Death has been announced of Pankalasiyo Pondani Phiko Phiri who composed the popular Catholic hym number 74 ‘Chuma chathuchi’ popularly known as ‘Ayambe kumbuyoko’.
Phiko Phiri died in the morning of Tuesday April 18,2023 at his home at Mua Catholic Parish of Dedza Diocese in Dedza.
Pankalasiyo Pondani Phiko Phiri
Pankalasiyo was born in 1940 and hailed from Nganja area, Kankhande village, Traditional Authority(TA) Kachindamoto in Dedza District.
His remains will be laid to rest at his home villaget tomorrow Wednesday April 19 2023.
Cracks continue to widen in the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the party’s Deputy Chief whip in parliament Mary Navicha has stepped down from the position.
Navicha who is a Member of Parliament ( MP) for Thyolo-Thava Constituency confirmed of her resignation with media on Monday afternoon saying now time is running out and she wants to concentrate on her political career by fulfilling campaign pledges in her constituency.
But the DPP legislator denied assertions that the move is aimed at positioning herself to a certain camp amid political infighting in the erstwhile party.
Commenting on the matter, one of the country’s political scientists, Victor Chipofya said Navicha has a right to do that, but the timing is bad where people would obviously connect intra-party squabbles.
“It is her right to do so but she could wait a bit as they are a lot of things happening in DPP,” said Chipofya.
Currently, there are seemingly divisions in DPP over who should be its presidential candidate in the 2025 presidential elections,with others endorsing party president Peter Mutharika.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Madala camp continues to be a disgrace and enemy of the party’s constitution.
Today Peter Mutharika’s sponsored indaba at Grace Bandawe Conference Centre in Blantyre formally welcomed the newly appointed regional governor for the south Thompson Kamangira.
Former President Peter Mutharika fired Charles Mchacha on Friday last week for unknown reasons and replaced him with Kamangira but sources says Mutharika fired Mchacha for refusing to endorse him as a torchbearer.
The endorsements happening in the party have been described by other party members as unconstitutional and aiming at putting Mutharika on the hot sit illegally.
Notable faces at the Bandawe function included DPPs Party and Presidential Spokesperson Shadrec Namalomba , George Chaponda , DPP National Organising Secretary Chimwemwe Chipungu, Francis Mphepo, DPPs Womens Director, Bertha Nachuma, Yona Mlotha, Maluwa among others.
Just recently DPP Publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi held a press conference in Lilongwe where he tackled a number of issues which are affecting the party including the endorsements.
Member of Parliament for Ntcheu south Constituency Alexander Mwisho Chilikumtima on Friday afternoon hailed the end of Parliament session.
The lawmaker described the session as the most successful as the legslators managed to pass the 2022-2023 national budget and other bills.
He said the passing of the budget is very crucial as it will help to cater to some social delivery systems such that government hospitals will be able to purchase drugs, construction of roads and boreholes will be fixed in different parts of the constituencies.
Chilikumtima said :” We have a number of development activities in the Ntcheu south Constituency such as school blocks, staff houses and some bridges which are required to be constructed.
Alexander Mwisho Chilikumtima
“As of now, there are some bridges which are incomplete like Kambuku bridge which we have already lobbied the government to consider but with the passing of this budget, I am sure that we are going to complete it.”
He added that the ministry of transport and public works has promised to construct Lirengwe bridge for the people of Ntcheu south Constituency through the 2022 to 2023 national budget.
On his remarks, leader of the house Richard Chimwendo Banda commended the legslators for their solidarity on the passing of important bills as far as the national budget is concerned.
Banda also said that government is making progress on several construction development projects like Lilongwe six lane road, Lilongwe- Kasungu road, Mzimba-Rumphi road which are under way, school blocks, hospitals and also the raising of honourrier which the chiefs receive every month.
On his part leader, of opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa urged government to introduce money cash transfer for the people who have affected by Cyclone Freddy to receive from now until December amounting one hundred thousand kwacha each, which will help them to cater some challenges that are facing while they are looking to have their own settlement again.
During the August house the parliamentarians passed several bills such as distaster management bill, human trafficking bill just to mention a few.
All is set for a ‘ Future for A girl Child’ movie premiere on May 13,2023 at Civo Stadium Ground in Lilongwe.
The movie is shot by a Lilongwe-based non-governmental organization Youth Innovation Centre for Change ( YICC) in collaboration with Rumic Film Company.
In an interview, Executive Director (ED) for Youth Innovation Centre for Change Bridget Chaponda, said ‘future for a girl child’ movie acts as voice of the voiceless girl child ( a movie character) as it tells untold stories of how she struggled through to get out of poverty through education.
She said the movie which has former Gender Minister Dr. Patricia Kaliati as one of the characters focuses much on how gender based-violences and child abuses are affecting Malawi’s development in as far as 2063 agender and 50-50 campaigns are concerned.
“The movie is based on true stories of Gender-Based Violence that a girl child faces in Malawi and it is revealing untold stories.
“We want to reach out to all stakeholder with the right information of kicking out gender based-Violence and child abuse ,so that each and every one should take his or her role.
“One of our aims is to eliminate issues that are hindering the education systems of the girl child in Malawi,” said Chaponda.
Chaponda said it has cost them about K1.5 million to complete the movie project.
She said currently, they are negotiating with Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation ( MBC) TV , Timveni TV and Zodik TV to have the movie hosted on their platforms so as it reaches the masses.
“We would love to reach out to all broadcasting stations and TVs so that the message reaches all stakeholders,” she said.
Chaponda went on to appeal to the government and other stakeholders to always hear the voice of the voiceless girl child.
“It is time that the girl child has to speak for her self to the government and all stakeholders, and we are calling for their assistance and sponsorship so that the message should reach the right audience,” she said.
She indicated that their organization is facing a lot of challenges in dealing with gender based-violence and child abuse cases and called on government to intervene.
“I must indicate this that that the government should take a great role in making sure that there is justice on GBV cases and child abuse cases.
“We need them more in our community and the movie itself will speak for how much we need the government and stakeholder in the community such as chinsapo,” she said.
Chaponda then urged Malawians to buy and watch the movie once it was premiered.
“We as Youth Innovational Centre for Change, we would like to appeal to the public that we need your support to spread the message that the movie has carried.
“Please if anyone is interested to support us financially or with materials you are most welcome .
“Premiering the movie is not the end of the journey. We need to do more for the ‘future of a girl child’ ,and if God allows that we should have more sponsorship on this movie ,it will also help us to send back to school more and more children in our communities,” urged Chaponda.
She said currently, tickets for the movie premiere are selling at K20,000 VIP and K5,000 open standard and that those who want to purchase the tickets or render their support towards the movie should contact 0991561606.
