Death has been announced of the former Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou.
He died at the age of 77.
Meanwhile,FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is saddened with news of Hayatou’s demise.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president and interim, Fifa vice president and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou,” Infantino writes in a post on Instagram.
Hayatou
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has also paid tribute to the departed Hayatou and requested that the CAF flag and the flags of all Caf member associations fly at half-mast until 13 August, 2024.
Hayatou led the continent’s football governing body for 29 years having assumed the presidency in 1988 and leaving office in 2017.
He also held high positions at world football governing body Fifa, including acting president when Sepp Blatter was suspended between 2015 and 2016.
British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fiona Ritchie, has expressed satisfaction with the operations of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), saying department provides accurate weather forecasts accessible to everyone across the country.
She said the weather forecasts and DCCMS systems are particularly essential to farmers about climate change for future planning and preparation of the agricultural calendar.
Ritchie touring DCCMS
Ritchie was speaking Thursday during a tour of the DCCMS in Blantyre to appreciate how the department operates and how they disseminate information to their end users.
She said during the tragedy and the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Freddy they saw how important it was to have DCCMS as the weather forecasts helped people evacuate their villages and get to safer places.
She added that farmers understand the impact of climate on their crop production and livelihoods easily through community engagement to plan easily for their agricultural activities.
“I have met the most dedicated team of people who are really passionate about their job, as we see increased climate shocks affecting Malawi, DCCMS has a real vision for how it can get out there and tell the country about the importance of weather forecast and how farmers can utilize it in boosting agricultural activities,” said Ritchie.
She said it is critical to witness the partnership between the British and DCCMS that demonstrates the importance of contacts and information sharing, encouraging other partners supporting the Department.
She pledged that the British High Commission is geared to upgrade studio equipment used at the DCCMS to disseminate information.
Director for DCCMS, Dr Lucy Mtilatila, said the UK Meterological Office has been providing support to their department, citing the 20 years support the department has enjoyed including the setting up of the Television Studio which helps in broadcasting of climate change information to the end users.
“Our work is to inform people and share messages related to climate and give warnings, the UK support helps us reach as many people as possible and we will continue doing our best to make sure that the disseminated information is accurate and perfect for people to utilize it,” said Mtilatila.
During the visit, Ritchie visited the National Meteorological Centre, Communication Saver Room and DCCMS Television Studio where she presented today’s weather forecast for the country.
Political activist Bon Kalindo, has prayed for God’s interventions in the Malawi Congress Party’s elective convention which started on 8th August, 2024 at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
Kalindo said people have been describing the DPP as full of dramas evidenced with no intra-party democracy claiming that MCP has copied and pasted the same its own members have taken the party to court for the laws that are not pleasing the contesters
Chakwera voting at the MCP convention
He said politics has been proved in the MCP that it is a daily bread, claiming that some people are taking politics as a dimba garden enriching themselves at the expense of the poor through stealing money from government coffers for campaign.
Speaking through an audio clip circulating in various social media platforms, Kalindo said some prominent people in the MCP have become billionaires over a night wondering that huge sums of money have been dished out to the convention delegates for votes.
Kalindo said people in the MCP will kill each other for a convention seat saying this could have been the best time for President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to be on top of the affairs by disciplining all who have brought in intolerance in the MCP.
He said if Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda and John Tembo were made to rise from the dead, they would feel pity to see that that some individuals are using stolen money from government coffers to entice convention delegates vote for them.
“People have been seen carrying bags of money to the voters speaking for itself that they have accumulated an explained wealth in 4 years of President Chakwera’s rule,” said Kalindo.
He said Malawi First-The People First is wishing MCP delegates their best of lucky advising them to put the interest of their party first and money second claiming that some who have been dishing out money to the voters, do not have the love of the party at heart but positions.
The activist has also advised opposition parties DPP, AFORD, and UTM to learn lessons from a mistake by the MCP elective convention that they should hold their conventions in a peaceful manner for the losers to accept the results and the winner to celebrate not provoking the others.
Meanwhile, graphic pictures of one MCP Director for Youth for Lakeshore region a Mr. Njuchi are circulating in various social media platforms that he was hacked by a fellow MCP member at the entrance of the convention venue while he tried to restore order.
The graphic pictures are a reminder to the MCP thugs who have been causing havoc to opposition members with reported incidents of hacking, beatings and whippings and today, they have done the same to one of their own.
Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) has called for collaboration among various players to address challenges of climate change and food systems across Africa.
CISANET monitoring and evaluation manager Edwin Munthali made the call during the four days of Food Agriculture Natural Resources Pan Africa Network ( FANRPAN) annual regional multi-stakeholders policy dialogue on Wednesday in Lilongwe.
Delegates pay attention to the diolague
Munthali emphasized that coordination and collaboration amongst government, private sector and civil Society organisations ( CSOs) can achieve a food system out comes other than operating in silence.
He further said there is observation that the food system that has been produced is failing to deliver on health but not nutritious diet hence the ways of production are leading to other challenges like environmental degradation, pollution and alike.
Munthali disclosed that they are trying to discuss in order to find ways that will address the food security problem and also taking care of the environment as well as making sure that the diet is delivering in nutrition health .
On his part National Planning Commission (NPC) director for policy and communication Dr Andrew Jamali said there is a need of improving research out comes in order to deal with the challenges and the causes of food system and food security.
Jamali said Malawi is moving further because it has a national research agenda policy which outlines broad about the research themes and identifying strategic challenges in terms of information and evidence in various areas of the development frameworks inline with Malawi implementation Plan (MIP 1) of the agenda 2063.
He added that in order to address those kinds of challenges Malawi is making strides because the universities and the education centers are already doing the research on pest and diseases, soil health as well as biotechnology to treat the seed in order to produce high to feed the nation.
FANRPAN is leading the annual regonal Multi-stakeholders policy dialogue which is hosting by CISANET is conducted under the theme: Policy Pathways Towards Transforming Africa’s Agriculture and Food System. The dialogue which started on 6th August is expected to wrap up on 9th August 2024 and has brought together various stakeholders across Africa.
In a significant move to honor traditional leadership and promote cultural heritage, the Zambian government has launched an ambitious initiative to construct chiefs’ palaces throughout the nation. This project aims to build or refurbish the official residences for traditional leaders, enhancing their role and status within their communities.
The construction of these palaces reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the traditional institution and supporting the pivotal role chiefs play in governance and community cohesion. Each palace will serve as a center for local administration and a symbol of cultural pride, reinforcing the importance of traditional leadership in Zambia’s social and political fabric.
Inkosi ya makosi Mpezeni
The initiative is expected to provide various benefits, including improved facilities for chiefs to carry out their duties, promote local craftsmanship and employment opportunities, and preserve cultural heritage. The palaces will be designed to reflect the unique traditions and architectural styles of the different regions, ensuring that each structure aligns with local customs and preferences.
The government has allocated substantial resources for this project, with construction set to begin in multiple provinces simultaneously. Officials have emphasized that the palaces will not only serve as residences but also as community hubs where traditional ceremonies and meetings can take place.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, who is overseeing the project, stated, “This initiative is a testament to our respect for traditional leadership and our recognition of the vital role chiefs play in our society. By investing in their homes, we are reinforcing the connection between traditional and modern governance.”
The construction of chiefs’ palaces is anticipated to strengthen the relationship between traditional leaders and government institutions, fostering greater collaboration and unity across Zambia. As the project progresses, it will be closely monitored to ensure that it meets the highest standards and effectively serves its intended purpose.
The successful completion of these palaces is expected to have a positive impact on local communities, enhancing both the ceremonial and administrative functions of traditional leadership and contributing to national development.
