Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) in Karonga District has urged Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims in the District to voice out their problems if they are bring justice and end the vice in their communities.
This follows mobiles court sessions that EAM has brought to communities surrounding Ngana, Ngisi and Chikutu in the District. In an interview, EAM GBV project officer, Wandiya Chigawa, said when people voice out the challenges that they face, they get the necessary help from relevant authority. “After bringing courts closer to community members, we have seen them voicing out the violence they face and the magistrate has assisted them accordingly, so we urge all other victims of GBV to come out and speak out their problems,” she said.
Wandiya Chigawa
Chigawa has since urged mother groups and child protection workers to help in doing awareness campaigns against the vice. On her part, a gender activist Linda Jimu described GBV as being traumatic in nature and needs urgent attention through reporting and arresting of perpetrators. “GBV can cause a lot of problems like poor academic performance and even depression to the victims, so once reported, perpetrators need not to be left free but rather taken to book,” she said.
Commenting on the matter, Public Relations Officer for Karonga Police, Enock Livason said the police are working tirelessly to curb the vice. “As police, we are moving towards ending the vice and we are calling upon the citizenry to collaborate with us in fighting the GBV,” he said.
The Blantyre District Health Office says there is an outbreak of scabies in some parts of the commercial city of Blantyre.
In a statement signed by the Director of Health and Social Services Gift Kawalazira, the office says June to December this year, it has registered 255 cases with sixty-nine (69) cases from South Lunzu, nine(9) cases from Chichiri Prison, seventeen (17)case from Kadidi, twenty (20) case from Makata, nine(9) cases from Zingwangwa, eight ( 8) cases from Lighthouse, Five ( 5) cases from Dziwe, seventeen (17) cases from Mpemba, sixty-one (61) cases from Gateway, two ( 2) cases from Chiwembe and thirty-eight ( 38) from Mobile Clinic.
The office says scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by parasites that live and move in the skin causing small blisters and papules and that it is associated with the poor personal hygiene. ” The common presenting signs and symptoms of scabies include; severe itching especially at night that causes scratch marks, lesions between fingers, on the hand, feet, flexor sides of wrists and armpits. For Children, mostly affected parts are palms, sores head and neck”, reads the statement in part.
Health activist Maziko Matemba
The statement further assures the general public that the office has adequate supplies of medicines( scabicides) to ensure that everyone presenting with the disease signs and symptoms consult the nearest community health worker or health facility. ” The office is also alert and conducting active surveillance in addition to sensitising communities on adherence to to preventative measures in order to control the spread of the outbreak in the district. These preventative measures include adhering to personal hygiene practices, such as taking a bath everyday, avoid sharing of clothes, beddings, linen, towels, and avoid congested places as the disease spreads through contact. ” Institutions that deal with large groups of people like schools, churches, mosques, etc must be on high alert on monitoring of the signs she symptoms and report any suspected cases to Health Authorities without delay”, reads the statement.
In addition to the preventative measures outlined by the Office, Health activist Maziko Matemba says there is a need for the district to enact and use community health structures, Village health Committees, community action groups including Health centre advisory committees clear information on the disease and also run scabies elimination campaigns by encouraging communities at group and personal level to follow hygiene practices. ” If we are to combat the rapid spread of this disease, let us engage the communities in scabies elimination campaigns. We have community Volunteers who can also support in sending awareness messages in their respective communities”, says Matemba.
Matemba says there is also a need for a government to reduce the costs of soap and water in support of good hygiene practices.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has been commended for upping his game in trying to woo Foreign Direct Investors to Malawi. After a very successful Investors summit in Kenya where he was on a three-day official visit, the President has arrived in Dubai where he has highlighted that looking for investments for Malawi will be key on his agenda.
