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Scottish Government to donate 1,000 used computers to Malawi

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Scottish Government to donate 1,000 used computers to Malawi

The Scottish Government will donate 1,000 used computers to education projects in Malawi to help trainee teachers and students, it has announced. The computers, which are no longer suitable for use in the Information and Technology Services Division, will be distributed by the Turing Trust.

It comes after the charity, based in Edinburgh, was awarded £60,000 from the International Small Grants Programme this year to train 80 teachers in Malawi, who will teach 9,000 girls who would otherwise be excluded from digital literacy lessons because of gender, disability or where they live.

James Turing, great nephew of World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing, said the computers would help around 18,000 students learn vital IT skills, while also offsetting 280 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

International Development Minister Ben Macpherson and First Minister Nicola Sturgen

The Scottish Government updates its devices every four or five years, to ensure they are capable of running up-to-date secure software and operating systems to maintain cyber security.

International Development Minister Ben Macpherson said: “I’m very pleased that the Scottish Government will be donating 1,000 more computers to the Turing Trust, an excellent charity that works to improve digital literacy in sub-Saharan Africa

“These computers will be serviced and securely cleansed of data before being taken to Malawi for use by students and trainee teachers.

“We’re delighted to be extending the useful life of this computer equipment and, by doing so, improving the IT literacy and career prospects of hundreds of people.”

Zikhale embarks on “Operation Development” as he lines up projects for Nkhata Bay South Constituency

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Zikhale embarks on “Operation Development” as he lines up projects for Nkhata Bay South Constituency

By Chalo Mvula

The Director General of Malawi Congress Party Ken Zikhale Ng’oma , who is also a member of parliament for Nkhatabay South is leaving no stone unturned as he focuses on bringing development to the district and the constituency.

Announcing a blue print of his development initiatives which have already hit the ground, the legislator said all he wanted was to make a difference to the people of Nkhata Bay South. “ The people in my constituency have lacked development for a long time, I want to take this opportunity as their member of parliament to make a difference  and so far we are on the right track “ said Zikhale. 

Please be informed of our development  project’s we have so far managed to embark on  in Nkhatabay South since I was sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

Among the projects Zikhale said Government has  since approved two government secondary schools which will be constructed in the  constituency. One will be built in Makumbu and the other one at Kande. Cites have already been allocated. He vowed to follow up on this until the government fulfills its promise.

Nkhatabay South Legislator Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma

Zikhale who once described the lack of basic needs like clean water and electricity as a sad situation for Nkahatabay , a district that has produced a number of great sons of Malawi like Orton Chirwa and Kanyama Chiume , announced that Escom in Mzuzu has agreed to provide rural electrification  in places like Makumbu, Chifira, Litende, Kawiya, Mfundi and poles have been already been put as the start of the project. 

Northern Region Water Board has maintained an agreement to provide the constituency trading centers with portable water. So far documentation has been registered at Parliament for funding 

Survey by the board was duly conducted and first phase will be from Kapesya to Kachere and the second phase will be from Tukombo to Mfundi. Other pipe water projects  have been approved by the District Commissioners office and surveys are due to take place in Chifira , Nyachirwa and Kande. Other areas like Tukombo and kalowa are also in line for the next phase of the pipe water project.

Recently Zikhale visited a number of hospitals as part of new year celebrations. During this time Zikhale had opportunity to see the conditions of hospitals in the area which need alot of development . So far the member of parliament has lined up clinic construction in Kalowa and Chifira .Mughogho clinic is almost complete with  Iron sheets remaining to complete the project.The MP has already brought an Ambulance which is used in the area.

Zikhale expressed how happy he is with  the projects that are taking place in the area. “ We are serious with what we are doing  and the people in the area knows that if we are to develop then all of us have to work hard. We will be utilising funds from the Community development fund , but personally i have also  injected it my own money to help the constituecny” He went on to add some more projects that area taking place in the area like; the  

solar system project in Kawiya to pull water for drinking , maize mills for the area , borehole and toilet projects at Tukombo, Construction of Mazembe Children’s care, Building of school blocks  at Kajitira primary School

Zikhale says he aims at being transparent so that people in the area can see the use of all the money they get as part of CDF . he said he will not tolerate misuse of money or materials  and that he will strive for normal procedures to be followed.CDF is for developmental purposes propelled by an MP of that area and not to swindle money for person gains

“This I can assure you my community that as look as I serve under  the leadership of MCP and Dr Lazarus Chakwera such malpractices will not happen and over my dead body” said Zikhale

Nankhumwa in Germany for Agriculture Ministers Conference

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Nankhumwa in Germany for Agriculture Ministers Conference

Minister responsible for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa, MP, is in Berlin, Germany to attend the 2020 Global Forum on Food and Agriculture scheduled to take place from 16th to 18th January 2020.

Upon his arrival, the Minister said that he was looking forward to share Malawi’s agriculture experiences that DPP government under the wise and dynamic leadership of His Excellency President Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika is implementing to make Malawi a hunger-free Nation as well as learn from other countries in how they are tackling issues of food security, agricultural trade and sustenance of agriculture value chains as part of efforts to develop their countries.

Nankhumwa at Berlin Agriculture Ministers Conference

Among some of the meetings that the Minister attended include: the Berlin Ministers Conference which was held on 18th January, which among other things looked at issues of fair rules in agriculture trade, sustainable, inclusive and safe value chains and trade for global food security.

