fanatics across the country.
Below are some of People’s reactions on Hyphen’s new song “Experience”
Francis Chosadziwa Kulimba “Finally Music is back after our ears and eyes have been fed noise in the name of whatever they called it.”
Naphy Mkute “I repeat this guy is the best rapper to come out of Malawi”
Gertrude Limited “You can’t just hate Hyphen, I mean no way.”
Nogwez Ase “I just love the respect people got on Hyphen”
Charles Mankhokwe “Akulu awa sakhumudwitsa, Hip-hop pamalo pake.”
You can watch Hyphen’s new song ” Experience” featuring Pon G by following this link
Victor Musowa, the respected leader of the Mulanje Bale Legislative Assembly, has recently proposed a significant legislative change aimed at improving the efficiency and accountability of the assembly. According to Musowa, a new rule should be implemented to address the issue of non-participating members. Specifically, he suggests that any member who fails to contribute or respond to discussions for a period of three consecutive years should be automatically removed from the assembly.
Musowa’s proposal stems from concerns that some members are not actively engaging in discussions or contributing to legislative processes, which can disrupt the functioning of the assembly. He argues that these inactive members often create disruptions and noise without adding any constructive input. This situation, Musowa believes, undermines the productivity of the assembly and hampers progress on important issues.
Musowa
The proposed rule aims to encourage greater participation and ensure that all members contribute meaningfully to the legislative process. By removing those who have not been active for an extended period, the assembly can focus on engaging and effective members who are committed to their roles and responsibilities.
Musowa’s proposal has sparked a debate within the assembly, with some members supporting the idea as a means to enhance accountability, while others are concerned about the potential implications for representation and the fairness of such a rule. The discussion continues as the assembly weighs the benefits and potential drawbacks of implementing this new measure.