The commendation has come from Chalo Mvula, The current global Chairperson of the Malawi Congress Party Diaspora Network and a seasoned Foreign Direct investment commentator. Mvula highlighted that there is something unique to the Presidents trip this time around as he seems to be taking a more relentless and aggressive approach towards trying to convince Investors that Malawi is ready to welcome foreign direct investors (FDI)
Mvula pinpointed a few key areas that will likely make President Chakwera a success with investors and that includes the President image’s as a serious, focused and development minded leader and the growing location factors that’s making Malawi conducive for Investors. “Firstly, Malawi will benefit from how Chakwera is perceived, his global image at the moment is that of a leader keen to change the fortunes of his country and his mannerism can easily give confidence to investors “ Mvula said. He however said, image alone is far from convincing someone to risk his finances, but Malawi is currently blessed with key location factors that investors look for , among them is the political stability, availability of natural resources , plenty of skilled human capital, improved transport and other infrastructures and the improved communication systems.
Chakwera addressing an Investment Forum while in Kenya
While in Kenya. President Chakwera addressed a Malawi Investment Forum where he did his best to sell Malawi as the new investment hub. In his address, he stated that his administration is unflinching in its commitment to maintain Malawi’s rising profile as a suitable place to do business. Chakwera mentioned a few key areas that Malawi is banking on in its quest to attract investors. Among them is the establishment of a one stop Service Centre at the Malawi Investment and Trade centre (MITC) designed to reduce the time investors take before their businesses are up and running.
Chakwera also mentioned of access to land through The Lands Act 2016, where land will be made available to investors through the powers vested in Ministry of Lands.
On the role that Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) is playing in being central to all the investment initiatives, Mvula said the belief that President Chakwera will be a success on attracting investors stems from the great groundwork that MITC has done “I have been following investment initiatives in Malawi for a long time, but I can testify that the current set up in MITC is the best we have had in years . The Compendium that has been put together to provide vital information to investors has covered all the key areas. The investment body and the Ministry of Trade have transformed the investment initiatives leaving the President facing potential investors with enough arsenal on his side to convince Investors “ said Mvula
President Chakwera has been dangling the investment carrot with promises to good incentives to be provided by Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), the availability of beautiful landscapes and abundant natural resources, trainable workforce and strong judicial system. The President has key sectors that he says offers the best opportunity for investors and these are: The mining sectors , with Malawi having minerals like gold, gemstones and others, and recently legalized Cannabis farming.
FDI analyst Chalo Mvula with President Chakwera: Library Photo
While in Dubai , President Chakwera is scheduled to attend a number of business meetings. Upon landing in Dubai Chakwera didn’t mince words but clearly defined what his mission is while in the country
“I am committed to bring investment to Malawi, enhance cooperation with key countries and catalyse development so that jobs are created; lives of our people are improved via wealth creation and food security achieved. During my working visit in Dubai, I am focused on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as it will play an important role in fostering economic growth and development in our country” said President Chakwera
In his analysis, Chalo Mvula highlighted that the President’s time in Dubai is crucial as not only is it a perfect opportunity to attract some of the well-known big investors, but its also an opportunity to learn how Dubai has been transformed over the years.
“Dubai means business and The President Pitch need to be on point. The fact that this is high on his agenda while there is very commendable. The president is pitching about Malawi Vision 2063 which seeks to turn Malawi into an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation by 2063, well the digitalisation of the world cant be ignored and Malawi has to embrace this quick . As such being in Dubai, a place where ICT development is advanced can offer the opportunity to attract investors especially in technology area” “said Mvula
The president will attend the 5th Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Community (G-STIC) scheduled to take place from 24th to 27th October 2021. This is one of the world’s largest conferences where technological solutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are discussed.
According to Malawi Investment and Trade Centre , Malawi is a gold mine, flooded with untapped economic opportunities waiting to be explored. Potential opportunities for investment abound, particularly in the following sectors: agriculture, energy, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure development/ICT, Tourism and finance.
Barely a few hours after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat released a Statement by SADC Chairperson His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera calling on western countries to remove trade and other sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe two decades ago, SADC member states through their envoys in Malawi have affirmed the call through a joint statement released at a press briefing held at the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Lilongwe, on Monday.
Reading the statement Tanzanian High Commissioner to Malawi, His Excellency Benedicto Mashiba, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps said the sanctions on Zimbabwe are harmful and have damaged the Zimbabwe’s economy.
