Written by  Bishop Witmos

Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) has expressed concern over continued misunderstandings between Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ward Councillors in some areas across the country over the management of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Speaking Wednesday in Chitipa during the training of Area Development Committee (ADC) members for Ulambya-Kaseghe and Ulambya-Songwe on their roles in the management of CDF, Director for MHRRC, Emma Kaliya said the development is affecting projects due to lack of coordination between the two duty bearers.

Kaliya, therefore, urged local governance structures at all levels to be vigilant in following up CDF funded projects that are taking place in their areas to ensure funds are used prudently.

“Since we brought in councillors in government system, MPs seem to have taken over the roles of councilors and as a result, there are always conflicts between the two parties.

“As such, it is our expectation that if the ADCs and Village Development Committees (VDCs) play a watchdog role by following up on projects that are taking shape in their areas, things can improve,” said Kaliya.

In his remarks, Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Chitipa District Council, McMillan Magomero commended MHRRC for the training, describing it as a timely initiative as the council did not have resources for such trainings. 

He, therefore, advised members of the ADCs to be apolitical when performing their duties.

Magomero added that ADCs are not political grounds but are local government structures that were formed for smooth implementation of local developments.

During the last budget sitting of Parliament, government increased allocation for CDF from K30 million to K40 million per Constituency.

MHRRC is building capacity for all ADCs in Chitipa, especially on budget tracking as well as on gender mainstreaming with funding from Local Government Accountability and Performance (LGAP).

Written by  Golden Kang’oma Junior

The country’s Vice-President, Dr. Saulos Chilima says China-Africa Textile Company in Salima has potential to create job opportunities and improve forex earnings for Malawi. The Vice-President made the remarks on Thursday in Salima during his tour to the cotton factory’s mill.

He said the company was an asset as it would increase the country’s exports through its production. “This project is in line with the President’s vision of creating one million jobs. It will enhance development as well as job creation.

“It is also creating an opportunity for us to export more goods and have more forex which will help the country to reduce its spending on foreign goods,” he said.

Chilima further said government is ready to provide all the necessary support to the China –Africa Textile Company so that it boosts its capacity.

“Cotton is one strategic crop that must be promoted. As I have repeatedly said elsewhere, the cotton industry could be the country’s game changer to take over from tobacco in the wake of anti-smoking lobbies and become the country’s green gold,” said Chilima.

In his sentiments, Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, His Excellency Liu Hongyang said his country has great confidence Malawi will soon be on the right track of fast development, which will also help improve the livelihoods of Malawians.

“We are hoping that China-Malawi relations to be based on market, investment and trade.
“So besides assistance, China focuses on helping Malawi to realise independent development through investment, trade and market,” said Hongyang.

The Chinese Envoy to Malawi added that China’s commitment to Malawi’s development will never change, saying they would encourage more Chinese companies to seek business opportunities and push for increase in trade between the two countries.

Once fully operational, the cotton mill company will provide 1,500 jobs for local people and generate 35 million US Dollars of foreign exchange for Malawi annually.

The High Court in Lilongwe has ordered former Malawi Police Service acting Inspector General Duncan Mwapasa to pay businessman Matias Bonongwe about K40 million for instructing another businessperson, Yowasi Subster Valley, to seize seven vehicles from Bonongwe in March this year.

The High Court entered a default judgement on October 29, following failure by Mwapasa, who was the second defendant in the case, to defend himself in the matter.

But in an interview Wednesday, Mwapasa said he was not aware of the matter and the default judgement entered.

“Upon hearing counsel for claimant and upon reading the sworn statements in support of the judgement in default and upon being satisfied that the second defendant was duly served with the summons but did not show any intention to defend the claimant’s claim herein within the prescribed period, it is hereby ordered and directed that the judgement in default be and is hereby entered for the claimant…

“…second defendant is hereby ordered to pay the claimant the following as pleaded the sum of K40, 000,000 being the value of the motor vehicles impounded by the second defendant or the release of the motor vehicles, damages for loss of use of motor vehicles, damages for loss of business, damages for inconvenience and costs of this action,” reads part of the default judgement.

Lawyer for Bonongwe, Geoffrey Taumbe, Wednesday said Mwapasa acted in his personal capacity by instructing Valley to forcefully seize Bonongwe’s vehicles.

Mwapasa was appointed Inspector General of Police by former president Peter Mutharika in August last year, taking over from the then IG Rodney Jose, but was not confirmed by the Parliament.

When the Tonse Government came to power, President Lazarus Chakwera replaced Mwapasa with George Kainja.