Malawian singer Joe Kellz who has just won a music competition in Zambia is set to release his first single under his new record label Elation Entertainment.
The song is titled ‘Nthawi Remix’ from Joe Kellz original song ‘Nthawi’, features the Yabaya hit-maker Eli Njuchi.
According to the singer (Real name Kelvin Jonathan Pangani) the song is going to be out on Wednesday at 7 o’clock in the evening.
On Sunday, Joe Kellz was announced as the winner of ‘My Booth’ reality show season 1 which was organized by Elation Entertainment.
As the winner, the former Zathu Band member was awarded with a recording deal in worth $50,000 and a cash prize of $10,000.
A few days ago, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) issued a statement in which they raised the prospect of advocating for an early election unless President Lazarus Chakwera takes decisive action. The coalition’s demands include suspending international trips, addressing the economic challenges, and removal of certain ministers and senior government officials whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory.
In their assessment, President Chakwera is urged to dismiss underperforming ministers, the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), as well as advisors, principal secretaries, and directors. Outlined in a statement endorsed by Gift Trapence, the chairperson of the coalition, HRDC is urging the government to formulate and share a comprehensive, actionable crisis plan.
HRDC’s assertion that Malawi is in a crisis appears to be an exaggeration that doesn’t entirely align with the prevailing reality. While it remains undeniable that every nation grapples with its own set of challenges, characterising Malawi’s situation as a crisis might seem to be stretching the narrative a bit too far. The term “crisis” inherently conjures images of dire and immediate threats. However, despite the presence of certain issues that warrant attention, it is debatable whether these concerns truly merit such an alarmist description.
While acknowledging the problems at hand, it’s prudent to assess whether the severity of the situation justifies the term “crisis.” Additionally, the demand for an early election based on HRDC’s stipulated conditions might not be the most pragmatic avenue for addressing the current challenges. It is worth noting that President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration is already taking substantive steps to tackle some of the very issues raised by HRDC. In fact, a significant portion of President Chakwera’s international engagements stem from ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund regarding the Extended Credit Facility. These discussions underscore a commitment to charting a positive course for the nation’s economic recovery. Proposing hasty actions such as the immediate removal of ministers and government officials could potentially disrupt the coherent approach needed to effectively combat the existing challenges. Swift and abrupt changes may well disrupt the continuity essential for addressing these issues in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.
HRDC’s call for a well-defined and actionable crisis plan for economic recovery holds merit and is undoubtedly necessary. Designing a comprehensive plan that delineates short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies can serve as a guiding light, offering direction and transparency to the public. Such transparency fosters a renewed sense of confidence, assuring the citizenry that substantive steps are being taken to ameliorate the situation.
Nevertheless, harbouring the notion that the nation’s economy can be rectified overnight may indeed border on undue sanguinity. The process of economic recovery is a gradual and intricate endeavor, necessitating multifaceted strategies and the cooperation of various stakeholders. It remains essential for civil society organisations like HRDC to proactively engage with the government and advocate for positive change. However, the demands outlined in their statement should ideally be well-grounded and commensurate with the current circumstances.
An excessive label of “crisis” could inadvertently weaken the potential impact of their advocacy, potentially hindering their ability to garner the necessary support and cooperation from both the general populace and the government.
While HRDC’s laudable intent of holding the government accountable and pushing for enhancements is acknowledged, a broader perspective reveals that the declaration of Malawi being in a crisis might not precisely mirror the current state of affairs. Collaboration between civil society organizations and the government remains pivotal for the nation’s advancement. However, this collaboration should be based on a pragmatic assessment of the challenges confronting the nation.
In the interest of promoting productive discourse, it is imperative to veer away from sensationalising the issues at hand. Redirecting focus toward practical and effective solutions that ultimately benefit all citizens should be the collective aspiration.
Powerhouse International church which is led by Rev Dr. Clement Nkhoma and Lady Nancy Nkhoma has organized a number of crusades in Blantyre dubbed ‘Blantyre for Jesus Campaign’.
The crusades will take place in various townships in Blantyre including Machinjiri, Bangwe and Soche.
According to the church, the first crusade will be held at Makhetha ground in Machinjiri from 26th to 27th of August 2023.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News, Rev Dr. Nkhoma said the crusades are in response with God’s word in Mark 16 vs 15 which reads, and he told them, “Go into the entire world and preach the good news to everybody.”
He said Powerhouse International church believes in winning souls for Christ hence the crusades.
“It is part of the great commission in Matthew 28 vs 19: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe God for great things during these crusades. We believe a lot of people will be saved, “said Nkhoma.
He emphasized that Malawi is going through a lot of challenges and the church has a responsibility to uplift the people and encourage them not to give up and be good citizens of the nation.
On his part, the Publicity Secretary for the Crusades, Blessings Kautsi said all is set for the crusades.
“All is set for the Makheta Crusade and we believe people will come out to hear the word and be entertained by the artist of the day featuring Kamuzu Barracks, the Great Angels and Powerhouse Praise team,” said Kautsi
He added: “Congregation remains steadfast in their faith and hope that these crusades will be instrumental in the spiritual transformation of many.”
The crusades are not only expected to uplift spirits but also unite the city under a common message of hope, faith, and love.
They further seek to bring spiritual enlightenment and captivating entertainment.
Powerhouse international church congregates every Sunday from 9am to 12pm at Golden Peacock Hotel, BICC Hall in Blantyre.
