Mpinganjira slept with Bakili Muluzi’s wife

Brown Mpinganjira and his rival Bakili Muluzi. The two politicians are reported to be sharing wives and girlfriends.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Brown James Mpinganjira, former cabinet minister during the 10-year rule of Bakili Muluzi and former Member of Parliament for Mulanje Central constituency had a love relationship with former First Lady, Madame Annie Chidzira Muluzi, Malawi Digest can reveal.

The discovery of the story by intelligence officials during the Bakili Muluzi era, led to a sour political working relationship between the former leader and his minister.

BJ, as Mpinganjira is commonly known in Malawi is reported to have had several fights with his wife Lizzie Chipendo Mpinganjira after the woman discovered Mpinganjira was also seeing the former First Lady.

Our sources closer to the Mpinganjira family have confirmed that one of the main contributing factors for the former Mulanje MP to fall out of favour with Muluzi was the discovery of his love relationship with the former First Lady.

“In fact, that is the more reason that no matter what happens, Muluzi cannot support and endorse Mpinganjira as leader for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). That’s impossible no matter what happens,” said our source.

Our sources say that Muluzi divorced his wife towards the 1999 general elections after discovering that apart from sharing the former First Lady with Mpinganjira, she was also having another love relationship with a security aide at the Presidential Sanjika Palace.

“This did not please Muluzi who immediately sacked Mpinganjira from cabinet as well as sent for packing the security aide,” said our source.

Our source revealed that the by-passing of a leadership mantle by the UDF leader last week has not come as a surprise to Mpinganjira as the two are bitter enemies for over 10 years now.

“When you see them at a rally smiling at each other, both Mpinganjira and Muluzi just pretend because they once shared one woman in the name of Annie Chidzira Muluzi,” detailed the source.

As if that is not enough, Mpinganjira has been sharing with Muluzi other female concubines.

Both have at some point had love relationships at the same time with former MPs, Ina Mezalumo and Bertha Masiku. They also shared a Miss Namba of Chiwembe Township in the commercial city, Blantyre.

Meanwhile, although Bakili Muluzi is reported to be in poor health, he is busy dating a 1984 born girl from a rich family in Limbe.

The girl, whose name Malawi Digest has withheld at least for now, visited Bakili Muluzi on Monday afternoon this week at his BCA Hill residence at the pretext of cheering the sick Muluzi.

During her visit, the new girlfriend took with her a ‘get-well soon’ card and a New Year card for her boyfriend, Bakili Muluzi.

Malawi Digest has got retails of this newly found girlfriend of Bakili Muluzi, her names, parents, home area and place of work among many other discoveries-Malawis Digest.

Bakili Muluzi collapses, taken to QECH hospital

This is how Bakili Muluzi looks in his poor state of health. We wish him a quick recovery.

By Lucy Liponda

Former President of the Republic of Malawi Bakili Muluzi on Tuesday collapsed at his home in the low density area of BCA Hill.

Our sources close to the Muluzi family have disclosed, the former leader collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday.

His private doctors were immediately called in led by former legislator, Dr George Nga Ntafu.

Dr Ntafu, himself former Malawi Education and Health Minister is a neurosurgeon by profession.

Former president Muluzi has been suffering from a back pain since 2004 and he has had three operations in the last three years.

Former First Lady Patricia Shanil Muluzi and their United Kingdom based children who are back home in Malawi for Christmas and New Year holidays were all on his bed side as doctors tried to breathe life into the former leader.

After managing to stimulate the former opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) national chairperson, he was taken to the nearby, biggest government referral hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Central (QECH) where experts conducted a scan on his body.

According to Dr Ntafu, the doctors at QECH confirmed Bakili Muluzi’s had a spinal disc dislocation that needs immediate medical attention.

“The situation is precarious. He needs to undergo another sophisticated surgery as there is too much compression on the nerves in the lower back and he has difficulties in movement,” Ntafu told waiting reporters outside the hospital.

As Muluzi was walking out of the hospital, he looked feeble, in poor state of health and in great pain. He supported himself with a walking stick although close sources have confirmed he uses a wheelchair when at home to aide his movement.

