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Another Snr NGC member Welani Chilenga whips DPP

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By Linda Kwanjana

Battle for supremacy in the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is far from over. Recently it was DPP Publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi who rubished his own party describing what is happening in the party as shameful.

Barely few days after Dausi had scotched the party, on Monday Member of Parliament for Chitipa South, Werani Chilenga, has described the meeting the party held on July 3, 2023, as the most disorganized meeting he has ever attended in his life.

He added that the Nkopola Lodge meeting was a sham, which needed not to come from a party that claims to be democratic.

Chilenga at the Press Conference

Chilenga made the sentiments at a press briefing where a selection of disappointed NGC members held in Lilongwe on Monday. Others who attended the presser were Dr. Matthews Ngwale of Chiradzulu West, Baxter Kita, among others.

Chilenga revealed that NGC members, with seemingly dissenting views, were gagged throughout the meeting.

“That’s why I am saying this is the worst and strangest meeting I have ever attended in my life. And I would not wish to attend such a meeting in my life again,” vowed Chilenda who is also the Deputy Director of Research and Training in the former governing party.

“In fact, let me emphasize that the NGC meeting in Mangochi was an illegitimate one because some of the people that attended the meeting are not NGC members,” he said.

“We are demanding a constituted NGC meeting,” he added.

The press conference was organized to brief journalists on the resolutions made at the Nkopola Lodge meeting, which they are apparently opposed to.

Chilenga disclosed that majority of the NGC members were ambushed as they were not served with the agenda of the meeting, including the endorsement of party leader Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika as torchbearer in the 2025 presidential elections.

Speaking earlier, Deputy Director of Political Affairs, Baxter Kita, said the NGC meeting had exposed that DPP leaders do not respect their own party’s constitution.

Kita wondered why the party had chosen to contravene its own constitution by extending the terms of office for NGC members.

“We are very disappointed with the way the meeting was conducted. It was a staged meeting to endorse APM. Some members were strategically positioned to endorse APM. Otherwise we have no reasons to prolong our stay in positions. We simply need a legitimate NGC meeting and thereafter an elective conference so that we seek new mandate,” he said.

The concerned NGC members said they expect the Central Committee of the party to arrange another meeting ‘as soon as yesterday’.

Ntcheu Central legislator Mbawala urges constituents to continue supporting President Chakwera

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By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

Parliamentarian for Ntcheu Central, constituency, Albert Mbawala has encouraged people in his constituency to continue rallying behind President Lazarus Chakwera, saying he is doing everything possible to transform the country into a middle-income economy.

Mbawala who is also Malawi Congress Party’s Treasurer General was speaking on Sunday, 9th July, 2023 during the meeting he conducted at Chimutu village in his constituency.

“Our President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has been meeting various stakeholders including international donor partners to help Malawi develop to a higher level in both social and economic transformation.

Mbawala engaging constituents

I encourage you traditional, political, and religious leaders as well as all people of this constituency to rally behind him and his transformative agenda for development of Ntcheu Central and our beautiful country”. Said Mbawala.

Further, Mbawala told the gathering that as Member of Parliament for the area, he is committed to the constituents in serving them, hence frequently meeting them to hear for himself what they want him as an MP to do in their communities, and what they want their government under the leadership of President Chakwera to provide them.

The Parliamentarian mentioned several projects in his constituency, among others the concrete bridges constructed at Kame in the area of GVH Gumbi, Malaswa in GVH Champiti, Tchesa in GVH Chingwaru, Kayimayima in GVH Chimphamba, construction of Nthumbi Secondary School in GVH Mandala, and Dzunje maternity wing in GVH Chimphamba as one way of transforming the area.

In their remarks, constituents commended their MP for always being close to them, while thanking the country’s leadership of President Chakwera for always standing with Malawians in quest to change their livelihoods for better.

Driemo announces launch date for his album ‘Mzaliwa’

By McLloyd Kudzingo


Days after releasing his hit single “Popo”, musician Driemo has revealed that his upcoming album ‘Mzaliwa’ will be launched on August 12, 2023.

According to his record label Van Ngongo Entertainment, the launch is set to take place at Comesa Hall in Blantyre .

