Mutharika has used powers conferred upon him by sec 95 (2) of the constitution of the Republic of Malawi to dissolve his cabinet with effect from today, 13th March 2020.
According to Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara, following the dissolution of the cabinet and until the appointment of a new cabinet, all ministerial powers, functions and responsibilities shall vest in and be exercised by His Excellency the President.
Muhara has asked Malawians to direct all queries or matters requiring the attention of cabinet ministers to the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Mutharika: To announce new cabinet
He has also advised all members of the dissolved cabinet – which had 18 ministers and six deputy ministers – to consult his office for appropriate administrative arrangements.
The dissolution of the cabinet comes weeks after Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) formed an alliance with the United Democratic Front (UDF).
It is expected that Mutharika will include UDF members in the next cabinet which will be appointed months before the fresh presidential elections.
Malawian authorities have mounted a crackdown on dissent ahead of the general election rerun on 19 May by arresting two prominent human rights activists, Amnesty International said today.
Gift Trapence and Reverend McDonald Sembereka, who have been vocal critics of last year’s election, have been in police custody since yesterday after they were arrested in Lilongwe on 8 March for threatening to march to the State House. An arrest warrant has been issued against a third activist, Timothy Mtambo. The activists are linked with a local Non-Governmental Organization, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).
“The arrests of Gift Trapence and Reverend McDonald Sembereka are deeply troubling, coming amidst the highly charged political environment ahead of the election rerun. Many human rights defenders have been subjected to threats, including by President Arthur Mutharika and senior leaders of his party,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.
Trapence arrested. Mtambo – wanted
Malawi authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the detained activists. Deprose Muchena
“Malawi authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the detained activists. The authorities must stop threatening, harassing and intimidating human rights defenders and allow them to freely exercise their rights.”
While Mtambo is yet to be arrested, Trapence and Sembereka were arrested yesterday and are in police custody. The activists have been leading national protests against last year’s election, which was subsequently nullified by the court. The country is now headed for another vote on 19 May, following a court order.
The three men have been targeted for mobilising people to protest against the election. In August 2019, Timothy Mtambo narrowly escaped harm after three petrol bombs were thrown into his compound. One hit and torched his car, while the second was thrown at the gate and the third narrowly missed his house.
“The latest arrests are part of a well-orchestrated campaign aimed at intimidating and harassing activists. It sends the chilling message that they will be punished for exercising their human rights,” said Deprose Muchena.
Background
Last week, the HRDC called on President Mutharika to assent to the new legislation that has been passed in parliament on the conduct of elections due to be held on 19 May, among others. The coalition threatened to march to the State House on 25 March if President Mutharika continued to delay assenting to the law and carrying out the necessary electoral reforms.
At the weekend, President Mutharika warned Mtambo and his leadership team at the HRDC that they would be dealt with if they marched to the State House. The president mentioned Mtambo, Trapence and Sembereka by their names.
The Office of the Inspector General issued a statement earlier today, accusing the three activists of inciting people to break the law by calling on the public to march to the State House during their press conference on 6 March 2020.
Malawi national football team star, Yamikani Chester is set to start a new life with his new team Las Vegas Lights FC in the USL Championship in Nevada, United States.
Chester is not a stranger to the league having played for North Carolina last season on loan.
After the expiry of his one-year agreement, the team did not renew his contract and he opted to join another team.
He has been home for some months waiting for his visa and the new team has announced his arrival through their official social media pages.
“Malawi National Team member, Yamikani Chester is here!!! The “Roadrunner” has arrived in Las Vegas #VivaLights,” reads the post.
The former Be Forward Wanderers winger was signed by MFK Vyškov for three years but loaned out to North Carolina.
On the issue of contract at his former club, Chester’s representative, James Woods-Nkhutabasa told The Daily Times recently: “North Carolina wanted him [to renew the loan deal] but Las Vegas’ offer was better for him in terms of his development and potential advancement to bigger clubs.”
He managed to score six goals for Eastern Conference side North Carolina including one in the cup game. North Carolina finished seventh in their League
Chester is also a regular for the national team and has been earmarked for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as one of the foreign-based players.
Las Vegas Lights joined the USL championship in 2018; finished 15th in their debut season in the Western Conference and improved to a 13th-place finish out of 18 last year.
According to their website and Wikipedia, the USL Championship (USLC), began its inaugural season in 2011 and is the United States Soccer Federation’s Division II Professional League since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer (Division I) in the hierarchy.
The League is divided into the Eastern and Western Conference and the top 10 teams from each compete in the play-offs that determine the national champion.
Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, has welcomed a visiting high-level delegation from Malawi, led by Ralph Pachalo Jooma, Malawi’s Minister of Transport and Public Works, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed strengthening synergies and explored joint efforts to further finance development projects and investment opportunities in Malawi.
Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Deputy Director General of ADFD, and several high-ranking officials from the two sides, also attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Al Suwaidi said, “The visit of the Malawian Minister of Transport and Public Works is an opportunity to consult and enhance future cooperation between the Fund and the Malawian government in financing priority infrastructure projects.”
He added, “ADFD has played a crucial role in advancing sustainable economic development across the continent. Our development activities in Africa have achieved impressive results and contributed to ongoing efforts to realise the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, elevate living standards, as well as bolster sustainable economic growth.”
For his part, Ralph Jooma praised the leading role played by the UAE and ADFD in driving development initiatives and growth across the world’s developing nations, highlighting ADFD’s sustained development support to Malawi. He also thanked the Fund for supporting ventures that help achieve Malawi’s national development goals.
Since its inception in 1971, ADFD has funded development projects in 94 countries, including 40 African nations, to the tune of AED102 billion through concessionary loans, government grants, and investments. The Fund’s total expenditure in Malawi amounts to an estimated AED38 million.
ADFD has also invested in eight companies and two private equity funds to boost a variety of sectors on the African continent.
Malawi Congress Party officials in Kasungu has described the DPP led government as a failure in delivering on its promises.
The MCP officials made the remarks on Tuesday March 3,2020 when they held 13 whistle stop tours within the municipality of Kasungu aiming at sensitizing people to understand the 50%+1 election law which is expected to be used in the forth coming fresh presidential polls on May 19,2020.
Part of the crowd at whistle stop in Kasungu
Among other things the team which was led by the first deputy speaker of the national assembly, right Hon. Madalitso Kamatcheni Kazombo told the people of Kasungu that DPP has failed to deliver citing youth loans, women loans, the Kasungu Lilongwe road that it promised to work on but nothing has been done todate. They further mentioned of hunger that has hit the country yet the government is doing nothing to help the needy with relief good items, pointing at this hunger crisis as a result of DPP’ failure to invest in agricultural activities. They also spoke of the lowering down of many businesses saying its because the DPP has no welfare of the Malawians at heart. Here they urged the gathering to go and register in their large numbers when MEC announces and opens the voters registration process ahead of the elections and vote for Chakwera in large numbers on May 19,2020 saying this is the only way to make Chakwera president of this country.
On the issue of rumored alliance with UTM these MCP officials told their supporters to remain calm until the outcome is announced but urged them to campaign vigilantly for Dr. Lazarus Chakwera as he is the only remaining hope for Malawians if indeed Malawi has to change for better.
The team which had whistle stop tours in 13 centers had the first deputy speaker of the national assembly Hon. Madalitso Kazombo(MP for Kasungu East), Hon. Mike Bango(MP for Kasungu North), Hon. Jailos Bonongwe (MP for Kasungu West), Hon. Wazamazama Katatu, District chairlady for Kasungu and some Kasungu Born free members.
