The annoited heir to the DPP presidency, Dr. Dalitso Kabambe on Monday paid a courtesy call on DPP’s former regional governor for the North Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira at his residence in Mzuzu.
The visit comes after a ground breaking mass rally the previous day at Katoto Ground where the party’s Vice President (North) Goodall Gondwe led other senior DPP gurus in calling for unity and respect for the party’s leader Professor Peter Mutharika.
Mzomera’s presence at the rally was his first public apperance after being set free by the High Court sitting in Mzuzu four weeks ago, following his appeal of his conviction and sentence.
Kabambe meeting Mzomera
In his speech at the rally, Kabambe said the DPP was in a self-reflection mode, gearing up to get better and stronger ahead of the 2025 elections.
The former Central Bank Governor was accompanied by Hon. Mganda Chiume (former Minister of Foreign Affairs); Hon. Baxter Kita (DPP Deputy Director of Political Affairs); Madame Joyce Chikukula (DPP Northern Region Women’s Director); Kelvin Chirambo (DPP North Regional Youth Director); Madame Eluby Kandeu (DPP Eastern Region Women’s Director) and Steven Bamusi (DPP Eastern Region Youth Director), among others. ▪️
Kabambe is one one of the lead candidate for the DPP leadership, however he is seen as the chosen successor and is receiving backing from the incumbent Arthur Peter Mutharika
Malawi national football team, the Flames have started the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Ethiopia at a fully-packed Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday.
A Gabadinho Mhango’s brace was all the Flames needed to collect maximum points and top Group D while waiting for Egypt and Guinea to clash in the pool’s match day 1 second game.
A foul by Yared Bayeh on rampaging striker Stein Dave prompted South African referee Abongile Thom to award the Flames a penalty and Mhango coolly buried it to the left corner in the 10th minute after sending the Ethiopian goalkeeper the wrong way.
Another foul by Mignot Debebe on the former Orlando Pirates star convinced referee to award yet another penalty and this time, composed Mhango sent it right into the middle of the net just when the goalkeeper thought he would put it on the same spot.
Ethiopia responded with a barrage of attacks on Malawi half, but though they enjoyed massive ball possession (Ethiopia-70, Malawi-30), they failed to penetrate Flames defence that fiercely protected their goal area resulting in the visitors registering no attempt at goal at half-time.
Gabadinho Mhango making a bold statement
Ethiopia coach made some substitutions at half-time bringing in Shemeles Bekele in place of Mohammed Mesoud, Gatoch Panom in place of Surafel Dagnachew while Gugsa Beshah came in for Amanuel Gebremikiel, hoping to pile more pressure on the hosts.
But the Flames stuck to their game plan: Let the visitors enjoy possession and hit the with long balls from flanks into their final third where Mhango, Khuda Myaba and Davie were causing havoc.
But the visitors finally pulled one back in the 66th minute from the spot kick after a foul in the box by sit in captain John Banda.
President Chakwera was in attendance
Abubakker Nasirs slotted past a rooted Thom, giving the visitors hope of salvaging a point from the match.
But Flames coach Mario made three substitutions pulling out Chimwemwe Idana, Stein Dave and Gerald Phiri Jnr who were replaced by Charles Petro, Chiukepo Msowoya and Francisco Madinga, respectively.
Gaba almost grabbed hat-trick but his 77th minute header was ruled off side.
Marinica also made some final changes in the dying minutes of the match, bringing in Micium Mhone to replace Myaba in the 83rd minute while Gaba was pulled out in the 88th minute and replaced by defending midfielder Chikoti Chirwa to seal the game.
So, Ethiopia’s fate was sealed as it ended Malawi grabbing three points to give the Flames an advantage going into match day 2 on Thursday when they face Guinea away in Conakry while Ethiopia face Egypt at Bingu National Stadium.
Marinica admitted that Ethiopia gave the Flames a good run for their money.
He said: “It was a very tough game. Ethiopia is a fantastic team. They play very good football. They have fantastic players.”
His counterpart Wubetu Abate felt their good performance was betrayed by the two penalties from needless tackles from his defenders.
“But congratulations to Malawi. They deserved it,” Abate said: “ Starting Line-Ups:
Malawi: Charles Thom, Stanley Sanudi, Gomezgani Chirwa, Chembezi Denis, Lawrence Chaziya, John Banda, Gerald Phiri (Chimwemwe Idana, Gabadinho Mhango (Chikoti Chirwa), Khuda Muyaba, Stain Davie
Some Concerned Members of Staff-Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) have written to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Ombudsman, Anti Corruption Bureau and to the Ministry of Energy- Controller of Statutory Corporations to express their concerns over what they call unauthorized contract renewal of Director of Fuels contract by MERA CEO Henry Kachaje
In a letter which we have seen the concerned members wrote;
“We members of staff of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) would like to put to your attention of the machinations of our CEO Mr Henry Kachaje in trying to use off-book strategies in renewing the contract of Mrs Alinafe Mkavea to the position of Director for Fuels whose contract expired on 31st May 2022”.
“What is more worrying is the fact that Mr Kachaje himself is holding onto a position that he got dubiously as was exposed in the leaked Ombudsman report that faulted his irregular appointment as he did not have the required qualifications for the job”.
