The Ministry of Education has awarded a contract to Paramount Holdings and DEC construction to build structures at Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa University. The structures include Hostel blocks and external works for the University.
According to The Daily Times advertisement published on Wednesday, 0ctober, 25, 2023, “The Government of the Republic of Malawi through Ministry of Education (MoE) plans to establish the Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa University (IMMU) in Mzimba District in the Northern part of Malawi.
Mutharika failed to honour the promise
“The Ministry of Education has ldentitified resources and it intends to apply part of the funds towards the cost of Construction of Hostel Blocks and Associated External Works for Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa University in Mzimba District in line with Section 48 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act No 27 of 2017, the Ministry now notifies the public and bidders that participated in the tender, that it has concluded the bid evaluation process.”
The two contracts under Procurement Number 250/1PDCMOE/MUDEPICW/IMMU23-24/2 are worth MK8,745,713,361.71 and MK9,952,073,990.82 respectively.
On March 22, 2015, Former President Peter Mutharika unveiled a plaque for the construction of the Mombera University in Mzimba District.
During the launch Mutharika said his government was committed to ensure that many people attain higher education in the country by constructing more universities.
Ironically nothing happened after the launch instead since then Mombera was turned into political cash cow for the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with political cadres being employed to the non-existent institution.
TNM Super League defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets came from behind to claim maximum points against Kamuzu Barracks (KB) in a match that took place at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
KB started the game on a very high note and they got their very first chance just 5 minutes from kick-off with Gregory Nachipo missing by just a whisker.
The visitors continued to press and their efforts yielded results as they got their first goal in the 11th minute through Olson Kanjira who connected well a cross from Ndaona Daisi
Bullets
The second half saw the People’s team dominating play in the field and they got their first goal in the 59th minute through Ephraim Kondowe who scored after receiving a pass from Precious Phiri.
A minute later Maxwell Phodo put Bullets in front as he scored from a rebound after Lanjesi Nkhoma’s earlier attempt was fumbled by KB’s goalkeeper Lemani Nthala.
Kanjira leveled the scores with his second goal of the match in the 64th minute but Nkhoma scored the winner three minutes later after receiving a cross from Stanley Biliati to ensure maximum points for the Ndirande outfit.
The win means that Bullets have consolidated their lead at the top of the log table with 53 points, three points above second placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and the People’s team have two games in hand.
KB on the other hand are on position 5 with 39 points after playing 26 games.
Elsewhere, it ended goalless at Civo Stadium between Civil Service United and Chitipa United.
Chitipa are currently on position 4 with 44 points from 26 games while Civil are on 12th position with 30 points from the same number of games.
Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has set aside K4.2 billlion with an aim of Developing Rural Growth Centre. Chakwera Government is championing the Malawi agenda 2063 which has various enablers and urbanization is one of the enablers.
According to a list of Government priority projects seen by our reporters K4.2 billion will be used to develop Nkanda in Mchinji, Chitekesa in Phalombe and Nambuma in Dowa.
For starters Rural growth centres is the development initiative which aims at stopping the local population from migrating into towns.
The initiative helps rural areas to have everything which people in towns and cities access such as clean water, markets, nice schools, proper and organized tarmac roads.
For example in Nambuma the area has a full stadium.
Rural growth centres will compliment the secondary cities projects which is in 8 districts and towns.
Recently, the immediate past Surveyors Institute of Malawi (SIM) Vice President Precious Chisi who is also Managing Director of Perfect Property Solutions Limited hailed Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for spearheading Secondary Cities saying the project has a capacity to enhance social economic and political status of the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Chisi said secondary cities are so important because they serve as a hub for economic development.
Chisi said Secondary cities often serve as regional hubs, offering various services and amenities, they attract businesses and industries, which reduces over reliance of primary city and spreads economic opportunities across the nation.
Secondary cities promote more balanced regional development by providing opportunities and services to people living in surrounding rural areas.
Chisi said this can reduce the rural-urban development gap adding that secondary cities can become hubs for cultural and educational activities, offering museums, universities, and cultural events that contribute to the nation’s cultural and intellectual development.
The land expert who is also property valuer and surveyor said urbanization necessitates the creation of essential infrastructure like roads, transportation systems, utilities, and public services. He said these investments can benefit the entire nation.
The Secondary Cities will be developed in Karonga, Nkhatabay, Kasungu, Salima/Chipoka, Mangochi/Monkeybay, Liwonde, Lucheza and Bangula. It is expected that these will help divert rural populations from migrating to the four primary cities.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Arthur Peter Mutharika, often referred to as APM, represents a significant threat to the survival of the political grouping.
The party finds itself in a whirlwind of uncertainty regarding its leadership, particularly when it comes to the crucial decision of selecting the party’s candidate for the 2025 presidential elections.
