The Senior Resident Magistrate Court sitting at Sonda in Mzuzu City has convicted and sentenced a 50 years – old- man, Bannet Mwale, to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour after he was found guilty of defilling a 7 year -old -child contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code.
Mzuzu Police station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Enala Kalua has confirmed the news.
Sergeant Enala Kalua
According to Kalua, the court heard through Child state prosecutor Sergeant Christina Shadreck, that the accused committed the offence on 28 October, 2020 at about 16:00 hours within Sonda area in Mzuzu.
Shadreck further narrated that on the material day, the victim planned to commit the offence because they are neighbours and he give her K80 as bride so that she should not tell anybody about the matter.
She reported the incident to her sister who disclosed the matter to the mother who immediately reported it to Mchengautuba Police Unit where the victim was issued with medical referral form and referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital where upon examination defilement was confirmed.
Mwale was then arrested and charged with the offence of defilement.
Appearing before the court, he pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him, and he then pleaded with the court for leniency, saying he is the bread winner of his family.
In submission, the prosecutor asked the court to give him a stiffer punishment to teach him and others a lesson.
Passing the judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Godfrey Nyirenda concurred with the state’s submission and slapped the convict with 20 years jail term.
Mwale hails from Majajande Village, Traditional Authority Nyambi in Machinga.
Techno Brain, the company at the centre of contact controversy with the Attorney General has warned Malawi citizens and stakeholders about a likely upcoming disruption to Malawi’s Passport System as a result of the company being prohibited by the Government from accessing infrastructure necessary to carry out scheduled maintenance procedures.
The Government of Malawi recently announced its cancellation of Techno Brain’s contract to provide e-passports and to undertake a comprehensive upgrade to the country’s entire passport issuance system on grounds that the company strongly disputes and is challenging through legal means.
Under the contract agreed by the Government of Malawi and Techno Brain in 2019, Techno Brain is responsible for creating the country’s new passport infrastructure, with plans to develop capacity to maintain and operate the system over time, including training and capacity building for over 125 DICS officers. However, these plans were cut short when the Government suddenly announced the cancellation of the contract in December 2021.
Techno Brain wishes to inform the public ahead of time that, as it is currently prohibited by the Government from accessing its infrastructure, it is regrettably unable to conduct scheduled maintenance procedures that are upcoming on 20 January 2022. Failure to perform these procedures is expected to result in disruption and potentially a full system shut down.
DICS officers posted outside the Techno Brain guesthouse in Lilongwe
In addition to jeopardising the passport issuance system by denying access to Techno Brain to critical infrastructure, one of Techno Brain’s technical engineers, Prakash Naidu, has been placed under illegal house arrest without charge since Saturday, 8 January 2022, after six officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services (DICS) arrived at the company guesthouse in Lilongwe. The DICS insists that Mr Naidu – an expatriate technical engineer who had remained in-country to ensure that the passport issuance system remained functional – will remain detained until Techno Brain agrees to hand over all infrastructure under the unilaterally-terminated contract. A writ of habeas corpus challenging the detention as illegal has been filed with the High Court and the company is calling for his immediate release. Furthermore, concerns at the unlawful detention of Prakash Naidu have been raised with international human rights organisations. The Attorney General’s justifications for this unlawful detention further exhibit a remarkable departure from basic rule of law norms.
Techno Brain maintains that the contract is the product of a competitive bidding process that followed all the relevant procurement regulations, and that its resumption would result in a win-win situation for all parties. The full implementation of the system was expected to deliver substantial efficiency gains, both for the Government of Malawi and for citizens that will no longer have to travel to Lilongwe or Blantyre to apply for a passport, as well as critical security benefits in terms of reducing incidents of forgery and identity theft.
Born in Africa, Techno Brain has a strong track record of operating in Malawi to date and employs a number of local staff to operate the system. It is proud of the strong role it has played delivering innovative and ground-breaking solutions in response to local needs and challenges across the region.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has called for concerted efforts in the development of the country and retaliated that his government will work hard to fulfill campaign promises.
He made the remarks on Sunday at Ngabu Sports Ground in Chikwawa during a celebration ceremony of the life of Late Sidik Mia who succumbed to Covid-19 in January, 2021.
“Let us work in unity regardless of our political or religious affiliations so that we develop our country,” said Chakwera.
President Chakwera was grateful to the family of Late Mia as they continue to carry out charity works that the deceased used to do when he was alive.
Karim Elias who represented the family of Late Sidik Mia expressed gratitude to the President for being part of the ceremony celebrating the life of Sidik Mia whom he said was a pillar in their family.
The celebrations started with prayers lead by Sheik Naisan Yusuf at the Mia’s residence in Chikwawa followed by distribution of relief items to 4000 households.
Earlier in the day the President visited people who have been displaced by floods at Bereu Primary School, Chikuse Camp and Jombo Primary School.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has called for concerted efforts in the development of the country and retaliated that his government will work hard to fulfill campaign promises.
He made the remarks on Sunday at Ngabu Sports Ground in Chikwawa during a celebration ceremony of the life of Late Sidik Mia who succumbed to Covid-19 in January, 2021.
“Let us work in unity regardless of our political or religious affiliations so that we develop our country,” said Chakwera.
President Chakwera was grateful to the family of Late Mia as they continue to carry out charity works that the deceased used to do when he was alive.
Karim Elias who represented the family of Late Sidik Mia expressed gratitude to the President for being part of the ceremony celebrating the life of Sidik Mia whom he said was a pillar in their family.
The celebrations started with prayers lead by Sheik Naisan Yusuf at the Mia’s residence in Chikwawa followed by distribution of relief items to 4000 households.
Earlier in the day the President visited people who have been displaced by floods at Bereu Primary School, Chikuse Camp and Jombo Primary School.
All roads going to Cross Roads Hotel in the malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre will be busy this evening as many will be flocking to the hotel where the legendary musician Gides Chalamanda will have a birthday dinner , celebrating his 92nd birthday.
Posting on his Facebook page, Social Media Influencer Pemphero Mphande, says all is set for the Chalamanda’s birthday party and that it will start at 7: 00 PM in the evening.
” The church has sang happy birthday to Mr. Chalamanda. This evening at 7 PM, we are holding a birthday dinner for him at Crossroads Hotel in Blantyre. You can support the legendary musician by booking a seat at the dinner table for only K30, 000. WhatsApp or call 0995064217. We are closing bookings at 3 pm,” says Mphande.
Phande adds that the Chinafuna m’bale hit maker will perform at the party to entertain the audiences with his ever fade hits.
The international star and Linny Hoo hit maker was born on 15 January 1931. He goes in history as the oldest musician in Malawi.
Chalamanda’s musical career started in mid 1940 when he started teaching himself playing gallon guitars.
His blockbuster ‘ Ndaona Ine’ which was recorded and premiered by the Malawi’s public broadcaster MBC shook the airwave.
Chamanda’s birthday dinner party has been organized by Scallas at Scallas cafe
