The State says will appeal in the Supreme Court against Wednesday’s ruling of the High Court in Mzuzu to acquit Peter Mutharika’s step son Tadikira Mafubza and seven others, accused of manslaughter and aggravated human trafficking of 30 Ethiopian nationals.
Justice Gladys Gondwe acquitted the eight suspects when she found them with no case to answer.
But in an interview with this publication,Director of Criminal Litigation in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Dzikondiwanthu Malunda, said the State is not satisfied with the ruling, disclosing that a decision, following consultations, has been made to appeal.
Dzikondiwanthu Malunda,
“As a state, we are not satisfied with the ruling and we will appeal against it,” said Malunda.
The bodies of the Ethiopians were discovered buried in a mass grave in Mtangatanga Forest in Mzimba District in October 2022, but all the accused persons denied the charges, and the case went for a full trial.
Mafubza was charged together with Samuel Navaya, Duncan Kalulu, David Luhanga, Thomas Dickson Kazembe, Boniface Ngulube, Aubrey Dukes and Arnold Mwakiyelu.
Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC) has retrenched 65 employees as part of its ongoing process of implementing the 2022 Turn Around Strategy (TAS) aimed at making the corporation into a profitable and digitally-led public entity.
Confirming the matter to local media on Wednesday,MPC Postmaster General Angel Banda said the corporation had 746 workers when the strategy was launched, while the approved number of employees per the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) functional review was 411.
She added that as of May 28, 2024, the staff was 558, explaining that this phase has let go of 65 members of staff while the other 82 will be retrenched within three years.
Meanwhile, authorities feel that the MPC’s performance has turned a corner from an audited comprehensive loss of 1.9 billion in 2021/2022 to a projected (unaudited) total comprehensive income (profit) of K100 million in 2023/2024.
MPC is the statutory corporation responsible for the postal service and some financial services in Malawi.
The corporation runs 180 post offices throughout Malawi, and also provides services via 154 postal agencies.
The financial services it provides include electronic, telegraphic and money transfer services within Malawi and internationally, and utility and telephone bill payments.
The MPC is regulated by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) which regulates all postal services in Malawi.
A fourth year student at the University of Malawi(UNIMA) Humble Bondo has been suspended for three years after the university’s disciplinary committee found him guilty of sexual harassment,specifically touching a breast of a certain girl.
According to a letter dated June 18,2024 and signed by UNIMA registrar Eluby Kaumbata, the committee found Bondo guilty of violating the institution’s codes of conduct.
Humble Bondo suspended
This comes after the Bachelor of Arts Public Administration student finished writing his end of year exams on Friday.
Bondo served as president of the UNIMA’s Students Representative Council (SRC) in the 2022/2023 academic year and he was instrumental in the fight against long holidays that made students at the institution to hold the famous one-long vigils in 2022.
NGO Gender Coordination Network(NGO-GCN), an organization that promotes gender equality and women empowerment has urged President Dr.Lazarus Chakwera to appoint a female Vice President as a replacement of the late Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima who died in a plane crash last week.
In a statement, the organization’s chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda says the appointment of the female Vice President will increase women representation in top positions and politics.
Maggie Kathewera Banda
She also believes that Malawi has many capable and qualified women to assume the position of VP.
Reads the statement in part:” We call upon the state president to appoint a female Vice President.
“While we acknowledge the increase in the number of women in the executive arm of government, we are of the view that having a female VP would put women up in the ladder of decision making, thereby not only shifting norms around politics but also ensure that women voices are heard more than before.
“If appointed, the female Vice President will carve a direction for all young aspiring women across the political divide to increase the female representation percentage and break new record.”
It adds:”The appointment of the female Vice President would be a critical policy directive to ensure that 60/40 quota is maintained in all public appointments and requirements, in accordance with Section 11 of the Gender Equality Act (2013).
“This would further Malawi’s progress towards gender parity, as it will joining other countries in this endeavor.
“NGO-GCN is available to support the state president in the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.”
President Chakwera is yet to appoint the Vice President, with the mandated time off the zones.
Constitutionally, Chakwera was supposed to appoint a new Vice by the end of yesterday, 19 June, 2024.
According to the supreme law, the President is mandated to appoint a replacement within seven days from the time of death of a serving Vice President.
However, it seems there has been a delay in finding the replacement as the days as provided by the law have elapsed.
This is contrary to what the Minister of Information, Moses Kunkuyu told the press on Tuesday that the President will abide by the law in making his appointment.
Currently, Malawians are eager to know who will President Chakwera choose as his Vice.
In a recent development within Malawi’s political landscape, outspoken activist Bon Kalindo has publicly, through his audio which has gone viral on social media, called upon the United Transformation Movement (UTM) to address internal challenges and strengthen their organizational structure. Kalindo’s remarks come amidst ongoing discussions about the party’s cohesion and effectiveness in advancing its political agenda.
Kalindo, known for his advocacy on social justice issues and grassroots mobilization, emphasized the importance of unity and efficiency within political parties, particularly during critical junctures in national governance. His call for UTM to “put their house in order” reflects broader concerns about the party’s ability to navigate political dynamics and effectively represent the interests of its constituents.
To be replaced as UTM leader, the late Saulos Chilima
UTM, a prominent political entity formed by Vice President Saulos Chilima ahead of the 2019 elections, has been a key player in Malawi’s political landscape. The party garnered significant support during its inception, promising a platform of reform, transparency, and inclusive governance.
However, like many political organizations, UTM has faced challenges in maintaining internal cohesion and managing divergent viewpoints among its members. These challenges have occasionally led to public scrutiny and internal tensions, prompting calls for introspection and strategic realignment.
Kalindo’s advocacy for UTM to address internal issues is not only a reflection of his commitment to accountable governance but also a reminder of the importance of robust party structures in advancing democratic principles and national development agendas. By fostering unity and operational efficiency, political parties can better serve as effective vehicles for policy formulation, legislative advocacy, and grassroots engagement.
As Malawi continues to navigate its democratic journey, the role of political parties in promoting transparency, inclusivity, and responsiveness to citizens’ needs remains pivotal. Kalindo’s call for UTM to “put their house in order” underscores the ongoing dialogue within the political sphere on enhancing organizational effectiveness and strategic positioning in advancing democratic governance.
In conclusion, while challenges persist, Kalindo’s advocacy serves as a catalyst for constructive dialogue and action within UTM and the broader political landscape of Malawi. The path to sustainable political progress lies in fostering unity, accountability, and purposeful leadership within political organizations, thereby ensuring they effectively represent and empower the aspirations of the Malawian people.
