Hon. Eisenhower Mkaka M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the virtual extraordinary session of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) on Tuesday, 28 July, 2020 from 20:00hrs to 23:00hrs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This Extraordinary Session was convened due to the absence of the 111th Regular Session, which was postponed due to the COVID -19 pandemic.
The session deliberated on reports presented to the Council of Ministers by the Secretary General, and the Committee of Ambassadors. The Committee of Ambassadors also outlined activities undertaken since the 110th Session, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 6th to 8th December, 2019.
The OACPS is a body which until December, 2019 was known as the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group and is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states, of which 48 countries are from Sub- Saharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific.
Hon MKaka
The OACPS is an important grouping to Malawi as it ensures sustainable development and poverty reduction of its member states.–ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has transferred Nkhotakota District Commissioner (DC), Dr. Medson Matchaya to Thyolo in a bid to resolve disagreements between the Council and its direct employees over wage arrears.
Both Matchaya and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Public Relations Officer (PRO), Muhlabase Mughogho have confirmed the development in separate interviews with Malawi News Agency (MANA).
According to Mughogho, Matchaya and others officers postings, which she described as normal, will see Thyolo DC, Justine Kathumba moving to Neno to replace Blessings Nkhoma who will be heading to Nkhotakota to replace Matchaya.
On Wednesday, last week, over 40 council direct employees in Nkhotakota downed tools to force Council pay wage arrears and demanded the transfer of the DC on allegations of maladministration and mistreatment of officers.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Charles Kalemba, in a fact finding mission, met different concerned groups in a bid to end the impasse.
Kalemba, accompanied by five other officials took turns to meet traditional and political leadership in the district, council secretariat, concerned junior employees, and those under fire including the DC.
Dr Medson Matchaya
But in an interview on Friday, Local Government PS denied sending Matchaya on forced leave saying he only invited him to the head office for some administrative arrangement.
However, Nkhotakota District Council Chairperson Sam Chunga maintained Matchaya and other officers at the council were sent on leave.
According to Chunga, the others are Procurement Officer Aaron Kamowa, Human Resource Manager Isabel Chakhame, and Internal Auditor Peterkins Mtawali.
“As far as I know, that was the resolution after all the meetings, I cannot lie to you about what was resolved” said Chunga.
Sources confided to MANA that during the meeting, Council Directors and Sector Heads complained to the PS about maladministration and poor leadership style by Matchaya.
But in an earlier interview on Thursday before the meeting, Matchaya downplayed the accusations from the demonstrating direct employees as mere frustrations.
“The issue is not about incompetence or maladministration, they are just not happy with the changes I had brought at the council to bring sanity in how we do business” he was quoted as saying.
Speaking in an interview, leader of the protesting workers, Master Phiri expressed happiness at the resolutions and hoped for the better at the council.
“We are happy with the resolutions, Council has been ordered to pay us and we will get our wages by August 15” he said.
According to Phiri, the arrears will cost Council about K29 million.
Meanwhile all the striking junior workers had resumed their work on Friday
A Blantyre-based urban up and coming hip-up gospel musician, Metronomme, whose real name is Precious Chimbudzi is set to drop an album titled ‘Alone’ on August 15, 2020.
Metronomme disclosed of the development on Monday saying he decided to come up with the album after seeing how people are doing nowadays underrating God’s power.
He said the album will show people more about God’s glory, power and love.
“This album has been composed to help people understand the attributes of God, the coming of Jesus Christ and at the same time giving hope to the hopeless,” Chimbudzi said. The Artist said that, sometimes people do wrong things out of ignorance, hopelessness and lack of guidance.
Metronomme, whose real name is Precious Chimbudzi
He, therefore, said the album will encourage people of all ages that there is God to change their situations.
He says fans should expect good message from the album which will change their lives for the better and it will wipe away their tears and bring back the lost hope.
The album which has featured some well known artist such as Bucci and Josh Ali is meant for each and everyone whether born again or not, unbelievers and those who are going through depression.
He pointed out that every individual has his own weaknesses and shortcomings therefore the album is dedicated to such people so that they may be relieved and comforted by the power of God.
The ‘Alone’ hit maker who ventured into music in 2017 and joined a movement called ‘Let Us Preach’ said he put more effort and come out with an Extended play (EP) titled ‘Rebirth’ which helped him be known in the music industry.
