A Malawian human rights activist based in the Republic of South Africa(RSA) Charles Ben Longwe, has described a conference which was held in Salima last Saturday as useless and a waste of taxpayer’s money.
Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda organized the conference engaged various stakeholders including activists such as Bon Kalindo.
This was the first time for the ministry to engage the activists and formulate ways and means of fixing the country’s economy which has collapsed.
Longwe
Speaking through an audio clip circulating in various social media platforms, Kalindo revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank cannot provide Malawi any more money because of borrowing extravagantly.
He said the country has a public debt of MK9.4 trillion describing this as a worrisome development to the future generation proving Muvi wa Chilungamo’s President Bantu Saunders Jumah right that out of this figure, MK3.16 trillion was left by five governments MCP, UDF, DPP, PP and DPP of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Meanwhile,Ben Longwe has challenged Chithyola Banda and all activists including Bon Kalindo who attended the conference to tell Malawians on how they can fix the collapsed economy and what Malawians should expect from the resolutions passed at the conference.
He claims that the economy has collapsed in the country from 2020 due to massive looting by MCP-led government Ministers and senior government officials observing that its party loyalists have been shielded from arrests and prosecutions,and has decided to bring its own state house activists to assist in turning around the collapsed economy.
The activist says all Malawians are aware that thieving activities by MCP loyalists have contributed to the collapse of the country’s economy including President Chakwera’s frequent flying to foreign countries draining the much-needed forex in the country.
“K30 billion meant for 2022/23 AIP went to the butchery in UK, all suspected culprits are all innocent to this day enjoying presidential immunity,” says Longwe.
He observes that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has lost its mandate of arresting and prosecuting corruption suspects and it is just on paper saying this is why it is facing difficulties to arrest the Vice President Dr. Saulosi Klaus Chilima because President Chakwera himself, is in the system.
Longwe says for the love of the country, he can support all efforts of holding meetings with the Malawi Police Service, court judges and the ACB on the possible ways of arresting and prosecuting corruption suspects who are being shielded for being party loyalists.
The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has given the government up to June 2024 to address socio- economic challenges the facing country is passing through.
In a statement released on Monday, the commission has expressed dismay over persisting socio-economic ills such as high inflation, food shortage, the hunger situation, high cost of living, among others.
“The Government of Malawi should progressively address the fuel scarcity in Malawi to guarantee the supply and distribution of essential services in the country including medication, medical supplies and food supplies among others.
“The Commission expects the Government to implement this recommendation by the first quarter of the 2024 financial year.
Chikondi Chijozi
“The Government of Malawi should ensure to regulate the price of maize and other food items on the market to protect Malawians from private traders overcharging these products on the parallel market.
“The Commission expects the Government to implement this recommendation in the fourth quarter of the 2023 financial year,” reads the statement, signed by the commission’s Chairperson Chikondi Chijozi.
Joining Chijozi, the Commission’s Deputy Director on Economic Social and Cultural Rights Lucius Pendame says the prevailing socio-economic problems that the country is experiencing are infringing the rights of the citizenry as many are struggling to access basic needs in the day to day lives.
According to Pendame, they expect the government to address the challenges in time, as Malawians are struggling economically.
Senior Prophet Justice Hara of the Enlightened Christian Gathering(ECG) Jesus of all nations church founded and owned by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri says the socio-economic challenges facing Malawi can be a thing of the past if malawians develop a prayerful spirit for God’s intervention.
Hara, who is associate prophet to Bushiri famously known as major 1, said this in an interview when he ministered at a church conference held at comesa Hall in Blantyre.
Hara said with faith, prayer and obedience malawians can easily transform their lives form nobody to somebody, adding that poor background should not be a hindrance to prosperity.
“Honestly, all these socio, economic and other challenges locking Malawi can change for better if we put prayer as a weapon. God can intervene into such situation if we pray hard and seek him first,” said the self-styled prophet.
Among others, the pentecost church prophet said malawians must not lose hope because there is redemption on the horizone.
“Jesus is the answer of everything. In Him, there is hope as He conforts and heals the broken souls,” said Hara.
The prophet further noted that many malawians solely go to church but are not prayer warriors to change the status call of the country’s current socio-economic economic status.
The conference was held under the theme” End of The Matter”.
If we ask any good engineer about construction, we will be told that a good foundation to a structure determines its strength and durability.
President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is set to attend the Arab-Africa Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-Africa summit in Egypt and the Afreximbank Intra-African Trade Summit.
Dr Chakwera leaves the country Wednesday, 8th November 2023.
The First Saudi-Africa Summit and the 5th Arab-Africa Summit will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 10th and 11th November, 2023, while the Afreximbank Intra-African Trade Summit will be held in Cairo, Egypt, on 13th November, 2023.
File photo: President Lazarus Chakwera and Saudi Royal Court Adviser Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Kattan
The Arab-Africa Summit is one of the oldest partnerships of the African Union (AU) and presents an opportunity for the two sides to deliberate on their political, economic and social relations. The summit presents prospects for Africa to collaborate with Arab states, in uplifting the living standards of the African continent and also reach out beyond its jurisdiction in advancing its interests in global affairs.
