Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has on Monday handed over to Namulenga communities in Mulanje a new bridge, which he has constructed with K120 million.
The previous bridge was washed away by Cyclone Freddy.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Bushiri said he funded and launched the construction of the new bridge on November 7,2023, following a request by community members in the area through Mulanje District Council.
Bushiri and Hon Jacob Hara
He said it is possible for citizens to redeem their government from relying on other countries by contributing to development activities.
Said Bushiri: “I do believe that we should not be waiting for government to look for donations from Norway to come and build a bridge like this one. I do believe that certain things, we as Malawians, can take up matters in our own hands.
“If we will have four or five Malawians doing this, our country will move forward.”
On his part, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara commended Bushiri for supporting the government by constructing the bridge.
The Minister called on Malawians to be patriotic and support various government development programmes as Bushiri always do.
A Malawian human rights activist based in South Africa Charles Ben Longwe, has asked government through the Ministry of Agriculture to release 40 tones of maize imported from Tanzania which it is holding at Jetty in Nkhatabay.
The Ministry of Agriculture is holding the commodity following a directive restricting importation of maize from Tanzania and Kenya over Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease.
The move by the Ministry is aimed at protecting the maize disease which has devastated the two countries from entering into Malawi.
Currently, the government has declared the maize it is holding from Tanzania as not good for consumption.
But speaking through an audio clip circulating in various social media platforms, Ben Longwe says the banned maize is being eaten as food in Tanzania and Kenya wondering in what way it will kill Malawians.
Longwe has asked government and the starving Malawians that which is better for the citizens to die of the claimed maize which has a disease or dying after taking wild roots and government must explain to its citizens of how many people have died in Tanzania after taking the maize.
He has again alleged that trucks belonging to Gotani-Hara, Richard Chimwendo Banda and Eisenhower Mkaka are being seen carrying the banned maize in Chitipa to unknown warehouses for sale sorely for government purposes.
The activist claims that the banning of maize imports from Tanzania has been made by one to three people in the Chakwera’s MCP led government for sale to benefit themselves not vendors to sale for their own benefit.
He also claims that in the Chakwera led government, there are ministers who are deliberately destroying the image of President Chakwera for him to be labelled a failure and they feel happy that Malawians are against their elected President.
“The maize withheld in Nkhatabay jetty could have saved many people in Nkhatabay from dying of hunger,” says Longwe.
He has however, appealed to President Chakwera to have his eyes wide awake that some ministers in his government are punishing the poor citizens in his name and if he continues watching this without taking action, Malawians will judge him through a ballot in the 2025 elections.
Unfair dismissal cases can be complex and controversial, with compensation amounts often serving as hotly debated topics. In the case of former spokesperson for President Lazarus Chakwera, Brian Banda, the Malawian industrial court has ruled in his favor, awarding him compensation in excess of K103,316,418 for unfair dismissal. However, the Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka, intends to challenge this ruling, arguing that the amount is exorbitant. This essay aims to provide a perspective on why Thabo Chakaka should not challenge the verdict and instead advocate for fair compensation, offering lessons for future cases of unfair dismissal.
A Lesson in Justice and Fairness
In a democratic society, it is crucial to ensure that individuals who have unfairly lost their jobs receive compensation for the harm caused to their careers and livelihoods. Brian Banda may have suffered significant emotional distress, financial instability, and damage to his professional reputation. Compensating him adequately will send a strong message to both the government and other employers that anyone wrongfully dismissed will be entitled to fair compensation for their losses.
Deterring Unfair Dismissals
By challenging the ruling and not compensating Brian Banda, the state house risks setting a dangerous precedent. If the government is not held accountable for dismissing people unfairly, it sends a message that individuals can be unjustly treated without consequences. This may lead to a culture of fear and insecurity among employees across different sectors, worrying about retribution for expressing their concerns or dissatisfaction.
Promoting Accountability
Government entities, such as the state house, must be held accountable for their actions. Challenging the ruling and refusing to compensate Brian Banda suggests a lack of responsibility and transparency within the government. By compensating him, the state house would acknowledge its mistake and show commitment to rectifying past wrongs. This not only helps Banda to restore his livelihood but also demonstrates the government’s commitment to upholding justice and fairness.
Upholding Employees’ Rights
Employees have the right to be treated fairly and in accordance with labor laws. When these rights are violated, it is crucial for employers to take responsibility and compensate the victims adequately. By compensating Brian Banda, the state house would display respect for employees’ rights and provide assurance that such mistreatment will not be tolerated in the future. This will encourage employees to trust and have confidence in their employers, which can contribute to a more harmonious working environment.
Avoiding Unnecessary Legal Battles
The Attorney General should consider the potential consequences of challenging the verdict. Legal battles can be time-consuming, costly, and further damage the reputation of the government. By accepting the ruling and providing compensation, the state house could save valuable resources and allocate them towards supporting the advancement and development of Malawi, rather than an arduous legal defense.
Lessons from ESCOM
The recent dismissal of employees by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) for staging a strike raises concerns about the financial burden that may be placed on taxpayers in the form of compensation. However, it is important to note that if employees are genuinely and unfairly mistreated, they have the right to seek justice through legal channels. ESCOM’s case should serve as a reminder to employers, both public and private, to prioritize fair treatment to avoid unnecessary legal disputes and financial ramifications for taxpayers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thabo Chakaka, as the Attorney General, should not challenge the verdict of the Malawian industrial court regarding the unfair dismissal compensation awarded to Brian Banda. Instead, he should encourage the state house to accept the ruling and compensate Banda. This will demonstrate a commitment to justice, fairness, and employee rights. Moreover, it will limit potential legal conflicts, preserving valuable resources and promoting trust and accountability within the Malawian government. By learning from this case, employers across all sectors should strive to create a work environment that respects the rights of employees, thus reducing the likelihood of similar unfair dismissal cases in the future.
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.