Produced by Stich Fray, DJ Zack, YT, Mascran Records and Ennon C, the album will be available on Mikozi Network, Nyasa Music, Malawi music.com among others. Some of the songs in the album are, Lonely Moments, My Destination, Only Hope, Can You Feel It, Martha, Confession and Hero and among others.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has donated medical materials to help Malawi in the fight against Covid-19.
The donation which has been made possible by the First lady of the People’s Republic of China consists of thermometers and face masks.
First lady of the Republic of Malawi Madame Monica Chakwera received the donation on Tuesday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
First Lady Monica Chakwera receives the donation from ChineseAmbassador Liu Hongyang
In her remarks after she received the donation, Madame Chakwera was grateful to her Chinese counterpart for the gesture which she said will go a long way in the fight against the pandemic.
She said the donation, which is targeting mothers, youths and health workers, has come at a right time when Malawi is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
She, therefore, appealed to the beneficiaries to use the materials for its intended purpose if the fight against the pandemic is to materialise.
PRC Ambassador to Malawi Liu Hongyang said China he has been closely watching Covid-19 situation in Malawi hence the donation.
“We have been observing the situation in Malawi and decided to team up in the fight against the pandemic by donating the materials which will help mothers and youths play a role in the fight against the pandemic,” he said.
He said his government is considering more donation to Malawi Government to accelerate the fight against the pandemic.
Among others, Ambassador Liu said PRC is bringing to Malawi a team of medical experts that would team up with their Malawian counterparts to advance the fight against the pandemic.
Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda hailed the donation saying it is key in Covid-19 fight and has come at a right time when such materials are wanted. “First stage in Covid-19 testing is screening hence the thermometers will go a long way in ensuring that screening is done at all levels whereas face masks are needed for prevention,” she said.
She, then, welcomed the consideration of bringing in medical experts saying it is important that much as the country may have equipment but personnel to impart knowledge to health workers in very important.
Earlier this year PRC announced of donating personal protective equipment to Kamuzu Central, Queen Elizabeth and Mzuzu Central Hospitals.
Integrated mobile network and ICT services provider TNM Plc, has partnered with KaiOS Technology to launch the most affordable 4G enabled smartphone in Malawi.
Priced at K24 999 the TNM Smart 4G will come with a value back offer of K28 000 worth of bonuses in six months comprising 500MBs, 150SMSs and free Caller Tune every month making it the most affordable 4G device in the history of mobile internet in Malawi.
The phone will offer customers access to essential and popular apps such as WhatsApp, Google Assistant, Google Maps, YouTube, Facebook, and many other applications unique to kaiOS, the Smart 4G allows users to benefit from high-speed internet and valuable content at their fingertips.
TNM Plc Chief Executive Officer Michiel Buitelaar said the low-priced device has been designed to suit the communication needs of people in rural areas where research has shown that affordability and inadequate digital literacy pose barriers to accessing essential mobile internet services.
Kazako showing the newly launched smartphone
“The introduction of affordable smart feature phones is part of our ongoing programme to provide more people with access to the internet and content that is genuinely useful. These devices will help our people to increase their knowledge both during the COVID-19 crisis and for years to come. This in turn will help our country’s future economic prosperity,” he said.
The CEO said the 4G phone will help in the dissemination of timely and accurate information on COVID-19 at a time when cases are escalating and the United Nations has warned of disastrous effects on the least developed countries, which include Malawi.
To address low digital literacy issues, Buitelaar said the KaiOS phone comes with an easy-to-use interface, an in-house app called Life; which facilitates digital skills training and educational content. As well as access to Google Assistant that allows first-time internet users to use voice to easily navigate and connect with the digital world.
“Smart 4G runs on a Mediatek MT6731 chipset, enabling 4G connectivity and other smartphone-like features such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. It has a 2.4” display, 4GB of storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD) and boasts a powerful battery which enables extended 8 hours of talk time,” he said.
Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, said as the first company to make KaiOS smart feature phones available in Malawi, the launch cements TNM’s reputation as a pioneer in offering new services that help improve the lives of the country’s people and increases economic prosperity.
“We will work with TNM to ensure that our devices carry content that is relevant and useful to the people of Malawi,” he said.
For his part, Information Minister Gospel Kazako commended TNM Plc for taking the step to introduce an Ultra-Low-Cost Smartphone which he said that will in the long-term help make mobile Internet affordable in Malawi.
“The quest by TNM Plc to make mobile internet affordable could not have come at any better time. They have taken a long view by investing significantly in a 4G mobile internet network that has transformed the TNM network into one of the most reliable Internet service providers in Malawi,” he said.