At the heart of this tumultuous situation lies APM, who, if we are to take his recent statements during the Mulhakho wa Lhomwe cultural celebrations into account, appears to be harbouring aspirations of coming out of retirement for another run at office..
Mutharika has served as the State President of Malawi for one term. The country’s constitution allows him to stand for re-election, but there are compelling reasons why his candidacy remains a subject of controversy within the party. First and foremost, the issue of age cannot be overlooked. By the time Malawi goes to the polls in 2025, Mutharika will be 85 years old. This, understandably, raises doubts about his ability to lead a vigorous and successful campaign.
It is not merely a question of his eligibility but a realistic assessment of whether he can effectively fulfill the demanding role of a modern head of state at such an advanced age. Secondly, the DPP’s constitution is unequivocal regarding the re-election of National Governing Council (NGC) members. The party’s rules stipulate that a member can only be re-elected once at a duly convened convention.
APM, who first assumed the party’s presidency before the 2014 tripartite elections and secured re-election in the lead-up to the 2019 polls, has already been given this privilege. His candidacy would, therefore, challenge the party’s own established principles. Within the DPP’s NGC, some insiders question whether Mutharika should be allowed to bend or disregard the party’s constitution to serve his desire to be on the ballot.
In other words, Mutharika would be raping the constitution of his party which is undemocratic and unprogressive. Regrettably, the DPP has been closely associated with the Mutharika family since its inception, making it challenging for followers to question his decisions. This connection between the party and the Mutharika name raises concerns about the party’s internal democracy and the temptation to prioritize familial interests over party principles.
Yet, the crucial question remains: Is this a positive development for the DPP and for democracy in Malawi? The answer appears to be a resounding no. Mutharika has already had his turn as the country’s president, and the results of his previous presidency are not shrouded in secrecy.
Many Malawians believe that he failed in his leadership and the implications of his time in office have left indelible marks on the nation’s developmental landscape. In the end, the ongoing debate over Mutharika’s potential candidacy encapsulates broader questions about leadership, democracy, and party values in Malawi. While it is crucial to respect the constitution and the principles that underpin political parties, it is equally important to consider the potential consequences of overlooking these principles in favour of a familiar name.
The future of the DPP and the democratic process in Malawi may hinge on the party’s ability to navigate this delicate balancing act and ensure that the party’s interests take precedence over personal ambitions. Nonetheless, not all is lost because Mutharika has Shadric Namalomba, his spokesperson, to wake him up in time before he shamelessly loses the little that is left of his legacy.
A second loss to President Lazarus Chakwera in 2025 would leave him in political ruins and could spell the end for the party’s future.
It is true that bad news sells.That is common everywhere in the world but it is even worse in Malawi that negative stories are given so much spotlight while success stories are often swept under the carpet and they never see the light of day as if they never happened.
However, as a proponent of development journalism, l am encouraged by what the Chinese media says that “achievement won’t evaporate even when nobody talks about them”.
This does not in any way advocate public relations but, I am promoting positive journalism which places premium on the sense of civic duty.
While at that, on Tuesday, I was taken aback by some of the development strides that President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera highlighted in his speech at Likoma Island during the commemoration of the National Health Day aimed at improving efficient service delivery in the country’s health facilities.
I was taken aback because we have been meant to believe by the media that the current administration is doing nothing meaningful in as far as development is concerned, yet there are so many positive stories worthy highlighting out there.
President Chakwera took time to explain some of the major milestones he has achieved in the health sector since he became the President three years ago. He said, upon assuming power in 2020, he made it a priority to close the gap which prevailed in the Ministry of Health in terms of staff capacity. He reported that this far, his administration has hired over 10 000 Health Surveillance Assistants.
Additionally, his administration has increased a number of Environment Health Assistants, Community Health Nurses, and Community Midwife Assistants.
President Chakwera reported that his government has recruited 1,578 with the funding from the Malawi Government and its partners.
The Malawi leader said his government has “aggressively” raised money for the improvement of health financing, mobilisation, integration and cost effective utilization of resources. He said his efforts have been productive as the government has raised billions for the cause from the Global Fund and other partners.
President Chakwera also indicated that his government has set its sight on easing access to health facilities, as such the Malawi Head of State said his administration has embarked on constructing 900 Health Posts across the country. He said already almost 30 Health Posts have been completed and 45 are under construction.
These are just some of the achievements of President Chakwera’s success stories of his leadership in the health sector.
We must always remember that, President Chakwera inherited a broken health system characterised by soaring brain drain. Fixing the rot, caused by years of malady and deep-rooted corruption is not an overnight job. It was always going to take time, but the speed at which the problems are being fixed is encouraging. All thanks to President Chakwera’s political will to deliver the required services to the people. So far so good.