“The whole MERA board was eventually replaced due to the same fiasco but he has unashamedly hanged on.We are well aware the CEO with the aid of an invisible hand is maneuvering to backdate Mrs Mkavea’s contract renewal in order to escape from the restrictions of an executive order President Lazarus Chakwera gave on Tuesday, 31st March 2022 that effectively bans any contract renewals for senior management staff in all parastatals and MDAs save for special clearances.”
Alinafe Mkavea, MERA staff wants her contract not renewed
On Mrs Mkavea the concerned members says She has been hanging on that position even though a MERA staff appointment and disciplinary committee on 5th July, 2021 recommended her firing after she was found guilty on five charges relating to conflict of interest, putting the reputation of the organization into disrepute and insubordination following a series of repetitive acts of misconduct.
The members of staff are appalled by this deliberate ploy to avert justice first by shielding Mrs Mkavea from facing the consequences of her actions through pushing of the disciplinary report under carpet and secondly giving her another contract despite doing so being against the presidential executive order.
To paint a clear picture of her case; Mrs Mkavea was found guilty of breaching section 17 of the Energy Regulation Act of 2004 which bars MERA board members and employees from operating filling stations, the Director of Fuels was found by the committee to have lied to the investigating team that she had zero interest in Wenela Puma filling station when confronted on 8th May 2019, whereas the investigation revealed that she still was running the business up until September 2020 and beyond.On 19th March 2019, the then MERA CEO communicated to Mrs Mkavea, the Mera board position and direction that as a condition to the renewal of her contract which has just expired she and her family had to surrender the running of the filling station as it was standing in conflict with MERA’s policies as a regulator in the same industry she was running business.
Alinafe Mkavea was also found on the wrong for disrespect of authority when she petitioned former President Peter Mutharika, Vice President, Energy minister, Gender minister among other offices claiming that she was being harassed by her superiors on a matter that had already been put to her as conflict of interest which was in conflict with policies and laws guiding the organization.
In mitigation to the disciplinary team Mrs Mkavea had apologized as a sign of remorse for her activities which was treated as an admission of guilt from which a guilty on all counts verdict was derived on that attracted the recommendation of dismissal basing on her record of past misconduct.
However, to everybody’s amazement Mrs Mkavea was never fired nor did she face any disciplinary measures following the report. It baffles us to realise that there are machinations being worked on to renew her contract with the background we have provided and notwithstanding the president’s executive order.In all fairness Mrs Mkavea should not have been on MERA’s payroll up to this day if there was level headedness in the top management especially the CEO and at board level.We are even more concerned that our CEO Mr Kachaje has joined the bandwagon of shielding Mrs Mkavea whose handlers at the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) included the former Secretary to the President and Cabinet.
The concerned members claims that the two are suspected to be in a love relationship.”Everyone can only speculate as to what interest has Mr Kachaje in trying to push for the renewal of Mrs Mkavea’s contract, a person who has only done better in injuring MERA’s corporate image by wantonly disregarding laid down protocols of the organization” read the letter
The concerned members have set a string of demands that they want to be actioned. They are calling upon the senior management at MERA to follow the law and respect the president’s order by not renewing Mrs Mkavea’s contract based on the findings of the disciplinary committee whose report is in our possession. Furthermore, we beseech the new SPC Ms Coleen Zamba to quickly act on these matters including the outstanding matter of irregular recruitment of MERA CEO who is working illegally and is in front of maladministration at the state corporation.
They are threatening that Failure to adhere the demands will lead to
-Blocking of Mrs Mkavea from working at MERA premises
-They will leak the report that faulted Mrs Mkavea on her disciplinary issues
– They will Formally petition the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on the matter Commence industrial action until sanity prevails
Mera CEO Henry Kachaje has not yet responded to the staff concerns and Makvea refused to comment on the matter
President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has reaffirmed his commitment towards fighting Covid-19 pandemic.
Writing on his Facebook page after hosting the Coordinator of Global of Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership Ted Chaiban on Thursday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, President Chakwera said his interface with different partners demonstrates his unwavering commitment in fighting the pandemic.
“I pledge our commitment towards the fight against the novel pandemic and interfacing with key personnel like Mr. Chaliban further emboldens our resolve on this path,” said President Chakwera.
He said Malawi is on course of rolling out necessary programs across the country that will ensure the impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods is mitigated.
President Chakwera and Ted Chaiban
“Despite the low uptake of the vaccine, we still have remained on course in rolling out necessary programs across the country to ensure that that the we fully mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods.”
The Malawi leader expressed his optimism that Chaiban’s visit will go a long way in accelerating the vaccination and mobilise more resources to curb the pandemic.
Statistics from the World Health Organization indicate that Malawi is among the least Covid-19 vaccination countries with 1.1 million people from a population currently projected around at 19 million.
The High Court sitting in Blantyre has ordered an immediate release of Clifford Khomba, a man who is suspected of hitting four traffic officers in Blantyre after a misunderstanding over an alleged road traffic offence.
In a court document 247 Malawi News has seen, the High Court through Justice Chima is requesting Blantyre Police station where Khomba is being held to release him immediately.
Clifford Khomba
” You are required to release the said Clifford Khomba from your custody unless he is being held for any other lawful reason,” reads the documents in part.
Khomba suffered a swollen jaw which his wife, relatives and lawyer claim affected his ability to eat.
He hails from Zangwangwa Village Traditional Authority( TA) Kapeni in Blantyre.
