The AfricaNews articles of madalitso
Malawi Electoral body appeals for ethical journalism
The Malawi Electoral Commission has challenged the media to follow ethical standards in the coverage of the 2014 tripartite elections to avoid fueling electoral disputes that could result into civil unrests and loss of life. - MEC Commissioner Elvey Mtafu made the call in Blantyre at the opening of the Bridge Corse for Media practitioners which kick started a series of trainingworkshops the Commission has lined for the media as part of its capacity building excise for the media ahead of the Elections.
Mtafu said the Commission realized the important role the media plays in the electoral process adding the commission was committed to ensuring that the media are discharging their roles in a…Malawi: Schools fail to open amid outbreak
Some schools in the southern Malawian district of Neno have not opened for their first term following a chicken pox outbreak that has hit some areas in the district. Classes had not resumed for the new term following the chicken pox outbreak in the area. Moses Jumbe a teacher at Matope primary school said that District Education Manager for Neno Reuben Menyere has since advised the Primary Education Advisors for the area not to open the schools for the new term following the outbreak. - At least 90 cases of chicken pox have been reported at Matope while around 27 cases of the disease have been reported in Moffat Village some 18 kilometres from Matope where there are even more cases.
Neno …Over 1.6 million Malawians need relief food
Over 1.6 million Malawians are in need of emergency food support following the bad harvesting season as a result of erratic rain patterns during the last growing season. A Malawi Vulnerability Assessment report released in May indicates that many Malawians in 15 districts across the country are severely hit by food shortages. - Following the emergency arising from the food situation in some parts of the country, World Vision International has since announced that it will with support from the World Food Programme (WFP) embark on a food distribution exercise in five districts in the country’s southern region.
Kupingani Kumwenda, World Vision International Programme Manager for Midze…Enviromental degradation affects Malawi's poor
Belinda Mwase, a 21 year old HIV positive young woman at the upcoming town of Zalewa in Neno Southern Malawi walks over seven kilometres twice every week in search of fuel wood. Being in ill health, these long journeys usually leave her exhausted and she often falls sick after coming from the fuel wood search. - However while Belinda would have felt at ease upon getting her fuel wood, she usually faces another challenge upon her arrival at home; she has to travel another kilometre in search of portable water but this is not the end of the ordeal as water and fuel wood got, she has to think of where she will get her food.
Belinda who lives in a hand and mouth economic style with her 41 yea…Malawian minister threatens US health organisation
Malawi's Minister of the Elderly and People with Disabilities, Reen Kachere has told US international Health organisation Partners in Health which operates in the remote Malawian District of Neno to expel one of its drivers or risk being chased from Malawi AfricaNews. The development follows an argument that the minister is reported to have picked with the driver who was transporting councillors to an HIV testing site at Chifunga on the Malawi Mozambique road. - According to AfricaNews sources, the minister stormed Partners In Health offices on Wednesday August 8, demanding the immediate termination of the services of the driver that she picked a quarrel with. Partners In Health has how…Malawi: HIV patients promote access to HIV services
When HIV and AIDS started making its toll in Malawi in the late 80s, the epidemic was treated with a lot of secrecy and denial by affected communities as at the time AIDS was regarded as a disease of shame. At the time many HIV patients were looked at as promiscuous people who were supposed to face the shame of being sexually promiscuous. - During the period of this silence on the epidemic, many African countries lost the young productive population to what was only described as ‘long illnesses’.
While then the reality on the ground was that many young people were dying as a result of the epidemic, Malawi like many African governments also had a tight lid on the epidemic and s…Malawi: Rail project raises fears of HIV infections
The 237 kilometre Malawi Mozambique North Corridor Railway that is expected to transport over 18miilion tons between Malawi and Mozambique has raised a new fear of an increase in new HIV infections within the districts of Chikhwawa,Mwanza, Neno, Balaka and Machinga in southern Malawi. - An Africanews investigation in the five southern Malawian districts indicates that the railway project has increased the migration of sex workers from other parts of Malawi including some from Zimbabwe and Mozambique following the better service charge the rail workers are offering to the prostitutes.