Breaking the news on his official Facebook page, Driemo-real name Shafie Phiri said he was looking forward to the big day and promised his followers that ‘Mzaliwa’ which is his first ever album, will be one of the best this year.

“Today marks a year plus since I stepped into the music industry and It’s been nothing but amazing to see the support that you have rendered to the Driemo brand.
Come 12th August 2023, It’s time I give you ‘MZALIWA’ THE ALBUM that my team and I have spent time creating and making sure you are served well.” reads the statement in part.

Driemo



The musician has since called on his fans and Corporate players to support the event and the whole project.

Driemo started his music journey in 2017 and released his first EP in 2020 titled “Love Letter”.

Since then, the singer-songwriter has bas been releasing singles and some of his popular songs include “Mojo”, “Weni-Weni”, “Duma,” “Pano”, “Mtendere,” “No Insurance”, “Mawa” and “Compensation.”

Here is the link to Driemo’s new song “Popo”:

https://www.youtube.com/@DriemoMw

Warm welcome for Mtambo in Pretoria as he delivers lecture on Coalitions

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By Staff Reporter

Human Rights activist and ex cabinet Minister Timothy Mtambo who remains an icon and face of the struggle that toppled the corrupt DPP regime out of power recently took time to give a lecture at the invitation of University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights in South Africa. The lecture was part of Human Rights Defenders in Leadership and Learning. Mtambo’s , lecture relieved of the days of his activism and being at the centre of fighting a regime that was eager to supress the freedom of Malawians by its insistence on promoting Corruption, nepotism , disregard of rule of law , militarization of the police and blatant abuse of human rights especially for people living with albinism

Mtambo lecture entitled “Learning from Malawi’s Human Rights Defenders Coalitions (HRDC) experience” opened up with a brief background of the political transformation that has happened in Malawi over the past few years . “When the May 2019 elections were held and the incumbent governing party –the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – declared victorious, this triggered instant national wide protests led by the HRDC following revelations that the results of the elections were marred by massive irregularities such that they were not a genuine reflection of the will of the people” opened up Mtambo.

He went on to narrate of the events that followed the 2019 elections including opposition political parties – UTM and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) petitioning the courts to overturn the results of the elections, the HRDC led protests demanding for electoral justice and an end to the government’s blatant impunity that had more or less become a norm on the governance front. The court ruling to have a rerun of the election In June 2020 which saw the opposition political parties winning the elections with 59% of the votes ejecting the DPP from the helm of government

Mtambo’s key question centred on how a civil society organisation like the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) of which he was the head at the time manage to mobilize and play a key role in formation of a coalition of opposition parties that ended up winning the election. Mtambo went on to highlight the principles that ensures success in political coalitions . Among the examples he gave to the listening participants was; Long-term coalitions trade breadth for depth and seek to build a narrower agenda that more deeply engage the commitment of their members and leaders; A less is more approach helps to avoid situations in which coalitions end up taking ‘a mile wide and an inch deep’ agenda and tend to only be able to agree on what they are against rather than what they are for
“With less people around the table there is an incentive to do more together, in particular focus on building close, respectful public relationships between individuals involved that explore their personal and organizational interests” argued Mtambo

Mtambo used his practical experience to highlight what he believes are the benefits of Political Parties getting into Coalitions .He said Parties can win on more fronts than a single party working alone can thereby increasing the potential for success. Coalitions Brings in more expertise and resources to bear on complex issues, There is Development of new leaders as experienced group leaders step forward to lead the coalition and openings are created for new leaders in the individual groups. He further highlighted that Coalitions Builds a lasting base for change since once groups unite, each group’s vision of change broadens and it becomes more difficult for opposition groups to disregard the coalition’s efforts as dismissible or as special interests and also the chance to raise its members’ public profiles by broadening the range of groups involved in a conflict and as such activities of a coalition are more likely to receive more media attention than those of any individual organization.

Mtambo was quick to explain that there are still some challenges that can be faced through the process. The challenges include Members getting distracted from other work and when this happens non-coalition efforts may become less effective and the organizations may be weakened overall. A coalition may only be as strong as its weakest link especially since organizations that provide a lot of resources and leadership may get frustrated with other members’ shortcomings. The democratic principle of one group-one vote may not always be acceptable to members with a lot of power and resources hence it is imperative that a coalition must carefully define the relationships between powerful and less powerful groups. Individuals may not get credit for their contributions to a coalition; members that contribute a lot may think they did not receive enough credit.

