The Constitutional Court sitting in Blantyre has today adjourned the same- sex decriminalization review to May 23, 2023.
Before adjournment, Justice Mandala Mambulasa recused himself after the State asked him to step down from the case as he previously made his stand on the issue.
On the other hand,defense lawyers and friends of the court represented by Chikondi Chijozi objected to the application unfounded for falling short to cite the law.
State Prosecutor Victor Jere said the recusal of the judge will preserve the integrity of the Judge and the entire judicial system.
In the matter, two cases are involved where first claimant, a Dutch, Wim Akster is being accused of sexually abusing nine children at his orphanage in Blantyre.
The second case is about a transgender individual from Mangochi, Jana Gonani.
However, the court is expected to rule whether to criminalise or decriminalise those involved in same- sex activities in the country.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Peter Mutharika has appealed to all party members to love and respect each other as one family.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, the former State President says while the party takes pride in the diversity of its members, it has regrettably taken note of some “undemocratic pronouncements” by certain members calling themselves real owners of DPP.
“This is a misrepresentation of the truth. There are no owners of the party. The party belongs to the people of Malawi, its members resident throughout the country and outside. Political affiliation is a matter of resonating with the principles and policies of the party,” reads the statement titled ‘A message of unity and equality to the members of Democratic Progress Party (DPP)’.
Mutharika observes DPP members come from all walks of life, regardless of tribe, religion, gender and location of residence, among others as such in the eyes of the party they are all equal, no one individual nor a group of individuals own the party.
“We come together all equal with one accord of uplifting the welfare of Malawians through political mobilisation and economic development of this nation.
“It is in this regard that the mighty DPP reminds its members to inculcate in themselves such a belief and reality,” reads the statement signed by Namalomba
The statement comes days after some DPP senior members held separate media briefings in Lilongwe and Blantyre where among others they asked Mutharika to consider handing over power as per his promise.
During his briefing in Blantyre, DPP regional governor Charles Mchacha alleged there were some greedy individuals in the party making decisions without even consulting Mutharika.
DPP is expected to hold its convention in July ahead of 2025 elections.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday delivered his impressive key note address at the Transform Africa Summit at Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria falls in Zimbabwe.
In his impressive key note address Chakwera said that Africa must go against the grain, if it is to be at par with big global players, on the ICT front.
President impressed that Africa is so far behind in terms of digital transformation that it will never catch up, if it does not use technology as a short cut, to ensuring the continent becomes a single digital market and “leapfrogs” into the next stage of economic development.
Said Chakwera:”In order to catch up with the First World trajectory of digital uptake, Africa must deploy multiple strategic investments to integrate all key sectors of the economy on a single digital platform.
Chakwera
“Our citizens should have affordable access to digital products and services, digital literacy and improved digital infrastructure.
“With these in place, we should be able to transition our economy to the digital space through e-Learning, e-Government, e-Commerce, e-Health and smart farming among other key components.”
He thanked President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for his leadership and his pursuit of excellence, through the summit particularly as chairperson of the Smart Africa board.
The Malawi leader also thanked the summit host President Emmerson Mnangagwa for hosting such an iconic and integral event, that seeks to compel Africa to leap frog into the digital excellence domain.
During the Opening Ceremony of the event,King Mswathi III and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia also delivered their key note addresses.
The Transform Africa Summit is a platform through which global and regional leaders from government, private sector and international organizations consider new ways to shape, accelerate and sustain Africa’s on-going digital revolution.
The meeting is particularly important in light of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area whose benefits could be leveraged through the digital revolution.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has arrived in Zimbabwe for the 6th Transform Africa Summit meeting scheduled to take place at the Victoria falls. The summit brings together African leaders, policymakers and technology experts who are poised to shape Africa’s development narrative from what it is now to a knowledge-based economy supported by a digital revolution
According to the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chakwera is attending the meeting in pursuit of ways to leverage the revolution to support the Malawi’s own development and address obstacles.
The president departed Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe at 6:30 hours and is scheduled to return the same day at 20:00 hours.
The Transform Africa Summit is a platform through which global and regional leaders from government, private sector and international organizations consider new ways to shape, accelerate and sustain Africa’s on-going digital revolution.
The meeting is particularly important in light of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area whose benefits could be leveraged through the digital revolution.
Writing on the President’ s official Facebook page , President Chakwera wrote
“I am leading the Malawi delegation at the 6th Transform Africa Summit being held at the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
“The main thematic thrust of discussions will be around accelerating digital transformation for African societies. This aligns perfectly with our development agenda Malawi Vision 2063 in which we intend to spur development through digitalisation”
“There will also be learnings for Malawi in how we can build capacity in digital infrastructure, smart governance and digital entrepreneurship”.
Zomba Chief Resident Magistrate Court has on Tuesday afternoon sentenced University of Malawi ( UNIMA) student, Martin Kachigayo, to twenty two month imprisonment with hard labour for theft of laptops and phones belonging to fellow students.
Kachigayo, 26, was found with the stolen items at Chakanda township in Zomba District, where some UNIMA students reside.
In court, he pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against him.
Kachigayo argued that he stole the phones and laptops because he wanted to find money for accommodation and food since he had no one to take care of him while at the university.
Kachigayo, right
While acknowledging that Kachigayo was a first offender, Magistrate Austin Banda argued that Kachigayo posed as a threat not only to his fellow students but also to surrounding communities and he needed a custodial sentence to deter other students with similar intentions.
The magistrate also argued that he knows that there are a lot of needy student at the Zomba-based university but they never think of stealing as a way to bail themselves out of what they go through.
He therefore, sentenced Kachigayo to a twenty two month imprisonment with hard labour effective April 19 2023.
Until his arrest, Kachigayo was a third year student pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Theology at Chanco.
