At least three human trafficking cases have been registered in Mchinji in the past three days. From the three cases, 11 victims have been rescued from being trafficked to the neighbouring countries of Mozambique and Zambia.
Confirming the development District Coordinator for Community Policing, Inspector Rome Chauluka, said police in the district have managed to arrest four suspects. Chauluka said the first case involves two suspects Elias Kachaje and Ishmael Patrick, both from Traditional Authority (TA) Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe.
Some of the rescued victims
The two were arrested on Friday at Namizana Border post as they were trying to traffic a family into Mozambique to work in tobacco estates.
“The first suspect in this case, Elias Kachaje, is a Malawian national based in Mozambique. He came back in Malawi to recruit people to work in tobacco farms in Mozambique,” he said.
The coordinator said the second case was registered on Saturday at Mchinji boma. It involved a 24 year old man, Misheck Steven, who allegedly recruited four men from the area of TA Masumbankhunda.
The suspect was later arrested after the Police in the district got a tip-off from well-wishers.
“The third cases involves Evace Frank of Mlambudzi village TA Mduwa in Mchinji. The suspect recruited four people. He was arrested on Sunday at Mkanda in Mchinji,” said Chauluka.
In a separate interview with one of the rescued victims rescued said he was approached by his friend who asked him to go with him (the suspect) to work in tobacco farms in Zambia.
“I was told that there is money in Zambia and that if I go there I am going to get rich,” he said. On Monday, 10 people including five children, were intercepted on their way to Zambia where they were meant to work in tobacco estates.
According to police report, Mchinji has since July recorded 15 human trafficking cases involving 72 people including wome and children.
Malawian nurses living and working in the United Kingdom (UK) have formed as association which will facilitate sourcing of medical equipment, training nursing personnel to provide advanced treatments and facilitate exchange programmes among other issues.
Malawi UK Nurses Association (MUNA) Interim President Charity Gladstone said in an interview yesterday that the nurses acknowledge that their emigration to the UK created a ‘brain drain’ in the country and it is time to give back to mother Malawi.
“Following acknowledgement that our emigration created a brain drain in Malawi, it is our wish to give back to mother Malawi. This cannot be fulfilled financially but can be achievable through utilization of the vast collective experience and skills of nurses in diaspora. We would therefore like to engage and demonstrate this in real practical terms,” said Gladstone.
Charity Gladstone
She said MUNA members are specialized and experienced in different fields and would like to harness the expertise and be involved in education and training in specialist areas such renal, critical care, oncology and others.
The association was founded in June 2020 and will be virtually launched in October 2020, according to Gladstone.
She said MUNA interim executive members had a virtual meeting with Malawi’s Deputy High Commissioner in the UK Quent Kalichero last week to present their objectives.
Among those that attended the meeting include Gladstone as Interim President, Patrick Vundule Interim Vice President and Trustees Dr. Emma Malewezi, Joyce Mbwana, Charlotte Kamundi, Lusekelo Chirwa and Brenda Malinki.
“We appreciate that our health system is on its knees. Two former heads of state died in a foreign land. If the head of state cannot be nursed in Malawi what does that say about the health system? A large percentage of Malawians cannot afford to go abroad for treatment and the majority of people are lacking basic health care.”
“It is our wish amongst other things to help facilitate sourcing of medical equipment, training nursing personnel to provide advanced treatments, sponsor students, facilitate exchange programmes and also encourage governance in hospitals. Our team has Matrons, academics, managers, most importantly committed nurses,” explained Gladstone.
Malawi UK Nurses Association (MUNA) Interim President Charity Gladstone said in an interview yesterday that the nurses acknowledge that their emigration to the UK created a ‘brain drain’ in the country and it is time to give back to mother Malawi.
“Following acknowledgement that our emigration created a brain drain in Malawi, it is our wish to give back to mother Malawi. This cannot be fulfilled financially but can be achievable through utilization of the vast collective experience and skills of nurses in diaspora. We would therefore like to engage and demonstrate this in real practical terms,” said Gladstone.
She said MUNA members are specialized and experienced in different fields and would like to harness the expertise and be involved in education and training in specialist areas such renal, critical care, oncology and others.
The association was founded in June 2020 and will be virtually launched in October 2020, according to Gladstone.
She said MUNA interim executive members had a virtual meeting with Malawi’s Deputy High Commissioner in the UK Quent Kalichero last week to present their objectives.
Among those that attended the meeting include Gladstone as Interim President, Patrick Vundule Interim Vice President and Trustees Dr. Emma Malewezi, Joyce Mbwana, Charlotte Kamundi, Lusekelo Chirwa and Brenda Malinki.
“We appreciate that our health system is on its knees. Two former heads of state died in a foreign land. If the head of state cannot be nursed in Malawi what does that say about the health system? A large percentage of Malawians cannot afford to go abroad for treatment and the majority of people are lacking basic health care.”
“It is our wish amongst other things to help facilitate sourcing of medical equipment, training nursing personnel to provide advanced treatments, sponsor students, facilitate exchange programmes and also encourage governance in hospitals. Our team has Matrons, academics, managers, most importantly committed nurses,” explained Gladstone.
She also said MUNA aspires to participate in publicising and protecting Malawi’s heritage by promoting tourism in Malawi and offer evidence-based advice and signpost stakeholders to the relevant health system agencies in matters related to Malawi.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson Joshua Malango welcomed the formation of the association saying there a lot of challenges facing the health sector.
