Just days after it was confirmed that Brian Banda has lost his role as State House Press Secretary to Anthony Kasunda, the former TV host who has recently just returned from studies in China organised a football bonanza in Blantyre.
The football bonanza that was organised to coincide with Christmas celebrations saw the climax of it on Christmas day when Chileka Stars emerged winners after defeating Be Part FC by three goals to two.
After completing six months of further studies at Peking University in China, Presidential Press Officer Brian Banda come back to be welcomed with news that he will no longer be the main man at the state house. Anthony Kasunda who was drafted in to temporarily hold the role in Banda’s absence has performed so good leaving President Chakwera with no choice but to give him the role permanently.
It is not clear which position Brian Banda will be given since his post is no longer available. It is rumoured that he might be posted to OPC as another role at the state house would come as a demotion since all the high media roles are already covered
Just a few days after UK lifted its ban on some African Countries, a move that has been followed by USA, Iran has decided to do the opposite and announce that it is banning people from 12 African and European Countries from entering the country due to the surge in Omnicron Virus
Iran Interior Ministry, in line with instruction from the National Taskforce For Fighting Coronavirs has announced that they will block the direct and indirect entry of passengers from eight African countries, including Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa, and four European countries including the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Denmark, Ali Asghar Shalbafian said.Â
Deputy Minister for Tourism of Iran , Ali Asghar Shalbafian
He further said the ban on travelers from those 12 countries will be in place for 15 days.
The Iranian official also added, “The land and sea borders are closed to tourists for 15 days according to the decision of the National Taskforce For Fighting Coronavirus.”
According to him, the travelers and passengers from other destinations will be allowed to enter on condition that they present a certificate that they have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine or they have negative PCR test results that have been taken within the past 48 to 72 hours.
He further pointed out that travelers who seek to enter Iran via air must pay for a new PCR test at the airports.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu changed the world, the former Malawi President Dr Joyce Banda has said following thedeath of the Nobel Peace prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa.
In a message posted on her official Facebook Page, Dr Joyce Banda expressed her sadness at the loss of Tutu whom she described as a distinguished son “Today the 26th of December, 2021, South Africa, the continent and the entire world has lost a distinguished son. A Man of God and a gallant fighter for Human Rights”. said Banda
She went further to say “In September of 2014, I was invited by the Starky Hearing Foundation based in Minnesota, USA to speak at their Annual Conference on Disability Matters particularly the Deaf. I was privileged to have a meeting with him at the Starky Hearing Foundation over lunch. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and myself were speakers. He was a man gifted with great wisdom. I will never forget how a single meeting over lunch impacted me forever”.
Dr Joyce Banda and the late Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Tutu was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end apartheid, the policy that saw racial segregation and discrimination against the black majority in South Africa by the white minority government.
He was credited with coming up with the term Rainbow Nation to describe the ethnic mix of post-apartheid South Africa, but in his latter years he expressed regret that the nation had not come together as he had hoped.
Many South Africans today will remember Tutu’s personal courage, and the clarity of his moral fury. But as those who knew him best have so often reminded us, Tutu was always, emphatically, the voice of hope. And it is that hope, that optimism, accompanied, so often, by his trademark giggles and cackles, that seems likely to shape the way the world remembers, and celebrates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Ordained as a priest in 1960, Tutu went on to serve as bishop of Lesotho from 1976-78, assistant bishop of Johannesburg and rector of a parish in Soweto. He became Bishop of Johannesburg in 1985, and was appointed the first black Archbishop of Cape Town the following year. He used his high-profile role to speak out against oppression of black people in his home country, always saying his motives were religious and not political.
After Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994, Tutu was appointed by him to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to investigate crimes committed by both whites and blacks during the apartheid era.
He was also credited with coining the term Rainbow Nation to describe the ethnic mix of post-apartheid South Africa, but in his latter years he expressed regret that the nation had not coalesced in the way in which he had dreamt.
As part of Christmas celebration, a non-governmental organization(NGO) in Chikwawa, Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation on Saturday donated clothes to 200 people who are battling with epilepsy in Chikwawa district.
Speaking when making the donation at the organization’s promises, the organisation’s founder and Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) Chifundo Petro said as an organization that promotes good health for people battling with epilepsy in the country,they found it very important to celebrate christmas day together with the patients by donating something to them.
He said, they had a campaign towards the move, where well-wishers were asked to donate clothes so as to be given to the patients. ” As an organization that supports good health for people battling with epilepsy in Malawi, we found it very important to donate something to them so as part of celebrating christmas together. This is our christmas gift to them. We wish Merry Christmas and happy new year to families, guardians, and persons who are battling with epilepsy and that people should have positive perception towards people with this condition and celebrate with them,” said Petro.
He appreciated all well-wishers who made their donations of clothes and shoes towards the move. ” I am appreciating those who have made donation of clothes and shoes towards the move, you are the part of our smile. This will help our students with epilepsy to wear when at school. We would like to thank Patience Mbamba Mulei, a Malawian based in USA for always supporting our epilepsy centre in Malawi,” he said.
Petro said epilepsy being invisible disability, it is not well understood by many people. He said are a lot of prejudices, negative attitudes and perceptions against people with epilepsy in communities. ” Epilepsy is treatable disease. Let us join hands in supporting good health of people living with epilepsy. It is a serious condition that requires more attention. We would like to appreciate Ministry of Health for their support to us through through Chikwawa District Health Office,” he said.
In her remarks, Director of Mwayi Trust Foundation Sandra Trevethen appreciated Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation for the support towards people living with Epilepsy in the country. She urged people the youths with epilepsy not to look down themselves, saying they should continue taking the medications and become reliable citizens to their families, communities, and the nation at large. She donated K30,000 to the foundation meant for clinic actives. ” This is a very good move. We are very glad that Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation is supporting good health of people living with epilepsy. We here to support them too, ” said Trevethen. Chifundo Epilepsy Awareness Foundation is located at Misewu folo in the area of Senior Chief Ngabu in Chikwawa. The initiative dedicates towards the fight against epilepsy in the communities.
So far,the initiative has partnered with several local primary schools, high schools, higher learning institutions and churches in order to provide accurate information about epilepsy as well as empowering people with epilepsy on mental health issues. The initiative also conducts mentorship programmes on dangers of drug and substance abuse, peer pressure and healthy life choices among school going children, where more than 200 students in Chikwawa have been reached. In Chikwawa district about 250 people are living with epilepsy.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Christmas Day hosted children from Good Samaritan Children Home to a special luncheon at Chikoko Bay State Lodge in Mangochi.
In his address to the children, the President called on the children to live their dreams saying they (children) have potential to become productive citizens.
The president also commended Good Samaritan Children Home for providing care, education and protection to the children that include those with albinism.
Also present at the event were Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati, Vice President of Association of People with Albinism (APAM), Emmie Chiumia Chakwawa.
Good Samaritan Children Home was established by an American in 2002, in Blantyre, to offer accommodation and education to street childen before it started to accommodate children with albinism for education and protection.
