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Govt restricts external travels for cabinet ministers, other seniors officials

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By Chisomo Phiri

In an effort to ease pressures on foreign exchange reserves in the country, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s government has again restricted external travels for Cabinet ministers and other senior government officials effective August 15, 2023.

This is according to a communication dated August 7, 2023 and signed by Secretary to the Treasury MacDonald Mafuta Mwale, addressed to the Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, all controlling officers to the government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as chief executive officers of government enterprises and parastatals.

McDonald Mafuta Mwale

“Malawi is currently facing harsh economic conditions with inflation rising to 27.0 percent for June 2023 and experiencing an acute scarcity of foreign exchange pressure on the exchange rate. One way through which we can control the drain on foreign exchange reserves, foreign travel by Government MDAs as well as State Owned Enterprises(SOEs), must be restricted,” reads the statement in part.

Mafuta Mwale, further, states that external travel beginning at Cabinet level should be restricted to extremely essential trips approved by the President upon the provision of proof of funding and availability of resources from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

He says all principal secretaries, and directors from Government MDAs, CEOs, director generals and all senior management of SOEs should seek approval for any external travel from the Secretary to the President and Cabinet on condition that the Secretary to the Treasury provides proof of funding and availability of resources.

“Controlling Officers shall approve external travel only after consulting Treasury on availability of resources, proof of funding and budget allocation,” says Mwale.

He adds:”The number and composition of a delegation travelling outside the country shall be approved by Secretary to the President and Cabinet.

“Where external travel is donor-funded, there shall be no government financial outlay in the form of top-up allowances towards such travel.”

Last fiscal year, government introduced expenditure control measures, and according to Mafuta Mwale, they contributed towards the realisation of some savings on the external travel budget lines hence the need to continue implementing them in the current year.

Chokotho’s case against FDH Bank dismissed

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By Chisomo Phiri

High Court Judge Jabbar Alide has on Friday dismissed with costs an application by lawyer Tamanda Chokotho stopping FDH Bank plc from selling property which acted as a mortgage facility at K180 million, below the reserve price of K215 million.

The court learnt that Chokotho {the claimant} obtained a mortgage facility in the sum of K144 million from the defendant for purposes of purchasing property on Title Number LK3319.

But the claimant defaulted in the repayment of the loan; forcing the defendant to issue a notice of the sale of the property to recover the loan.

Tamanda Chokhotho

Again, the court heard that attempts to sell the property through public auction failed to attract buyers beyond the reserve price.
This prompted the defendant to get an approval for a waiver from the Ministry of Lands to sell the property at K180 million. But this didn’t amuse Chokotho who later obtained an injunction stopping the sale.

The claimant further argued that Section 73 of the Registered Land Act provides that variation of any powers of sale must be made by court.

He therefore said the variation of the reserve price by the Registrar of Lands was made ultra vires and not in good faith.

But in his ruling, Judge Alide found that the claimant’s action has no legal merit and failed to raise any triable issues.

“Further, it has brought remedies that are strange and not available under the applicable law.

“All I can see in this matter is the Claimant’s attempt to coin some confusion with a view of creating an impression that there is some controversy worth the court’s intervention,” reads Alide’s judgment.

It adds the present cause of action hinges on flimsy and untenable foundation bearing in mind the factual context and applicable in respect to the issues raised.

Further reads the judgment: “It is my view that the Claimant’s action doesn’t raise any arguable case. For the above reasons, the Claimant’s action herein fails entirely; and is dismissed with costs.”

Media professionals urged to popularize use of podcasts in information dissemination

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By Chisomo Phiri

Misa Malawi Chairperson, Golden Matonga has urged media professionals in the country to be in forefront popularizing use of podcasts in information dissemination.

Matonga was speaking on Friday at the end of a-five-day media training on podcasting at Mtolankhani House in Lilongwe.

The media body chair said the training was the first of its kind in the country and pledged that Misa Malawi would continue providing more hands-on training to help grow journalists’ passion and profession.

”We are sending you out there as ambassadors; go and represent us. In other countries, podcasting is very well-known nowadays and we believe that with the skills you have acquired, you will be able to develop your own podcasts and advance this new industry,” said Matonga.

One of the participants, Anthony Manda from Transworld Radio, hailed Misa Malawi for training; saying it would help him understand more about podcasts.

”I believe that I will now be able to develop a high quality podcast which will be appreciated internationally,” he said.

MISA Malawi organized the training in partnership with DW Akademie, Deutsche Welle’s centre for education, knowledge transfer and media development.

A total of 12 journalists, drawn from Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Yoneco FM, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Umunthu FM and The Radar Digital News,received certificates after completing the training.