Some of the sex-workers interviewed at Zalewa in Neno said that some of the foreign railway workers were p…Malawi fails to fight AIDS stigma
Otilia Dzambuyo 55 year old mother of five children at Zalewa a rapidly developing town in Neno southern Malawi felt that it was her moral obligation to disclose her HIV positive test result to her husband. She at the time did not feel that the disclosure would break her family yet alone later expose her teenage daughters to HIV infection. - Dzambuyo who now operates a restaurant business at Zalewa said while she has benefited much from her openness with her HIV status, she regrets the moment she disclosed that she was living with HIV.
“When I was disclosing the news to my husband I was doing it in the faith of protecting our family and the interests of our daughters; however the op…Malawi: US Charity gives hope to HIV patients
Eliza Mpalale a 31 year old mother of three from Nelson village in Neno southern Malawi did not at any point dream of owning a decent place to call home. Every morning as she woke up tousled and quivering of the early morning cold, Mpalale would set a fire to warm her up. As she put stick by stick on the fire to keep it alive, she would further be perturbed by thoughts of how she would feed her three children. - The sun dried brick hovel she called home would for the time be forgotten as her intestines would tell that she needed food.
However come sun set, she would again be disconcerted by thoughts of the rough ordeal of sleeping in the two square meter hut that did not even have ventila…Malawi’s president snubs AU meeting
Malawi president Joyce Banda will not be among African presidents attending the Africa Union's heads of Summit in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Minister of Information and Civic education Moses Kunkuyu has said. He has since disclosed that the country's vice president Khumbo Kachali has been delegated to attend the conference. - Kunkuyu however said that the president was not sabotaging the meeting following the recent withdrawal of the country to host the meeting.
“Malawi is a democratic state and as such the vice president can be delegated to represent the president at any international summit as he is not representing his interests but that of Malawians, “he said.
He s…Poverty forces Malawian girls into sex-work
Melisa Timosi an 18 year old sex-worker in Neno southern Malawi uses all tactics to attract masculine attention when she is at a drinking joint. At her age she was supposed to be at school either in college or at high school; however circumstances beyond her control have forced her into prostitution. - The reasons that are forcing many girls into prostitution in Malawi are complex. However while many experts have shed different opinions on what has made the present day generation to be sexaholic, recent revelations in Malawi indicate that poverty is the sole culprit in the process.
Speaking in a recent interview, Russel Msiska District Manager for Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) in Ntc…Bad roads affect health delivery in Malawi
Weak and shaking with the June cold weather, Zeferia Msipu braves the 12km ride in the clouded ambulance to Neno District Hospital. Pressed against other 14 passengers in a car that would feel clouded with eight, She still has to make this painful journey on the bumpy gullied road if she has to keep on living a healthy life. - Being HIV positive, Msipu looks a bit malnourished but still she has some reason to smile as she is lucky to access high quality HIV services from the district health facility as well as at Lisungwi Community Hospital which is just within her home area.
While there is a clinic that proved HIV services including Anti-Retroviral Treatment within her village, Msipu ha…Malawi cancels plan to host AU summit
Malawi has announced that it will not go ahead to host the African Union Summit which was scheduled to take place next month in Lilongwe. The development comes after the Sudanese government wrote to the African Union Commission to move the summit from Malawi to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia after Malawi indicated it will arrest Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. - Malawi’s vice president Khumbo Kachali made the announcement in his special address to the nation monitored on the public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
The vice president said the African Union Commission has informed the Malawi Government that as a host nation of the summit it has an obligation to in…Malawi: 94year old serving in public service
At the age 94, Glasten Guzani, Senior Medical Assistant at Dzunje Health Centre in Ntcheu central Malawi still looks strong and healthy that at first sight, one would dispute his age. However when he tells his life story you begin to gain confidence of the age he claims. - When one show signs of doubt, Guzani who claims to have been born in Quelimane Mozambique will give you his Malawi passport number 307201 issued in 1978 which indicates that he was born on June 22, 1918 the year he claims to have been born.
Clad in his professional overcoat, Guzani who also served in the Malawi National team as team doctor from 1970 to 1985 is an epitome of an elderly Malawian wishing to productively sp…Sudan’s al-Bashir faces Malawi arrest
Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir faces arrest in Malawi if he shows up at the African Union (AU) Heads of state summit scheduled for Lilongwe in July. Malawian president Joyce Banda is reported to have recently assured Britain of al-Bashir's arrest if he shows up for the AU heads of state summit. - British Secretary for International Development, Andrew Mitchell is reported to have told the Nation newspaper that the Malawian head of state assured Britain that al-Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide shall be arrested.
