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23 escape carbon monoxide poisoning death in Dzaleka Camp

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By Vincent Gunde

23 refugees who were forcibly relocated to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district on the night of Friday, August 18, 2023 escaped from carbon monoxide poisoning death in one of the overcrowded tents which has become home for returned refugees since May 17, 2023.

According to Innocent Magambi, a refugee rights advocate and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Inua Advocacy, men, women and children began vomiting, fainting and struggling to breathe just before midnight of Friday 18th August, 2023.



Magambi said the victims were rushed to Dzaleka clinic where they were informed by the health personnel that the facility could not handle the situation and were referred to the main Dowa District Hospital.

He said due to UNHCR funding shortages, the Dzaleka Ambulance had not been fueled thanking the intervention of a Dzaleka community leader who used his own car and fuel to transport the victims to Dowa District Hospital.

‘’The sick received vital assistance to regain their conscious escaping from carbon monoxide poisoning death,’’said Magambi.

The Rights Advocate said those affected by the carbon monoxide poisoning have since been discharged except one, a-46-year-old man, Francis Nkurunziza who had just regained conscious on Sunday morning, 20th August, 2023 and was on the fifth drip.

In May, 2023 Francis Nkurunzinza attacked by police in Salima where he was plying his business during the relocation exercise, all of his wares were either stolen or burnt and he returned to Dzaleka Camp in Dowa empty-handed.

Magambi said the UNHCR funding cuts has resulted in a lack of electricity at the Dzaleka Camp making the provision of a water pump not operational and there are no lights making lives of the returnees so bearable.

He said tents are the only place where these returnees can sleep, cook and store their beddings lamenting that the people who are being affected by these events were all previously able to provide a dignified living by themselves and their children while contributing to the local economy as active members of the society.

The Rights Activist has expressed fears that because of the Refugee Act which they find it discriminatory and unjust, the refugees in Malawi have been reduced to a complete dependence on insufficient aid, a development which is worrisome to all.

NEAM clients geared for quality education

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By Andrew Mwanandiye Tembo

National Epilepsy Association of Malawi (NEAM)has disclosed that about 65 percent of learners with epilepsy have been absconding schools due stigma impact.

Speaking in an interview, National Coordinator for NEAM ,Chifundo Zamadunga said following the magnitude of the stigma,NEAM had embarked on “Stigma free program” in which it seeks to coordinate with concerned stakeholders to curb the challenge and commenced working together in April last last year.

” we learnt with shock that a lot of people in schools, were absconding classes and we registered a higher rate of school drop outs as a result of stigma among those with Epilepsy, in the country,hence the engagements”
Said Zamadunga.

Village Custodians, Chiefs, Nurse,Teachers



And in her evaluation of the current outputs, Zamadunga described the progress as positive for among the stakeholders Traditional leaders, Parents of the clients and Teachers have shown their passion to serve as village custodians in sensitizing the learners to live a stigma free life,so as toproceed with their education in addition to taking medication.

She Said”Today, we successfully managed to have an engagement meeting with the chiefs to serve as village custodians and we have advised parents and guardians to make sure that the clients are getting medication as required”.

Zamadunga further cited shortage of drug as another hiccup which prompted the learners to develop the fear.

She said ,some learners could choose to drop out of schools for fear of the unknown which is commonly manifested by the stigma therefore engagements of the ministrynistry of Education and Health is fully needed.

NEAM has since reached four schools both primary and secondary,among them are Mpemba primary school in Blantyre, Tsogolo and Kawale primary schools in Lilongwe and promised to reach all the districts of the country.

NEAM clients, Learners
NEAM, National Coordinator-Chifundo Zamadunga

Gwamba unlimited concert set for Saturday at Mzuzu Stadium

By George Mponda

Organisers of the Gwamba Unlimited Concert have confirmed that the show will still take place on 26 August at Mzuzu Stadium despite Football Association of Malawi (FAM) ordering its closure for renovations.

FAM ordered Mzuzu City Council (MCC) officials to commence renovations at the venue saying the pitch is in poor state and has a bad perimeter fence, among others.