Simply put, a podcast is a digital medium consisting of audio or video episodes that relate to a specific theme.

Mtambo on Tim’s 39- Happy birthday son of the soil CFT Commander in Chief

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By Leonard Kavwenje, Lilongwe

On Sunday, 12th August, 1984, a miracle occured. That miracle was predestined birth of a baby boy who grew and developed as a mighty human rights defender and an examplary preacher of sane politics. A cultural idol! A traditional symbol! A political allegory!

It is evident that, Chabipilabatambo, his father and Nachizimu Nanyondo, his mother did not know that their boy would break traditional boundaries, national limits and fly globally with his unstoppable and unquenchable burning spirit and passion for a better society.

As a promised son, Mtambo really defied all odds and shone like an East Star.

What is special about Timothy Mtambo is that, as a young kid, he spent most of his early days with his grandfather. It is clear that Timothy, as he was christened, had such a rare advantage of becoming a great leader due to an early exposure to the roles of a leader.

Mtambo did his primary education in Zambia and Malawi. His father used to work as a copper mine supervisor in Luansha. He graduated with a degree in Arts and Humanities from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College (Chanco) in 2010.

Mtambo proved himself as a human rights advocate while at Chanco when he became a students unionist. This is self-told through the lens of his university actions. He was fighting for the academic rights of his fellows. He was seen as a Tennyson statue that symbolised human rights fireworks.

Mtambo’s real element was physically seen under electron microscope when he joined Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) as Programmes Manager. He formed part of the Great Triangle that was composed of Gift Trapence, Undule Mwakasungula and Timothy Mtambo. These were the men behind the 2011 advocacy and protests against bad governance and autocracy.

On April 1, 2012, Timothy wedded his long time lovebird, Sally Ngwira. A young beautiful flower of Rumphian flavor. They had been together in college. As Mtambo celebrates attainment of 39 years, the family is blessed with four children.

Mtambo on his journey, was just 28 when he rose to the helm of the CHRR and made all necessary voices. He was the only remaining microphone of Malawians at a time it was not fashionable to do so.

Mtambo attained the global limelight, when he fearlessly led Malawians to demand electoral justice and accountability in the post May 21, 2019 Presidential Elections havoc. He writes, “That was a revolutionary struggle.” The epic Malawian struggle saw the nullification of a fraudulent elections and the birth of the 3rd Republic.

At 36, Mtambo formed part of the Malawi Government as a cabinet minister.

A son of royalty in his area. The child of destiny born in between two worlds of chiefdoms, the Great Mwenichitipas and Great Mwaulambyas, Mtambo has nowhere to escape leadership.

A man of a Bangle and Royal Stick ! A man of positive influence. Here is your day!

Today as Mtambo celebrates his 39th anniversary, he writes in his diary “Adding a year to my life is Grace of God, the Almighty. I have a great role to perform before I fly with angels. We need to create a better society. This is only attainable if we grow.”

Happy Birthday Senior Comrade Timothy Pagonachi Simbega Mtambo, the President and Commander in Chief of the Citizens for Transformation (CFT)!

DPP told not to summon Nankhumwa to a disciplinary hearing over whistle stop rallies

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By Chisomo Phiri

The High court judge, Howard Pemba, has on Friday afternoon granted an injunction stoping former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from summoning its Vice President for the Southern region, Kondwani Nankhumwa, to a disciplinary hearing.

Nankhumwa was summoned to a hearing by the party’s disciplinary committee following a whistle stop tour he conducted in Blantyre a fortnight ago without seeking approval from the party leader Peter Mutharika.

APM and Nankhumwa

Nankhumwa earlier avoided appearing before the disciplinary hearing in Lilongwe after his lawyers wrote the committee that their client was unable to appear before it as he was attending to Parliament business.

But his lawyers later applied for the injunction.

Meanwhile, in court, Judge Howard Pemba said Nankhumwa will not appear before the disciplinary hearing until the matter is concluded in court.

According to Nankhumwa’s lawyers, the disciplinary committee itself is being challenged for being constituted contrary to the DPP constitution.

The constitution allows for five members to be in the committee, but Nankhumwa, who is also Leader of Opposition in Parliament, is arguing that the recently held DPP national governing council (NGC) appointed seven members instead.

The court, according to lawyer Daniel Sato representing Nankhumwa, is expected to give directions and the date for hearing.

Cracks and divisions have refused to leave DPP since it got booted out of government in the June 2020 presidential elections.

And according to several political analysts, the party leadership should forget returning into government after the 2025 general elections if the differences persist.