When Malawi Digest announced two weeks ago that Muluzi was seriously sick, his propaganda tools were on the defensive to dismiss the story.

Following his poor health condition, doctors ordered Bakili Muluzi to retire from active politics.

Last week, Muluzi announced he had complied with the doctors instructions to retire from politics.

Muluzi announced, he had instead chosen Friday Jumbe to take his place.

Muluzi and Jumbe are very close friends and they are suspected to have jointly been involved in high level corruption and siphoned government money for personal gains.

When Bakili Muluzi was President of Malawi, Jumbe served as Chief Executive for the state owned agricultural produce company, Admarc and later Finance Minister.

Jumbe lost miserably in the May 19th General Elections as Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu Central constituency.

In 2004, former president Bakili Muluzi ridiculed his former Vice President Justine Malewezi at all his campaign rallies saying Malewezi was a sick man not fit to stand in any election.

Muluzi further laughed at Malewezi saying, he was taking 20 tablets of pain killers everyday.

Interestingly, the same year Muluzi was ridiculing Malewezi, people in his home area ignored the bad advice from Muluzi and elected Malewezi as Member of Parliament for Ntchisi North.

As former president Muluzi is seriously in agony at his BCA Hill residence, former Vice President Justine Malewezi is enjoying good health and is busy running his personal businesses.

Apart from ridiculing former Vice President Justine Malewezi, Muluzi also arrested his predecessor the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda and tortured him until his death in 1997-Malawi Digest.

Police advise Asians to keep money in banks

Malawi Police chief Peter Mukhitho, his officers doing enough to make the Malawi public secure. This picture belongs to Malawi Digest.

By Our Reporter

Malawi Police authorities have advised Malawians of Asian origin to start utilizing banks by keeping their money there for safety.

This follows a spate of similar kind of robberies that have taken place in the country’s main cities where huge cash amounts have been stolen from business persons of Asian origin.

Speaking at in the administrative capital, Lilongwe during a District Executive Committee meeting marking the end of 2009, Lilongwe Police Station Officer-In-Charge (OC), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Goodwell Bottomani said the Asian business community in the capital, are often robbed of their money because it lacks the culture of banking.

The Deputy Commissioner was briefing members of committee on measures the Police in the country had put in place to reduce incidences of crime during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

“Most Asians do not bank their money but carry huge sums home. As such, they are followed by criminals,” said Bottomani who recently replaced Duncan Mwapasa as Lilongwe OC.

Mwapasa has since been redeployed to State House where he is serving State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika as Presidential Guard Commander.

The OC said Lilongwe police station has intensified sensitisation campaigns to encourage the Asian business community to develop a culture of saving their money in banks to reduce attacks by robbers.

Bottomani said that the few weeks that he has been at the station, three robbery cases involving the Asian business community had been reported to his office.

“We have had three incidences since I came. One was robbed of K1.3, another K1.9 m and the third one K3 million. They (Asians) are followed by criminals. We are now sensitising them to bank their money,” he told the gathering of senior district officials representing different government departments and groups of people.

Bottomani appealed to the DEC members, and residents in Lilongwe to first secure themselves before police could secure them by locking car windows and doors when traveling to prevent attacks.

“Secure yourselves first before others do that for you. Don’t leave houses unattended to. Leave somebody at home when you go away. Don’t drink and drive,” he advised.

Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Smart Gwedemula who chaired the meeting, advised heads of departments who drink beer to buy the hard drinks and drink them while at home to prevent accidents.

“Let’s enjoy these festivities responsibly. Let’s buy drinks and drink at home. To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” he said.

Malawi has in recent years experienced some avoidable cases of armed robberies involving huge sums of cash.

Often times, the victims have been discovered to be business persons of Asian origin and Chinese-Malawi Digest.

Frail Bakili Muluzi resigns as UDF leader

A sick-looking Bakili Muluzi now finally resigns from his position as UDF leader.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

The opposition United Democratic Front national (UDF) chairperson Bakili Muluzi has finally thrown in the towel and resigned from his position as leader for the party.