The Minister who is Vice President of DPP in the South will also attend two high level meetings organised by the World Trade Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the European Commission.

“Agriculture remains the backbone of the Malawi economy adding about 30 percent to the country GDP this is why President Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika is doing everything to make Malawi a competitive country and make sure that Malawi is a free-hunger Country”, the Minister said who was National Chairnan of DPP campaign comprising (technical and operational team) in the 21st May 2019 Polls.

The Global Forum on Food and Agriculture is an annual event organised by the German Government through the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The forum looks at issues of food and agriculture in both developed and developing countries especially on matters of agri-food policy.

Over 2,000 international visitors from politics, trade and industry, science and technology and civil society groups are expected to attend the conference and discuss key issues on food and agriculture.

In addition, at the end of the 12th Berlin Agriculture Ministers conference, high-level representatives of international organisations and governments are expected to adopt a joint political communiqué on agriculture policy.

“The DPP government under President Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, is known for good agricultural policies that has seen the inflation keep on going down each year,” the Leader of Government Business in Parliament who is also MP for Mulanje Central.

The Minister also said Malawi government has keen interest in this Global Forum on Food and Agriculture to try and find ways of enhancing food security and Agriculture development policies that work best, especially policies aimed at increasing food security both at household and national level.

Snakebite story fake, Kotana poisoned as autopsy reveal

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Snakebite story fake, Kotana poisoned as autopsy reveal

It is no longer a secret that the cause of death of one Miss Kottana Maria Chidyaonga was poison; and not a snake as was earlier reported, thanks to forensic autopsy results. This has led to the arrest of three suspects

According to the results of the forensic autopsy conducted by Dr. Charles Dzamalala, Chidyaonga, who died mysteriously on January 4, 2020 in Lilongwe, did not die of snake bite which her family and friends were made to believe.

Boyfriend Timothy Mtilosanje and the late Kotana

“The death was from unnatural causes. It was due to generalised haemolysis following acute poisoning with a pesticide called termik, an organophosphate compound that is found in most hardware/flee market shops in the country.”

“In human beings, termik disables the central nervous systems and also leads to haemolysis. Both of these actions are fatal. Based on the circumstances surrounding this death, this incidence of acute poisoning is most probably due to a homicidal act rather than a suicidal or accidental act.”

The story of the snake bite lacks scientific evidence and is therefore, best ignored as a typical snakebite wound is visibly fresh, leads to swelling from about quarter of an hour after the bite and takes specific shapes. The alleged snakebite wound on the body of late Chidyaonga lacked all of these classical supporting features on the skin surface both grossly and microscopically,” reads the report in part.

Towards the end of last festive season, the nation was saddened and maddened with the news of the death of 23 year old Chidyaonga’s who reportedly died after being bitten by a snake at her boyfriend’s house.

The three that have been arrested are Timothy Mtilosanje aged 28 from Mkungula village , Traditional Authority Kuntumanji, Zomba the boyfriend of the deceased ;  29 year old Gilbert Kamaliza from Mbamba Village T/A Mkumpha in Likoma and 23 year old Diana Bhangwanji from Khulira Village T/A Thilamanja in Mulanje.

original post: Maravi Post

Anti-bribery protest draws thousands

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Anti-bribery protest draws thousands

 Tens of thousands of Malawians took part in protests on Thursday at alleged attempts to bribe judges overseeing a legal challenge to the re-election last year of President Peter Mutharika.

People took to the streets after the country’s chief justice charged that the five judges presiding over the case had been offered kickbacks.

The complaint, which was filed to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday, prompted a call for demonstrations in Malawi’s three main cities.

Around 50,000 people gathered in the capital Lilongwe, with smaller rallies in Blantyre and Mzuzu.

They braved the rain and stood vigil outside parliament. Many wore white T-shirts printed with “ACB name and arrest the bribers now”.

Thousands protesting in Malawi

Opposition leaders say the May 21 poll, which saw Mutharika narrowly beat runner-up candidate Lazarus Chakwera, was marred by fraud.

In August, they petitioned Malawi’s top court to annul the results — the first time presidential election results have been legally challenged since the country gained independence from Britain in 1964.

Gift Trapence, head of a watchdog group called the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), said his organisation was pressuring ACB head Reyneck Matemba to seek “justice”.

“We met Mr Matemba yesterday and we told him that the taxpayers want the culprits exposed and arrested,” Trapence told the rally in Lilongwe.

“We told him that if they sue the ACB, we, the taxpayers, will pay.”

The HRDC, who organised the protests, has called on the ACB to release the names of the suspects and arrest them.

“The ACB will act in a few days,” Matemba told reporters on Thursday, promising Malawians would not be “let down”.

He said the body was investigating individuals named by the chief justice rather than political parties.

“This is our chance as the ACB to demonstrate to the people of Malawi that we can do better,” Matemba added.

A court ruling on the election challenge is expected by the end of January.

The ACB, who has so far refused to release any of the suspects’ names, is meant to complete its probe before then.

Sporadic demonstrations have broken out across Malawi since the election, with protesters demanding the ouster of the electoral commission’s head over her handling of the vote.

Many rallies have been met with violence by security forces.

But Thursday’s demonstrations unfolded peacefully and no incidents were reported at any of the venues, according to police spokesman James Kadadzera.

President Mutharika has brushed off all doubts on the official results, which show he won just 159,000 votes more than Chakwera, a margin of around three percentage points.

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