First Lady of the Republic of Malawi Gertrude Mutharika on Monday donated various supplies to Thyolo Central Constituency as part of her efforts to contain spread of Corona Virus into Malawi.
The First Lady through her Beam Trust, donated 30 buckets, cartons of soap and chroline to the constituency to be used in places such as markets and health centres. She was represented at the hand over ceremony by her Special Aide Emma Mabvumbe.
Minister Ben Phiri receiving items
Malawi is yet to register a Coronavirus case but Government has taken proactive measures to contain the deadly virus from crossing into Malawi. The donations were received by Member of Parliament for the area Hon. Ben Phiri who also donated 50 litres of hand sanitisers to be used at Thyolo Boma and Khonjeni markets.
Hon Ben Phiri thanked the first lady for the nice gesture she has shown to the people of Thyolo Central
Liwonde First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Machinga has convicted and sentenced a 54-year-old man, Shabalala Maulana, for 14 years for defiling a four-year-old girl which is contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code.
Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Gift Kalamula told the court the accused committed the offence on February 21, 2020 at Josamu Village in Traditional Authority Ntumbwinda in the district. Kalamula told the court the victim was going to her friend’s house and on her way she was invited by convict to his maize field.
“The victim refused but the offender convinced her that he wanted to give her some green maize. Maulana then dragged the innocent girl into his maize field where he undressed and defiled her,” he said.
Kalamula added that the victim’s uncle, Mohamed Makina caught the offender red-handed in the course of committing the offence.
He also said when the uncle asked what was happening, Maulana never responded and instead fled the scene.
It was also learnt in court that the matter was referred to Chikweo Health Centre where medical examination revealed that the victim was defiled.
The state witness said Maulana, who pleaded not guilty and denied the offence of defilement, was arrested on the same day he committed the crime.
He, therefore, asked the court to mete out a stiffer punishment that would serve as a lesson to would-be offenders.
Kalamula further told the court that defilement cases were on the rise in the district, noting that every month Machinga registered a defilement case.
“Your worship, the other worrisome thing is that in most cases young girls are victimised by their own relatives; like in the case of Maulana who defiled his own granddaughter,” he said.
In mitigation, Maulana asked the court to exercise lenience when passing sentence on grounds that he is the bread-winner for his family.
However, First Grade Magistrate Jones Masula said defilement is a serious offence which attracts a stiff custodial sentence. He, therefore, sentenced Maulana to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Maulana comes from Josamu Village in Traditional Authority Ntumbwinda in the district.
Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has stepped up measures in protecting Lilongwe City markets from Coronavirus by disinfecting Tsoka Flea Market in the city on Sunday.
Earlier on the council shutdown gates leading to the two markets on Sunday as the council was about to disinfect the markets.
LCC Spokesperson, Tamara Chafunya said they have introduced the system so that everyone should be free from the deadly virus, especially the market users.
Part of Tsoka Market during the disinfection
“As one way of safeguarding our markets, we have introduced this system so that we can disinfect the markets with chemicals that will protect the markets from Coronavirus.
“We believe the lives of people are more important than money itself and a place like a market accommodates a lot of people, as such we closed the markets yesterday so that we can get them disinfected,” she said.
Chafunya said following the state of disaster declared by the country’s State President, the city council has decided to disinfect each and every market within the city on Sundays so that they should be free from the virus.
However, Chafunya did not disclose the next market or other markets to be disinfected but rather said the next day after the disinfection it would be usual business for the market.
One of the vendors at Tsoka Market, Benson Phiri said his business was affected on Sunday following the market closure but said he was not worried much for he believed what the city council did was the right thing.
“We are happy with what the city council has introduced. Getting our markets disinfected will help us to be conducting our day to day activities in the market with confidence knowing that we are free from the pandemic,” she said.
The city’s PRO further assured the public that the city’s next step will be to focus on spacing in the market, but now the local council wants to ensure its markets are disinfected regularly.
There is growing tension in the ruling DPP and UDF alliance
as alliance Partner Atupele Muluzi has grown increasingly paranoid after one of
the early promises has already been broken by President Peter Mutharika. It has
been established that the initial agreement of the alliance was that Mutharika
will have a cabinet reshuffle and will appoint Atupele as second Vice president.
Speaking to 247 Media on condition of anonymity, one of the Members
of Parliament for UDF said there are growing worries that DPP is just using
UDF “I don’t think this alliance is
genuine, its just that DPP is desperate and trying to take advantage of UDF”. The member
of parliament expressed concern that despite warning Atupele Muluzi against this
union, the UDF leader always gave a blind eye.
Atupele and Mutharika announcing their alliance
It appears however that the tables are now turning as Atupele has started seeing the promises that were made during alliance discussions not being fulfilled . It was agreed during the talks that Mutharika would reshuffle the cabinet and will appoint some ministers from UDF. While he has been able to do that, Mutharika only appointed Atupele Muluzi as a mere minister of Energy, far from the promise of a second vice position.
The initial idea was that Atupele will be the second vice
president in order to elevate him to the
position of much influence so that he
can try to convince the UDF stronghold areas of Mangochi, Machinga , Balaka and
the Muslim community to vote for DPP. Inside sources says Mutharika decided to
do the opposite as they are strong fears that Atupele is not a faithful partner
to the alliance , but has only joined to revive his political fortunes and
position himself for future presidency.
While one of the first promises has been broken, we are yet
to see if another promise of making Atupele Muluzi running mate to Mutharika in
the next election will happen. A quick opinion poll has shown that Atupele is
the least trusted politician at the moment . While his UDF base has fallen, his
standing among the young people, who were his dominant demographic has also
fallen . Many Young people view Atupele as lacking principles, not able to make
his own decisions without relying on his father and not very strong to face the hard knocks of
life due to his rich soft upbringing.
Malawi Congress Party has refuted rumours circulating that members of the party have been destroying houses and property belonging to DPP members. DPP cadets have been posting pictures of destroyed houses claiming that MCP members have destroyed and burnt houses for its local officials in Kasiya Lilongwe
Earlier on Nicholas Dausi accused MCP of destroying property of members belonging to DPP members. He also rubbished suggestion that people are going round trying to buy IDs from locals as part of the rigging plot by the ruling party “”We are worried with what MCP and UTM members are doing , especially in central region areas like Namitete, Msundwe, Kabudula and Nsaru where their supporters keep destroying property of DPP members” said Dausi
MCP publicity secretary Rev Maurice Munthali
Dausi claimed that Police in Lilongwe have arrested people who have confessed to be MCP members . He also refuted that DPP cannot buy IDs as data is already captured . “How can one buy IDs when there is possibility that even without ID as long a person was registered, they can go and be verified by chiefs in order for them to vote?” queried Dausi.
However , MCP spokesperson Rev Maurice Munthali hit back at Dausi claiming that the idea that MCP members are burning and destroying houses of DPP members is not only absurd but propaganda by the government to divert attention from what is really going on ” We have strong evidence that people are going round trying to buy ID’s, some of the people have been stopped and when questioned have revealed that they are being sent by DPP- what we can say is to warn DPP to quickly stop these practices ” said Munthali.
Munthali said MCP is a party of peace and has respect for rule of law . He however, warned DPP that people in the country are angry and will not sit down while the party tries to send people around to buy IDs . He also expressed dissatisfaction with lack of investigation on the matter by the police.
Some of the houses DPP claims have been destroyed by MCP supporters