The good news about Bakili Muluzi’s departure from Malawi politics is as a result of an illness that has kept him unwell for over four years now.

Muluzi run the opposition UDF party as his personal property and is departing from the party after successfully destroying everything that the party could have survived on. He has since left the party in tatters.

Muluzi succeeded in disintegrating the opposition UDF party from one of the country’s strongest parties into a briefcase political party. The once mighty UDF party is now just a shadow of itself courtesy of the power hungry Bakili Muluzi.

He is leaving the UDF party at a time when all his dignity is gone after clinging himself to power as party leader for 15 years now.

On three different occasions, Muluzi tried to rape the Malawi Constitution to stay in power as leader for this country for life but he miserably failed.

Bakili Muluzi arrived in the country last weekend after spending six months on a Malawi government fully paid for foreign medical attention trip to the United Kingdom.

Unlike his other previous trips where Muluzi arrived with pomp and colour and speaking to his supporters, the scenario was totally different this time around as Muluzi was actually helped out of the plane using a walking stick and a personal aide.

He looked sick and frail as he walked down the plane.

Even when his feet touched the Malawi soil, Muluzi failed to walk to the VIP lounge as he has always done in the past.

His vehicle was granted special permission by the airport authorities and managed to collect him from right from the aeroplane steps.

Bakili Muluzi even failed to address his handful party supporters and only managed a hand wave from his vehicle.

Sources closer to Muluzi speak of a serious illness in the former Malawi leader.

He is reported to be using a wheelchair at his BCA Hill residence to help him move around.

At the weekend, he is reported to have visited his home village in Machinga to consult his ancestral spirits and seek traditional medical help as his illness has reached a critical stage.

His close aides say that due to his fallen discs, Muluzi is not able to sleep without pain relief injections.

It has been confirmed that Muluzi has actually resigned following advice from medical doctors and not as his own will.

Malawians, will remember Bakili Muluzi as the man who destroyed the Malawian economy during his 10-year period in power and successfully managed to steal from the state coffers.

As a result of fraud and high level corruption, when he quit power in 2004, he was one of the richest African heads of states.

Malawians will also remember Bakili Muluzi as the man who ridiculed his former Vice President Dr Justice Malewezi, mocking him because of a kidney failure illness.

Malawian news papers, radio stations and televisions have evidence of Bakili Muluzi mocking former Vice President Malewezi that he was taking over 30 tablets a day because of his illness.

It is not known how Muluzi is feeling now having turned into the same situation like that of Justine Malewezi.

Ironically, as Muluzi is struggling with his sickness now, Malewezi is now fully recovered and going about running his personal businesses and running many other charity projects.

Malawians, will also remember Bakili Muluzi as the man, who did not respect women in the country by describing our beloved mothers as prostitutes and D7s.

Muluzi is also accredited for having successfully managed to destroy some families of some individuals by engaging their wives in love affairs.

Malawi Digest will be publishing the list of Bakili Muluzi’s girl friends in due course and how the affairs went on.

In fact some of his close aides have attributed his aggravated fallen discs back illness to his continuous sexual journeys with some young and energetic Malawian women.

Bakili Muluzi will also be remembered as the man who instead of retiring in 2004, spent 5-years fighting his successor President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.

Although Bakili Muluzi described himself a ‘political engineer’, he has lost the battle and now bows down in shame and raises his hands in surrender-Malawi Digest.

Malawi Flames 2010 preparations on track

By Frank Malemia

Malawi national football team coach Kinnah Phiri says that Flames preparations for the 2010 Nations Cup finals in Angola are right on track.

He was speaking soon after arriving in the country from the neighbouring Mozambique where his side played against the Mambas of that country.

Both teams have qualified for the finals in Angola and this was a good test for the Flames who came out victors, 0-1 away.

The two southern African giants played their friendly international in the Mozambican province of Tete.

Speaking in an interview, the Flames mentor said that he was pleased with the outcome of the match especially that his team managed to secure an away match victory.

He said the game on Saturday, offered him an opportunity to assess the players most of which were locally based.