In an interview, organiser of the show, Duncan Zgambo popularly known as Gwamba confirmed that the venue for the concert remains Mzuzu Stadium.

“FAM announced that Mzuzu Stadium has been banned from hosting elite football matches but this is an entertainment show hence we are still going to the same venue as earlier advertised.

“We intend, through this concert, to identify and nurture music talent in the northern region. We have lined up 30 upcoming artists who are going to showcase their skills and this is going to be an unforgettable event for music lovers, said Gwamba.

MCC Spokesperson, Macdonald Gondwe confirmed that there is no change as regards to the venue of the Gwamba Unlimited Concert.

“Of course, we received communication from FAM banning Mzuzu Stadium from hosting elite football matches under the organisation. As a council, we are yet to sit down and see the way forward but at the moment, the stadium is still open to other activities,” Gondwe said.

Pasuwa mesmerized by ‘Incredibly Talented’ Phodo

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By Hastings Wadza Kasonga Jnr

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Head coach, Callisto Pasuwa, has described Maxwell Gasten Phodo as a good player who can be used when playing international games.

Pasuwa said this after the star netted twice to seal a 0-2 win against FC Dragon in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and said he has been trusting him that he would perform one day.

“A boy whom I have been trusting, he has been having pressure where people can be saying the boys is not scoring but remember I said these are boys I said when playing against international teams, they can lead attacks when playing with one boy upfront,” said Pasuwa.

Phodo is action



The Bullets coach said Phodo is a player who has incredible talent that makes him exceptional and useful for teams upfront.

“He is a boy who can keep the ball, one who is good in the air and also very fast on the broke, it’s only maybe scoring factor which was not coming on him. He has been scoring but most of them were ruled offside, ” added Pasuwa.

Despite an impressive outing in the continental showpiece, Phodo has struggled to score on local scene as he has two goals only scored in the FDH Bank Cup and NBS Bank Charity Shield but has no goal in the TNM Super league.

Malawians trash HRDC, calling it a time wasting organization

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By Vincent Gunde

Malawians have described the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) as a time wasting organization.

The organization has been given a last time to speak on issues affecting the citizens ranging from fuel, forex, procurement of fertilizer, sky-rocketing prices of essential goods and hunger crisis.

Gift Trapenze



Contributing to a local radio news talk programme on Sunday, many Malawians said they wish HRDC die a natural death as for three years that Tonse Alliance has been in government, the organization has not been active enough as it is known to many.

The organization is accused of enjoying the benefits of corruption that have rocked government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) .

Malawians were reacting following a news conference the organization organized with the main underlined subject ’’Malawi is in economic crisis drifting towards a failed state wondering as to when the HRDC realized that Malawi is now a failed state.

In a statement signed by its National Chairperson Gift Trapence, the HRDC called upon the MCP led government to acknowledge the crisis at hand departing from business as usual and earnestly work to address the issues.

The HRDC called on President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to remain in office and suspend all international and local travel, dismiss underperforming ministers, Coleen Zamba, presidential advisors, Principal Secretaries and Directors who have failed in their duty to manage the country.

“Ensure professional and transparent procurement, management and timely distribution of fertilizer for the AIP, present sustainable and action able solutions to the fuel crisis,” reads the HRDC statement in part.

Malawians said they were expecting the HRDC to come with a strong force that government has failed to address escalating cost of living, fertilizer procurement, food crisis, fuel and forex challenges that in four day’s- time, they are mobilizing Malawians to go to the streets to demonstrate against the failed government.

They say no one in Malawi can listen to the HRDC for its calls to go to the streets claiming that the organization is part of government and if the MCP led government has failed the HRDC too, has also failed hence not to take Malawians for granted.

And giving government reaction to the HRDC presser, Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu, has assured Malawians that the Chakwera led administration is already working in addressing issues of economic crisis that have engulfed the country.

’’People must be assured that everything that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera does, he does, it is for the betterment of Malawian lives,’’he said.