By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

The government of Malawi under the administration of president Lazarus Chakwera has repeated that it is so committed to rollout several developmental projects in the northern part of the country so that it is changed into its deservedly outlook. The reaffirmation has been made during the 10th Weekly brief from the state residences which took place at Mzuzu State Lodge on Monday morning, Addressing media, the presidential press secretary Mr. Brian Banda told the nation that president Lazarus Chakwera has the lives of all Malawians at his heart regardless of where they are coming from, but all what is needed is for Malawians to be hold their patience.

On the ongoing AIP, the presidential press secretary said the program has been smoothly running despite in some isolated cases where some vendors are trying to abuse the program and network problem in other areas. But he assured the people that the president is serious about the program and will not tolerate this, hence ordering the ministry of Homeland security to deal with any kind of abuse to the program. On connectivity issue, Brian Banda has said the president has ordered that the network problem must be dealt with immediately, once and for all as it is a big project that is targeting over 16 million people of 4.3 households from previous 900,000 people and if abused or meets some problems it can affect a huge number of beneficiaries.

Mr. Banda took advantage also to reveal that president Chakwera plans to build a mini Capital Hill in the Northern region so that the president and his ministers can find time to work in the region. He further mentioned a number of projects that Chakwera administration intends to roll out in the region like building a brand new campus for the Mzuzu University to increase intake, Inkosi Mbelwa University to replace the failed Mombera University, linkage between areas like Chintheche, Nkhata-Bay Boma, Likoma as well as Nyika plateau, a beautiful big Jetty at Nkhata-Bay and railway from Salima to Mbeya. He also told the nation that the president is so committed to finish all important projects which were rolled by his predecessors once funds are available as they belong to Malawians. Mr Banda added that president Chakwera will construct an international airport in Mzuzu and be named after Orton Chirwa as well as turning Nkhata-Bay district into a municipality among others. But Mr. Brian Banda was quick to appeal for calm among Malawians as he said all these developements won’t happen in a day, a month or a year.

The presidential press Secretary has also assured the nation that the M1 road is on the priority list of president Chakwera and that the process of getting funds for the project is underway, adding that even within the city of Lilongwe many new roads will be constructed to ease congestion at all times, saying all what is needed is to give president Chakwera and his administration ample time of sourcing funds for these projects as the projects are aligned within short term, medium and long term plans in the quest to uplift the lives of Malawians.

On the much debated bilateral relationship that Malawi intends to establish its office in Jerusalem, Banda denied to comment on it, saying the meeting between the state president and an envoy from Palestine was held in a closed door.

Meanwhile Mr. Brian Banda has assured the nation that the issue to do with the publicizing the Tonse alliance agreement will be addressed by partners soon.

Before Mr. Brian Banda took answers from media, the executive assistant and director of communications Mr. Sean Kampondeni clarified on a number of issues of public interest including that of letters of appointment to 2 DPP MEC commissioners who were found to be incompetent by courts of law. He also outlined several activities that the president has done in the week including a visit of a young girl admitted at Mzuzu Central Hospital who is among 119 defilement cases attended by the Mzuzu Central Hospital and intends to do in the near future.

Weekly brief from the state house aims at letting the Malawians know what president Chakwera has done in the week or has put forward to do in the following week.

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

His Excellency the state president of the republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who is also the commander in chief of the Malawi defence force on Sunday morning attended the memorial service of the soldiers who fought in the first and second world wars in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 respectively.

During the service which took place at Mzuzu Upper Stadium, president Chakwera led the nation in remembering the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty to save their countrymen by laying a wreath on a memorial pillar. Also laying their wreaths were the war veteran who fought in the two wars and still lives Warrant class 2 Frank Masiyano who represented the X-soldiers and warrant class 2 Jimmy Ninde who laid the wreath on behalf of the current serving soldiers.

It is reported that during the second world war around 1940s, Nyasaland soldiers popularly known as asilikali a keyala fought on the side of Britain against Italian troops at Moyali in Kenya , a name that end up earning Moyale barracks in Mzuzu. It is believed that during these wars 10 million soldiers died and over 20 million others got wounded.

Malawian soldiers also fought in the wars of Nacara corridor and in Rwanda and are currently providing services in countries like Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).

The remembrance ceremony which is an annual event is characterised by prayers from different denominations, military parade, gun salute, and laying of wreaths. In Mzuzu the ceremony was also attended by the speaker of the national assembly Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara, Chief Justice Nyirenda, deputy minister of defence Hon. Jean Sendeza and the leader of opposition Hon. Kondwani Nankhumwa among others. Apart from Mzuzu the similar ceremonies have taken place in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba where the state presdent Dr. Lazarus Chakwera was represented.