“We are aware that Zimbabwe has lost billions of United States dollars over the past 20 years due to these illegal economic sanctions,” Said H.E Mashiba
“We voice our disapproval and condemnation of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and call for the immediate removal of these sanctions as Zimbabwe has made concerted efforts towards engagement with the international community in line with Zimbabwe’s mantra, ‘Friend to all, Enemy to none,” said Mashiba.
“We are cognizant of the major developmental strides being taken by the current harsh and illegal economic sanctions imposed on the Government and people of Zimbabwe, under the theme adopted by Zimbabwe for 2021, ‘Friend to All, Enemy to none: Forging ahead and enhancing productivity in Adversity of Sanctions’.
In the statement released earlier SADC, President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera said the Regional body is worried with the continued sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“As SADC, we are concerned by the continuation of sanctions on some individuals or entities of Zimbabwe and hereby call for the unconditional and immediate lifting of these sanctions. There is no doubt that this lifting will facilitate socio-economic recovery, and enable Zimbabwe meet he
On October 18, Zodiak Broadcasting Station aired a heart-rending tale of alleged grand deceit and predatory presidents. Musician Joseph Nkasa recounted his ups and downs in Joab Chakhaza’s Cruise 5 programme, saying politicians only used and spat him out like spent sugar cane pith.
Nkasa cut a picture of a man at his wits’ end, destitute and abandoned with shattered hopes raised by politicians who thrive on peddling dishonesty. But is it all over for Nkasa?
Music and politics are siamese twins. Politicians have always turned to music to sustain their popularity. Even in the US, ex-president Barack Obama’s campaigns profited immensely from endorsements from big names such as Jay-Z and Beyonce. Similarly, Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign was publicly backed by rap superstars Ice Cube and Lil Wayne.
Here at home, music has been intertwined with politics since the one-party era (1964- 1993) when the tyranny of founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda was fed by songs of praise, especially the mbumba, members of his beloved womens guild.
The dawn of democracy has tied the knot between musicians and politicians. Bakili Muluzi’s UDF hired Lucius Banda and Tanzania’s One Theatre Band to spice up his second-term bid. Nkasa’s political inroads gained traction in 2009, during the second-term campaign of Bingu wa Mutharika whom he christened Mose wa Lero, a modern-day Moses.
It was then striking how the radio chat only focused on Nkasa’s tribulations, ignoring contrasting opportunies he accrued from political electioneering. There is little the country can do to lessen the hurt and humiliation Nkasa alleges to have suffered at the hands of politicians. If only he turned over his piece of bread, he would realise to the underside is buttered with the untold benefits of the hits he created, politics aside.
Anyone who appreciates creativity will acknowledge that Nkasa’s Mose wa Lero is decidedly the biggest political song that has come out of Malawi. The song’s influence transcended political boundaries and became a household song to be popularised even among toddlers. Its effect was a tsunami that shook the terrain and swept the opposition out of the way to clear the path for Bingu’s 66 percent majority victory in 2009.
Instead of languishing in perpetual self-pity, licking his wounds and waiting for the next Samaritan to gift another car, Nkasa only needs to go back to Mose wa Lero and realise what a giant of Malawian music he is. He should allow the song to hit his soul and galvanise his spirit. Let him realise that the lyrics he penned 12 years ago, in fact, glorify his own greatness.
Let the song reawaken the genius that clearly is being suffocated by his hideous submission to political gods who have brought him nothing but misery. It is his brainpower that came up with the gem, then. Therefore, he can repeat the feat today.
Self-righteousness is so irresistible that it is tempting to rush to admonish Nkasa for deliberately straying into the lions’ dens and taunt him to never fraternise with politicians again. Such advice would be asking too much of an artist trying to survive in a shrinking economy overly controlled by politicians. It is suicidal to swear never to associate any more with the political demigods.
Moving forward, Nkasa should draw lessons from his past experiences and act a lot smarter when contemplating the next political deal.
Confident in his unique intellectual wealth, Nkasa should apply such an unassailable advantage to approach the next political bargain with a bit less desperation and demand a mutually negotiated contract. A copy of such agreement would open doors to any civil court and help him to successfully petition for recourse in case of yet again another broken promise.
***Opinion Article firstPublished in Malawi Nation. Views expressed are those of the author*****