“If we have people who would like to mitigate the challenges that we are facing in the health sector, it is a welcome development. We are ready to guide them where there is urgent need. We applaud their efforts and we hope others will emulate the good example set by these nurses in the UK,” said Malango.
Peoples Party of the former President Dr Joyce Banda has issued a statement where it is refuting the ongoing social media rumours that the party is disbanding with all its members joining Malawi Congress Party
In a stattement from the partys publicicty secretary Hon Ackson Kalaile Banda it says
“Peoples Party has learnt of rumours making rounds that there are plans to merge with its alliance partner Malawi Congress Party to create a single political bloc.At no time has the issue of a merger between the two parties been discussed at any of the party’s levels of decision and policymaking right from grassroots to national executive committee”.
Dr Joyce Banda , Peoples Party President
The statement went further to say “As things stand, Peoples Party will continue to enjoy its cordial working relationship with MCP as a stand-alone political formation.Both, MCP and PP plus the other seven parties remain focused to ensuring that the Tonse administration under Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and Dr. Saulos Chilima delivers meaningful and sustainable development to Malawians as per our campaign promises.
All matters that affect the structure and/or restructuring of the party remain a responsibility of its membership across the nation through rightful consensus according to the law. Furthermore, decisions made from such consensus will only be communicated through party sanctioned channels i.e. Publicity department.We hereby discourage rumour mongering among our supporters and all Malawians in these very important matters”
The wife to Vice President Madam Mary Chilima on monday donated over 7000 face masks to the Ministry of Education.
The PPEs will go to special needs learners from selected 18 Primary schools and six Secondary Schools.
Making the symbolic presentation of the donation at the Vice President’s private residence in Area 43, Madam Chilima said as schools reopens the need to protect learners from Covid-19 is of paramount.
Mary Chilima making a donation
Madam Chilima said that her donation which she described as not enough will go to special needs learners considering their vunerability.
Madam Mary Chilima called upon well-wishers to donate various PPEs to schools as a way of contributing towards a successful reopening of schools amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recieving the donation on behalf of her Ministry and beneficiary schools, Minister of Education Hon Agness NyaLonje said the donation was timely as the Ministry seeks to ensure that teachers and learners are protected from Covid-19.
NyaLonje said the Ministry is working hard to ensure that all schools are safe and learners and teachers are protected.
The National Director of Strategic planning for the ruling Malawi Congress Party Dr Kenneth Zikhale Reeves Ng’oma is quickly cementing his reputation as a development man of the people as he continues to give a helping hand to his constituency with resources to alleviate the many problems his area was facing. On Saturday, the Nkhatabay South legislator rounded the whole constituency and delivered needful materials.
Dr Kenneth Zikhale Ngoma first stop was at Kande healthy centre where he delivered 10 bags of cement. The health centre has been acute shortage of latrines that has made patients and people in surrounding use nearby bushes to help themselves which has promoted waterborne diseases. Dr Zikhale decided to build 8 toilets to support the community and health centre.
Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma donating items to his constituents
The area’s Senior chief Fukamapiri has been appreciative of the donation and did not hide his excitement when he said “Since 1964 we have been deprived of toilets and first time for someone in Hon Zikhale position to provide us the solution to the problem. I and my people in my community we are so grateful and commend the good work Honourable Zikhale Ng’oma is doing in my area”.
He went further to say “Another thing which has pleased me and my people is the water project. There is scarcity of water in this area and this man is able to identify and find the solution to the problem. We are happy with this current leadership of His excellence Dr Lazarus Chakwera”.
Hon Zikhale then went to Tukombo area where he has delivered complete borehole system awaiting drilling and supplied materials meant for building 8 toilets at the market to minimize the pressure that has eliminated in the area because of lack of toilets in the market which is congested with people from various districts who come for fishing and buying fish. TA Zilakoma lamented that he could have danced in appreciation if his health was well and admitted that the pressure for the toilets is indeed high and has great impact on the environment and water pollution.
Hon Zikhale next stop was Mughogho area where he made an initiative to build under 5 clinic with his personal funds and the area. The area is situated at hilly area which is impassable. People there depend on farming but are disconnected for major market because of road. In this area he has supplied the following Iron sheets, cements, nails roofing and wire nails, paints timbers and other building materials. This gesture was well appreciated by Group Village Headman Chikuni who claimed that since independence there have not had a Member of Parliament as development conscious as Hon Zikhale.
Speaking to 247Malawi, Honourable Ken Zikhale Ngoma said he is there to serve the people of Nkhatabay who gave him the mandate to represent them in parliament “The community should be empowered to be able to use the proceeds for other development without involving the government, thats what I am doing , empowering the communities. I am also thankful to Dr Lazarus Chakwera for the wonderful leadership that is giving hope to the people of Nkhatabay that now we have a president who will take care of their problems”
The honourable MP then went to Kalowa area where, apart from the supply the maizemill, he has given them 20 bags of cement to help them commission the maizemill. He then went to Mfundi at GVH Nkhoma where he has built Under 5 clinic with his personal funds because of the distance to nearest health center which is Liuzi. In this area the following materials were supplied: 50 bags of cement, 90 pieces of timbers, 4 bags of lime, 4 door frame 5 Window frames, paints ,glasses and iron sheets
