Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has commended Malawi Defence Force (MDF) for being disciplined and dedicated.
Chakwera said this when he presided over the launch of this year’s Poppy week.
“I am honoured to welcome to Kamuzu Palace men and women who have served in our military and contributed to the Malawi Defence Force’s well-established reputation as a disciplined, skillful, and patriotic institution,” he said.
Chakwera hosting the veterans
He said when it comes to constitutionalism and institutionalism, there is no better role model in the country’s governance framework than the Malawi Defence Force.
He said for this reason, those who have gone into retirement after wearing the uniform with valour and honour deserve fondest memory and highest regard.
“I am therefore touched by the sentiments you have expressed here, Mr. Chairman, educating us about the status of our ex-service men and women and calling on us as a nation to stay the course in caring for their welfare and celebrating their contribution to our national security,” he said.
During the interface the president bought the first poppy at the price of K2Million.
The Government of People’s Republic of China has donated K32,780,000 to Shaping Our Future Foundation with an aim of supporting underprivileged students in the education sector.
Upon receiving the donation in an event which was held at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera expressed satisfaction with the good gesture demonstrated by the Chinese government, describing it as one way of improving quality of education in the country.
She disclosed that the donation will be specifically channelled towards beneficiaries who are less privileged in order to help them attain and realise their education dreams.
The Chinese Charge De Affair, Wang Hao and First Lady Madam Chakwera
The Chinese Charge De Affair, Wang Hao, said that the donation is part of the Ambassador’s Scholarship programme initiative which aims at helping secondary school students to further pursue their studies.
Hao said that Chinese President Xi Jinping made three key developmental initiatives in the month of August, which one of them is talent development through the education sector in order to enhance and strengthen the Malawi-China relation.
In his remarks, Education Programme coordinator, Lawrence Kayesa said the donation is going to help and support 90 students, 82 girls and 8 boys from various secondary schools with tuition and examination fees.
He further said that so far the organisation has helped 2,356 students and currently they are targeting to reach over 5000 underprivileged students across the country by 2026.
Speaking during the launch of the historic week at Kamuzu Palace, President Lazarus Chakwera commended Malawi Defence Force (MDF) for establishing the reputation of discipline, skill and patriotism.
The Malawi President, said over the years the MDF has distinguished themselves apart from the rest as the most professional instititution.
“I am honoured to welcome to Kamuzu Palace men who have served in our military and contributed to the Malawi Defence Forces’ well-established reputation as a disciplined, skillful and patriotic institution”
Poppy week is a period when countries across the world honour military men who died in the war.
Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is leaving no stone unturned. He is doing everything possible to develop Malawi without taking into consideration political, regional and religious boundaries.
The good example is this project number, RA/DEV/14/08 which is uprading of Thyolo-Thekerani-Muona to Makhanga Road
The 83 km long road project is in the Southern Region of Malawi and traverses the districts of Thyolo and Nsanje. The project road branches off from the Limbe–Thyolo–Muloza (M02) road at Nambala Wani in Thyolo district and extends southwards passing through Muona trading centre and ending at Makhanga trading centre in Nsanje district.
The road is joined by the East Bank (S152) road at Muona trading centre before joining the (M01) road at Bangula trading centre. The project has many benefits to the people along the road and to the country as a whole. Some of the benefits include boosting agriculture as the road passes through tea estates which is one of the major forex earners for Malawi.
Upgrading this road has ensured that there is ease of access to markets for farm produce. The project created direct employment during construction which has a direct bearing on poverty reduction. Many people including women benefited directly from such employment whereas some benefit through buying and selling of agriculture produce from their gardens.
Reconstruction and upgrading of the road has also resulted in reduction of vehicle operating costs which constitutes the major benefit attributable to such new projects.
The project has helped to reduce travel time from the agricultural rich Nsanje district towards the commercial city of Blantyre.
Recently former President Peter Mutharika while addressing Mlhako wa Alhomwe finger pointed President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera Government of developing central region only.
This is blue lie because President Chakwera Government has initiated various projects right at his home in Thyolo.
Anguish and disappointments awaits the likes of Kondwani, Nankhumwa, Dalitso Kabambe, Bright Msaka, Joseph Mwanamvekha and probably Gadama-the notable front runners for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership race.
It has emerged that party President Peter Mutharika is going to declare his interest to be the DPP candidate in 2025 at a rally scheduled to take place at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe on 12 November.
Mutharika Clinging to Power
According to the reaction by some of the prominent DPP youth cadres on an internal memo issued by the DPP National Organising Secretary, Chimwemwe Chipungu, it is clear that the Mutharika camp is poised to declare Mutharika the DPP torchbearer against the spirit of their own constitution and indeed the aspirations of many DPP staunch supporters who have been waiting for a day the party leadership will change hands from the Mutharikas completely.
That is not happening soon as long as Mutharika is around. From the look of things, Peter Mutharika is determined to cling to power and he will not let go of their priced asset-DPP. It appears that the reason the 83 year old former Head of State is staying on is that he can’t fathom the idea of handing over power to someone he doesn’t want, like Nankhumwa who seems to be the more likely person to replace him.
The invitation to the Masintha rally by Chipungu says: “Team DPP. Tikhala ndi rally pa Masintha on 12th November 2023 ya H.E Prof APM.Nonse mukuitanidwa”.
Reacting to the story, one of the pro-change enthusiast, Greyson Chapita sounded dejected and rather resigned to the thought that they will have to live with the fact that there won’t be change after all in the DPP by any stretch of imagination.
He said: “Koma ayimanso basi. Lets move on. Those that are against APM lets find other things to do. The sooner we make peace with the fact that m’boma sitikulowanso the better. DPP politics has let us down.”
However, looking at the trends in the past three years, if it indeed come to pass that the madala team make Mutharika the torchbearer, we should expect more trouble, divisions and chaos in the already troubled party. It is apparent that people like Nankhumwa will not take the decision lightly and he is likely to challenge the decision in court as he has always done with other contentious issues in the party he does not agree with.
