Police in Blantyre are keeping in custody 21-year -old Olivia Jonas for allegedly concealing the birth of her child.
According to Chileka Police Public Relations Officer(PRO) Jonathan Phillipo, the suspect was eight months pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl at home during the night of August 1 2023.
After the child’s birth, she went to a nearby field where she buried the newborn baby.
“When her husband arrived home from work, she told him that she had a miscarriage and due to complications the suspect was experiencing, she was taken to Mlambe Hospital where she told health personnel attending to her that she had delivered a dead baby and buried her at a nearby field.
“Immediately after receiving the report from Mlambe Hospital officials, police officers from Lunzu Police Unit rushed to the hospital where they interviewed the suspect,” said Phillipo.
He said the suspect led police officers and medical officers from Kadidi Health Centre to the burial site where the baby was found alive.
Meanwhile, the suspect is admitted to Mlambe Hospital.
Jonas hails from Mjamba Village in Traditional Authority(TA) Kapeni in Blantyre District.
The recent announcement of the Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) national convention scheduled for August 2024 is a positive development. However, it is essential to approach this event with maturity, as it holds the potential to either strengthen or fracture the oldest political grouping in Malawi.
Throughout the years of democracy in Malawi, elective national conventions have been a subject of controversy. Care must be taken to prevent the infiltration of opportunistic politicians into the party’s ranks. The allure of ruling political parties, akin to a beautiful village girl seen as a desirable marriage prospect, attracts individuals from other parties or with uncertain political loyalties.
Unfortunately, Malawian elections have transformed into money-making ventures for those with voting power, across all sectors and levels. This situation has resulted in candidates with deep pockets gaining positions, often at the expense of more deserving individuals. The influence of money in elections is not limited to politics alone but extends to religious groupings, including churches and mosques.
Thus, the MCP should be wary of these challenges and not underestimate the vulnerability it faces, as exemplified by the current turmoil within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) over their national convention scheduling. To avoid similar squabbles, the MCP must remain vigilant and recognize that they, too, might encounter various difficulties.
The party is currently highly attractive, and many opportunists will seek to align themselves with it, hoping to secure positions in the National Executive Committee (NEC). Already, signs of potential divisions are emerging, with certain individuals joining the party and expressing interest in contesting positions at the convention. It is crucial to identify these opportunistic elements, known colloquially as “Nkholokolo,” who may attempt to sow discord within the party.
Anoteworthy aspect of the MCP is its refusal to harbor political opportunists, a trait that sets it apart from numerous liberal parties that originated from the United Democratic Front. Once granted membership in the MCP, individuals with selfish intentions have encountered frustration, as the party does not offer them the opportunity to fulfill their ulterior motives.
In conclusion, the MCP’s decision to hold a national convention is praiseworthy, but it demands careful management to ensure it strengthens the party’s unity and purpose. By being mindful of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, the MCP can navigate this crucial event successfully and emerge stronger than ever before.
In February, 2023 Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera delivered State of the Nation Address (Sona).
In his Sona, Chakwera focused on the Agriculture Input Programme as one of his pillars and vehicle to transform the economy.
Chakwera ordered that this year’s program should kick start quickly to avoid challenges that were faced last year.
The president started by reminding Malawians that his administration supported 3.7 million smallholder farming households with 370,000 Metric Tonnes of fertilizer and 12,698 Metric Tonnes of seeds, resulting in a 21% increase in maize production and a national surplus of over 1 million Metric Tonnes in the 2020/2021 farming season.
Chakwera said despite adverse weather conditions such as the late and violent start of the rains during the 2021/2022 planting season, his administration still managed to support 3.25 million smallholder farming households with 350,000 Metric Tonnes of fertilizer and 13,318 Metric Tonnes of seeds, resulting in the production of 3.716 million Metric Tonnes of maize and a national surplus of 387,197 Metric Tonnes.