There are a total of four Arab-Africa summits held since 1977 with the first one held in Cairo, Egypt in 1977; the in Sirte, Libya in 2010; Kuwait in 2013; and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in 2016.
The previous meetings signed a number of joint plans of action focusing on several areas of cooperation such as agricultural development and food security; private sector investment; collaboration in the diversification of African and Arab economies mostly in areas of hospitality and tourism, energy; and infrastructural projects.
For Malawi, these many areas of cooperation are aligned to Malawi’s developmental aspirations under MW2063 and its implementation strategy, the Malawi Implementation Plan 1 (MIP 1) 2021-2030 which is anchored on the three Pillars of Agricultural Productivity and Commercialization; Industrialization; and Urbanization.
As said by Minister of Information Moses Kumkuyu, the Summit offers Malawi the best platform to articulate its interest and aspirations.
According to Kunkuyu, President Dr. Chakwera has committed to ake advantage of such global gatherings to advance specific interests for the people of Malawi.
Like in this case among several engagements, the President is expected to witness the signing of the loan agreement between Malawi and the Saudi Fund for Development on the financing of construction of the all important Mangochi/Makanjira Road Project to the tune of Seventy-Five Million (75,000,000) Saudi Riyals (about 20 million US dollars or 22.45 billion Malawi Kwacha).
Secondly, President Dr Chakwera is expected to meet Yasir Bin Othman Al Rumayyan, Chairman of the Saudi Arabia Oil Group (Aramanco) and Maedem Mining and Fertiliser Company.
This meeting is essential for a predominantly agricultural nation like Malawi, as it helps address food shortages and enhance the livelihoods of Malawian farmers.
On the other hand the Afreximbank Summit which will be held in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, provides a unique and valuable platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people with a GDP of over US$3.5 trillion created under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
It is expected that Malawi’s participation at the Fair will facilitate market identification and linkages for Malawian businesses, both corporate companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
This is one of the trips whose results cannot be understood today. This could be taken as long-term investment which any worthwhile leader is expected to undertake for the future of the nation.
The President has in the past undertaken different trips whose results are now being seen.
For example, he went to Mozambique for the Inauguration of Rehabilitated, Rehabilitated and Expanded Nacala Port, an undertaking which has now seen Malawi being able to transport 13% of its fuel imports by rail thereby saving on transportation cost.
At the 30th Annual General meeting of the Afreximbank that took place in Ghana, the President was able to secure a US$2.6 billion (about K2.7 trillion) from the Bank, to finance construction of mega farms, industrial parks and special economic zones.
During the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, President Chakwera secured various financial and technical support including a donation of US$150,000 (K158 million) towards the country’s rebuilding efforts following the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy. The Government also signed a number of MOUs in ICT connection, E-government, smart education, ICT talent training, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and agriculture, among others.
At the 78th United Nations General Assembly Malawians benefitted from a 100 million US dollars (over 112 billion Kwacha) Educational Loan, and a 46 billion Kwacha for Social Cash Transfer among several opportunities.
While the Smart Africa’s Transform Africa Summit 2022 set Malawi on the path for innovative digital transformation.
Through Malawi’s participation, it is now possible for Malawi Government to engage other governments and enter into a partnership that will accelerate digital innovation in Malawi.
Such partnerships are aimed at reducing cost of connectivity through specially negotiated Diplomatic Data Corridors with countries that have direct access to the fibre optic cables that have landed on their shores.
To this end, Malawi has already signed MOUs and Commercial Agreements with Zambia and Tanzania, and currently negotiating with Mozambique. Other countries that with which such partnership is being planned are South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia.
On paper and to ordinary thinkers these trips could be seen as a waste of resources as has always been the narrative but looking deeper, it is clear that they are among the many foundation stones being put in place to build a better Malawi.
The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has hailed the Malawi Government for producing high quality tobacco.
This follows revelations that the leaf has been competitive on international markets in recent years.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale indicated that this means that tobacco produced in the country will now be classified as one of the best tobacco internationally to be processed for consumption.
Kawale further indicated that in the next Parliament meeting they will bring back the tobacco bill of 2019 for further amendments to be in line with international standards especially on child labor among others.
Hon Sam Kawale
The Minister disclosed that at least 239 million kilogrammes (kg) of tobacco have been licensed as of Friday last week which is roughly 60 million kg more, from 2022/23 buyers demand.
Kawale also indicated that so far 49,070 licenses have been issued to farmers who want to grow tobacco this season ,adding that Tobacco Commission (TC) has extended the tobacco registration and licencing period for the 2023/24 growing season to November 17 2023 from October 31 2023.
Said Kawale: ” Last year , President Lazarus Chakwera challenged us to be growing a minimum of 200 million kilogrammes every year, for the next five years, and on the first year we have already surpassed the target.”
Malawi is one of Africa’s largest tobacco leaf producers and in 2015, produced 22.6% of all of Africa’s output of tobacco leaf.
The country is one of the world’s largest producers of burley tobacco.
In 2018, 95,356 tonnes of tobacco were harvested in Malawi.