According to the paper, Mitchell said on Friday that Malawi’s position on…Fuel crisis hits Malawi
Pumping stations throughout Malawi are experiencing diesel shortage following the country's failure to pay its debt. Africa news sources have revealed the fuel crisis has come as a result of the country's failure to pay its debts to petroleum suppliers and is now sourcing for new suppliers. - “Government is now sourcing replacement suppliers and will not be able pay the money owed to former suppliers. It would want to start smoothly with new suppliers and build up debts too,” a source in the ministry of energy told Malawi’s controversial on line publication Nyasa Times.
Following the pullout of Petrol Mob, BP remained the sole supplier of fuel to government.
…Malawi: Arrested gays plan separation
The two arrested gay men in Malawi have pleaded not guilty to charges of gross public indecency and have announced to separate with immediate effect. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were arraigned before a court in Malawi's biggest city Blantyre and hope to plead for bail on Monday. - They made history over the weekend as the first gay couple to hold an open traditional engagement ceremony. They face a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
Speaking from Blantyre police cell, the equally shaken two said they did not understand why the police was keeping them in custody. Chimbalanga said ‘she’ saw no reason for the police to pounce on homosexuals when heterosexuals w…Norway supports Malawi earthquake victims
Norway became the major donor to earthquake victims in the Malawian northern district of Karonga when it announced the donation of over Euro134, 000 (MK28 million) relief items to the people in the area. Norwegian ambassador to Malawi, Bjorn Johannessen, said his government was sending 300 tents from Dubai. - This becomes the first big donation to the people affected by the disaster in the area after two similar donations from the United States and Chinese community.
Meanwhile there are disagreements between people in the area over how relief items are being handled.
Some locals recently made a fracas at the District Commissioners offices on what they described as ‘over consider…Malawi witness first gay wedding
Two gays in Malawi held the first ever public wedding on Saturday. The two - Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza - made history when they publicly announced that there were a couple at a reception held at Makhoma lodge in the outskirts of the city of Blantyre. - The duo clad in traditional attire were the centre of attraction to hundreds of Malawians that wanted to witness the first couple to defy Malawian conservative laws that make homosexuality illegal.
Tiwonge the bride who works at the lodge said she was very excited that she was getting into the matrimonial tie with Steven who she has been sharing a house with the past five months.
The wedding then went emotional when some pat…Malawi: Gov’t recalls officials from china
The Malawi government has recalled five officials from the National Roads Authority of that country from an official trip to China following the recent presidential directive that minimizes official travels outside Malawi by government officials to six per every year. - Sources told AfricaNews that the minister of transport and public infrastructure development Khumbo Kachali ordered the immediate return of the five for failing to follow proper travel procedures.
According to the sources, the five travelled outside the country without the minister’s approval contrary to the Malawi government travel procedure.
Principal Secretary for the ministry McPherson Magwila could not give m…Malawi: Cell phone banking to begin
Opportunity International Bank of Malawi (OIBM) one of the banks that has the widest coverage in the country has announced that it will soon go cell phone banking to meet the demands of the rising banking services in the country. - OIBM chief marketing officer Steve Mgwadira said the bank was trying to bring innovative banking technologies in Malawi as one way of attracting communities to access banking services.
He said currently only 17 percent of Malawians have access to banks and with the new innovation there was hope that the number of people depositing their money in banks would increase.
“The bank is trying to reach the unbankable communities especially those in the most r…Malawian herbalist claims to have AIDS cure
A herbalist in the Malawian southern region district of Mangochi, Ellen Dimba, claims to have a herbal mixture that can cure AIDS. Dimba who has been recently receiving clients some as far as Zambia and Mozambique claims that her drug can cure serious AIDS conditions a claim that has also been backed by some of her clients. - Government has since disputed her claim. While the government has already warned people not to use the drug, Dimba is currently receiving a lot of clients that feel are being cured by the drug after the free government ARVs stopped working properly in their bodies.