There is a barrage of criticisms from some quarters targeting President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, apparently for undertaking ‘many’ international trips, particularly in relation to the current forex and fuel scarcity.
Most of the criticisms are to the effect that the President must not travel in order to save forex. Unfortunately, this notion has been widely parroted by all and sundry, many of whom don’t even know its implications.
This is where some people need to be enlightened. The issue of presidential trips vis-a-vis scarcity of forex is more of a chicken and egg scenario. We are even more dammed in Malawi if the President cannot travel.
It is important to understand that over 70% of President Chakwera’s trips are fully-funded for by the hosts. In other words, those who invite the President undertake to pick up the tab. They pay for his trips.
It is also important to understand that these trips are not a case of give-us-the-money-since-we-did-not-come. When you fail to make the trip you forfeit everything.
If that happens, it comes down to the case of opportunity cost where the value of the foregone alternative are the diplomatic networks, investment engagements and deals that would have been missed as a result of not making the trip.
It is, therefore, critical that those who criticize must seek full information before doing so, or to fully understand the importance of those trips from a comprehensive cost benefit analysis standpoint.
When we employ a President on a full five-year election cycle, we give him or her a job description. One of these job descriptions is to protect and defend the integrity of Malawians whilst ensuring that the country has what it needs so that citizens enjoy a better life.
This is a big issue that cannot be exhaustively crunched at one go. But we need to understand, however, that in going about delivering on his job description, the President needs to travel to engage with various international stakeholders.
These stakeholders are the ones that ultimately make things happen in terms of bringing about the things we need as a country such as forex through investments, grants and even loans. Foreign trips provide an opportunity for the President to engage with leaders and representatives from other countries, promoting trade and investment opportunities for Malawi.
These trips can lead to increased foreign direct investment (FDI), job creation, and economic growth. Additionally, bilateral trade agreements can be negotiated, leading to expanded export markets for Malawian goods and services and, ultimately, more earnings and forex
Foreign trips also allow the President to engage with international development partners and secure financial assistance for various development projects in Malawi. This assistance can be in the form of grants, loans, or technical expertise, which can contribute to infrastructure development, poverty reduction programs, healthcare improvements, and education initiatives.
Foreign trips also provide President Chakwera with an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries. Strong diplomatic ties are crucial for fostering political stability, regional cooperation, and peacekeeping efforts.
Additionally, positive diplomatic relations can lead to increased tourism, cultural exchanges, and collaboration in various sectors such as agriculture, technology transfer, and education. These collaborations can contribute to knowledge sharing, skills development, and innovation in the Malawian economy.
A few days ago, the government announced that it has secured a $50 million (about K52 billion) loan from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea) for restocking the country’s fuel reserves to ease recurring fuel supply challenges. This is just one example where this country has benefited as a result of presidential engagements with international partners.
We must remember that it was President Lazarus Chakwera who engaged these Arab countries and signed this fuel funding agreement several months ago.
The naysayers will always have their day, more especially when things appear like they are on a steep decline. But it is important to understand that travelling is an important part of the President’s job in order to improve lives of Malawians.
Seven months after the Cabinet reshuffle that saw Timothy Mtambo, the so-called son of the soil dropped from the cabinet, he finally resurfaced with an exclusive interview that saw thousands of Malawians gluing to Zodiak Tv to watch. Mtambo has been quiet and never gave media interviews since leaving cabinet and this was the first outing. The interview was explosive, the interviewer handled it well and Mtambo reminded Malawians that he is still the same energetic, intelligent young man whose articulation of governance issues resonates well with common Malawians.
Mtambo started by giving an update of what he has been up to during the hiatus post cabinet role. Spending time reading about Africa, writing about his life and focusing on building his people power movement Citizens for Transformation Movement (CFT) were the key activities that occupied his time over the past months. Asked if his political journey will be short-lived and that he is returning to activitism, Mtambo said he still regards himself as “ an activist at core, revolutionary by birth and a liberation leader”
Mtambo came to prominence in the political arena during the mass demonstration against the DPP regime, something which he says he does not regret. He said any actions at the time were motivated by people who were suffering, elections that were rigged and the massive corruption “ I will never be quiet when things are going wrong” he lamented.
On his time as a cabinet Minister , Mtambo refuted the common accusation that he got the cabinet role as a reward for leading the demos claiming he left some bigger and rewarding roles just to accept the cabinet post as his motive was to serve Malawians . He once again repeated that he does not regret accepting the cabinet role as it gave him opportunity to be inside the government , see how things are run thereby gaining more experience and being empowered
Mtambo argued that as Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, he feels he delivered unlike the propaganda that floats around saying he failed. He said the notion of trying to portray him as a failure was being propelled by some political enemies. He cited some key achievements of his time as a Minister that includes, development of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the Ministry, the Peace and unity law that was passed in parliament, development of the Civic Education Policy and the Establishment of the National Day of Unity.
On politics Mtambo commented that he feels Malawi politics focuses on finishing each other and that young , new breed of politicians often times becomes the target of those that want to protect their territories.
Asked if he thought the current regime is delivering on the things he fought DPP for , Mtambo acknowledged that challenges are there . He reminded Malawians of some key factors that have made the economic situation to be a challenge such as Impact of Covid, the Russian Ukraine war and the cyclone disasters that affected Malawi. Mtambo said government has doen well in creating a good environment for freedom of expression , development of roads which is currently underway, he however wished if more can be done on fight against corruption as the prosecution rate is low and Malawians expected more .