Mtambo used the opportunity to highlight using empirical evidence how the HRDC managed to play a key role in the formation of the Tonse Alliance that went on to win Malawi elections in 2020. He admitted that No clear cut answer is feasible because the success of the HRDC was a confluence of so many factors – some strategic, some circumstantial, some contingent while others entirely spontaneous. Mtambo argued that people power was at the centre of what HRDC did and that alone is one major factor that can determine the political direction and strategy of any party.

“The HRDC was grounded in the grassroots that made an average Malawian feel sufficiently invested in lasting change; they owned the movement. The agenda or vision was very clear and accessible to an ordinary Malawian; they understood it and backed it all the way. There was sufficient consensus and clarity about the agenda of the movement in terms of what was its end game – installation of a government that works for all irrespective of one’s position in society”

Mtambo believes HRDC cultivated trust among Malawians because the organisation earned a reputation not just as talkers but doers even when the odds were stuck against them. The movement strived to follow the law making it was very difficult for the opponents to dismiss it as simply misguided or for the government to target and deal with the leadership of the movement by abusing its control of the state machinery

Mtambo went further to highlight the catalyst for HRDC Success that also included engaging passionate lawyers to ensure that the its acts were lawful at all times and as such the movement was above reproach. Having Strong leadership characterized by top notch networking and coordination skills. The leadership remained focused and resolute, not entertaining fear, fatigue, mediocrity and betrayal.

Mtambo also spoke on the power of networks and partnerships. He said HRDC benefitted a lot from having good Coordination with the diaspora as Malawians all over the world supported the struggle and thwarted many underhand tactics that the government schemed to frustrate the movement. Strong networks and partnerships with various organizations globally played a huge part in the success ( SAHRDN, Pan African Human Rights Network, Front HRD, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, SALC, UN) Mtambo also spoke on how entertainment played a key role in galvanising the youths .

He finished his lecture by summing up that deciding whether or not to join a coalition is both a rational and emotional decision. He said rationally, one must consider whether one’s effectiveness and one’s ability to attain one’s own goals would be enhanced or harmed by participation in a coalition. Emotionally, one must consider whether one likes the other people or groups, and whether cooperating with them would be easy or more trouble than it is worth.
Critically important, organizational styles, cultures, and relationships must be considered well before any choices are made
“But as the case of HRDC in Malawi demonstrates, the success factors are not prescriptive even though they are important clues from theory and in the final analysis Leadership, strategic, visionary and bold Leadership matters ” he said

Church to construct K200 Million four storey building

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By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka Destiny international church has launched a K200 million four storey building which will also be the first tall building in the district.

Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony of the multimillion kwacha project on Saturday, Bishop Hastings Mankhanamba who is also the Principal of the Destiny College of Leadership said the launch of the construction marks the fulfilment of a dream that has been there for ages.

Said Mankhanamba: “The building will have four floors which will have a special room where innovators will sit and repair phones as well as computers, adding value to the soil and crops that we have, until one day we have products written made in Malawi but produced in Balaka,” he said.

Mankhanamba further revealed that the building will also have lecture rooms for the students and hostels for various international guests that the college hosts.

He added that his Destiny college has made corroboration with outside universities like International Christian Youth African, Global University for lifelong learning from America and Springdale College from the United Kingdom who are offering community development and leadership programmes hence the need to have proper structures to meet international standards.

“As a nation we are going towards agriculture commercialisation, urbanisation and industrialisation as we strive to achieve the Malawi 2063 agenda, so the structure will also change the face of our district,” he added.

Mankhanamba then challenged Balaka District Council to partner with him in taking the district to greater heights.

On his part, District Commissioner for Balaka Darwin Mgoli hailed Destiny International church through Bishop Mankhanamba for the initiative saying Malawi needs such people for its social economic development.

“Bishop Mankhanamba has set the standards and has challenged us, as a council we will strive to work hand in hand with him for the best of the district,” he said.