Fwido Akidu one of the people that claims to have been cured by the drug said in an interview that the…Malawi: HIV drugs used to ferment local gin
The free anti-retroviral drugs being provided by the Malawian government are being used to ferment maize husks in the brewing process of a traditional gin - Kachasu. Zione Enock a Kachasu, a brewer from Thyolo revealed the ARVs are not only for brewing of the traditional gin but to feed their poultry too. - Some brewers told AfricaNews the gin from the fermented ARV maize husk is very strong and matures quickly. Government officials have warned action would be taken against those involved especially in the southern region district of Thyolo.
An Africa news investigation in the commercial city of Blantyre indicated that a bottle of free ARV was going at US$1.43 (K200.00) while a 60 tablet …Malawi: Cleric in national team delegation
Among the delegation leading the Malawi national team to play against Burkina Faso is a Charismatic Pentecostal preacher, Bishop Mark Kambaladzadza. The man of God according to sources was included to boost the morale of the team and to seek God's favour in the must win game. - Reports reaching AfricaNews indicate that members of the team are in high mood following the inclusion of Bishop Kambaladzadza. There is mixed reaction over the decision taken by the Malawi Football Administration.
“The boys are in very good spirits following the inclusion of the man of God in the delegation and we are very sure that they are going to do miracles at this must win game,” said Chipi…Malawi: Madonna kick-starts £9m project
US pop singer Madonna has broken the grounds for her £9 million Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, in Lilongwe. She said the plight of Malawian women is worrying despite their industriousness and that moved her to shape the future of young needy girls in the southern African country of Malawi through this initiative. - Speaking in the presence of her four children including the two she adopted from Malawi, she said: “Glowing as a young woman, I took my education and many things in life for granted and coming to Malawi four years ago opened my eyes and I realized that as an individual I could do something and all I needed was to set the pace.”
"I intended to do something fo…Malawi: Madonna in for her girls’ project
US pop star Madonna finally arrived in southern African Malawi in the late afternoon hours of Sunday. The singer who has been involved in adoption controversies in the country is expected to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of her Raising Malawi girls' Academy later on Monday. - An eyewitness at the Kamuzu International Airport said she landed at exactly 3pm.
According to local sources Madonna is also expected to meet Malawian President Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika. She is tipped to be awarded for her charity work in the country.
The pop star was seen cruising in her convoy towards the Kumbali Country lodge that has become synonymous to her visits to Malawi.Malawi: "I'll fight corruption"
Malawi's new president Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika has assured that he would maintain zero tolerance for corruption. Speaking at his inauguration for his second term on Friday, he said the menace is a stumbling block to effective development. He assured to embark on civic education against the act. - The ceremony which witnessed a reconciliation gesture between former president Dr Bakili Muluzi and incumbent Mutharika attracted scores of many Malawians and was also graced by presidents of some Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) countries.
Dr Mutharika assured Malawians that he will serve all Malawians regardless of their political affiliations. “To accomplish our goals as…Malawi: Opposition raises red flag
Malawi's main opposition led by John Zenasi Ungapake Tembo on Wednesday rejected election results in the country's central province - its stronghold - saying there had been several irregularities during vote counting. The Malawi Congress Party has called for counting of ballots to be halted. - So far the Malawi Electoral Commission has confirmed 0.51 percent of the presidential results that puts President Mutharika in a comfortable lead with 8818 votes while his main contender Tembo is trailing with 3121 votes.
Tuesday’s presidential and parliamentary elections have been described as peaceful, free and fair.
Two presidential contestants - James Nyondo and Stanley Masaul…Malawi: Ruling party having an early lead
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Malawi led by Bingu Wa Muthalika is having an early lead in the parliamentary and presidential elections. So far the verified results give him a comfortable lead over his main contender John Zenasi Ungapake Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). - Early results released this morning indicate that Muthalika has taken an 87.33 percent lead against Tembo's 10.21 percent.
Making the announcement Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Anastazia Msosa said that these were verified results from centres that had finished the counting process.
She said there were some centres that had finished counting the poll results,but the commission…“Africa need vernacular software”
The time had now come for Africa to produce open software in its major local languages to make ICT accessible to all. John Schoneboon, ICT project associate at the partnership for higher education in Africa of the US, said it would help push Africa forward on the information technology highway. - "It is interesting that things are moving forward and it could be a good idea for Africa to have open software in vernacular language," he told AfricaNews in an exclusive interview. The ICT specialist said such software would make e-learning a possibility in the continent. “Access to information plays a vital tool in the development agenda,” he noted alongside the ongoing sixth…