Commenting on the the 2022/2023 planting season, Chakwera acknowledged that AIP faced administrative challenges that resulted in the September deadline set for its rollout to be missed.
“But when this happened, I took decisive and corrective steps by appointing a new Minister of Agriculture and making personnel changes at the Ministry. Since then, the Ministry has been working around the clock to catch up.
Although some farmers have struggled to access the commodity, we have made a lot of progress in catching up. As of three days ago, the programme has achieved a redemption rate of 73.74%, just 1.5% shy of what it was at this point last year,” he said.
The government has since registered tremendous achievements and has met most targets.
Currently Government has already awarded contracts to thirteen (13) fertilizer suppliers who are expected to supply 149, 164 metric tons of NPK and Urea fertilizer through Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) regional warehouses in Chilimba in Blantyre, Kanengo in Lilongwe and Luwinga in Mzuzu.
According to the Principal Secretary Dixie Kampani, the supply of fertilizers to these warehouses will commence on 2nd July 2023.
Kampani says the procurement of transportation services is at an advanced stage; including evaluation of bidders who have expressed interest to be engaged in the programme by submitting their bidding documents and award of contracts to successful transporters is expected to be done by 31st July, 2023.
The PS says procurement of seeds *and goats* for the programme has already been advertised in the newspapers.
“It is expected that smallholder farmers will access farm inputs before the onset of first planting rains. The Ministry commits to frequently give updates on the progress made in the implementation of the programme. The smallholder farmers are requested to prepare their gardens in preparation for the 2023/2024 growing season,” Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale wrote on his Facebook page.
Former Vice President of Zambia, Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba today went to visit the grave of the Late Iconic Malawi Singer Wambali Mkandawire. Dr Mumba laid a wreath on Wambali’s tombstone at the singers final resting place in Area 18 cemetery in Lilongwe.
Dr Mumba, is currently in Malawi as a Guest at Nick Chakwera’s Religion and Politics book launch today. Speaking to reporters Dr Mumba described Wambali as a friend and brother in Christ and that his gift of music extended beyond Malawi as he was famous even in Zambia.
“Wambali was a great music icon and for that reason, I thought of paying him respect,” Mumba said
Wambali Mkandawire died from Covid on 31 January 2021, at age 68. Vitumbiko Mumba, who was the late Mkandawire’s manager thanked the former Zambian vice president for the gesture, saying his visit shows that Wambali was a friend to many.
Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule has commended BM Sofa Designs Furniture for expanding its business to the Capital City Lilongwe.
The company has its headquarters in Mzuzu.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Tuesday when she presided over the official opening of the BM Sofa Designs Furniture in Area 49 in Lilongwe, the minister commended the company for employing 151 employees in Mzuzu alone.
The company is also set to have plus or minus 140 employees in Lilongwe.
“I see a full social economic system that will spill over from this enterprise. The quality of their products is amazing. What’s impressive from my end is the fact that they have their own private forest of a special type of tree they need for production, which means they are not contributing towards deforestation,” she said.
The Minister said while materials used to make these are imported, the end product is surely an import substitute on its own.
“You can buy on credit, you can lay bye and transport is provided for free when you make a purchase,” she said.
The Minister has since discouraged those trying to import furniture to buy from BM Furniture and save forex.
Said Kamtukule, “My question to you is, why import when you can buy local?”
Speaking during the function , Member of Parliament for City Centre Constituency, Alfred Jiya commended BM Sofa for opening the branch in his constituency saying most youth in his area will find employment.
Mayor of Lilongwe city Richard Banda has also Commended BM Sofa Designs for coming up with a different way of doing furniture business.
“As a country lets support our own Malawi products. Lets support our own designs lets promote our Malawi brand,” said Banda.
Meanwhile, BM Sofa Designs Managing Director Pater Kasese has pledged to provide quality products in the city of Lilongwe.
Kasese has appealed to Malawians to support his business saying doing so will help him employ more Malawians.