“So far we can say that the preparations for Angola are right on track and that this weekend’s win has boosted the players’ morale in camp,” he said.

The coach said that the remaining friendly internationals with Egypt, Togo and Ghana will allow him fine tune his players ahead of the Nations Cup.

“We are leaving nothing to chance and we are seriously preparing to prove our critics wrong in Angola,” said the coach.

Meanwhile, the Flames depart this coming Saturday for Cairo, Egypt where they play the Pharaohs on December 29th.

After the friendly in Egypt, the Flames fly back home to play Togo at Kamuzu Stadium before proceeding to Swaziland where they will camp for a few days.

During the camp in Swaziland, the Flames will play the Black Stars of Ghana on January 5th before landing themselves in Luanda, Angola for the 2010 Nations Cup finals-Malawi Digest.

Dr Mutharika grants civil servants a holiday

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda

Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika in his capacity as Minister responsible for the Civil Service, on Monday granted all civil servants a four-day holiday towards the end of this year, Malawi Digest can reveal.

The holidays, will run from the 28th to the 31st of December, 2009.

In a press statement issued by the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) at Capital Hill on Monday and made available to Malawi Digest, the holiday is aimed at allowing civil servants sufficient time to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festive season with their families.

However, the OPC statement says the holiday is not across-the-board as some servants will still be required to work.

“His Excellency the President’s special dispensation does not apply to civil servants involved in the provision or delivery of emergency and essential services,” says the statement.

It says that those not to go on leave are health personnel, immigration and customs officials, the Malawi Police Service and others.

“In this regard, controlling officers of such Ministries or Departments are required to make appropriate arrangements to ensure that civil servants shall work during this period,” says the statement.

The statement calls on controlling officers to ensure that civil servants who will work when their colleagues are on this presidential holiday to be granted an equivalent number of days in the course of the new year.

The OPC says that the State President’s special dispensation to civil servants is not a declaration of Public Holidays in Malawi in respect of those days.

The statement finishes with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year wish from the State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu for all civil servants in Malawi and cautioning them to take special care during the festive season and avoid activities that would jeopardise their own safety and the well being of other members of the public.

This is not the first time that the State President has granted civil servants a holiday during the festive season.

According to some civil servants that Malawi Digest has spoken to, many people are pleased with what President Mutharika has done as this will give them enough time to enjoy the birth of Jesus Christ as well as the coming New Year.

In normal circumstances, civil servants only go holiday on 25th December, 26th of December and the 1st of January only-Malawi Digest.

Wedding bells! bells! President's daughter

HAPPY COUPLE: The president's daughter Duwa Mutharika now married to Tonderai Mubaira from Zimbabwe. Pic exclusively by Malawi Digest.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

There have been celebrations in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre where President Bingu wa Mutharika’s last born child Duwa Mutharika has wedded her long time lover, Tonderai Mubaira the only child in the family.

This is one of the most rare occasions in Malawi where you see a member of the first family getting married.

The day started at the Multipurpose Hall at the St Michaels and All Angels campus where the two made vows before Pastor T.Joseph of the Lilongwe Baptist Church.

The bride and groom were smartly dressed and waved at both sides of the giant multipurpose hall before taking their places in front before the congregation.

President Bingu wa Mutharika was already in the hall when the couple arrived.

The Malawi leader was in a classy manner, dressed in all white including wedding gloves.

The State President, father to the woman shared the front seat with the man’s mother and Mrs Mubaira and his uncle a Edwin Chisonga.

Reverend T. Joseph led the couple through their biggest moment in life by making their matrimonial vows before God.

The two later exchanged rings before the Baptist Reverend declared them husband and wife.

“I now declare you husband and wife and Tonderai, you may salute the bride,” he said to the ululation of the entire hall as they watched Tonderai and Duwa, hug before making their very first kiss as husband and wife.

The couple with their bridal party left for outside the hall where they had their pictures taken together with their respective families.

Later in the afternoon, the celebrations moved to the Presidentail Sanjika Palace in Blantyre where thousands of people congratulated the newly wed couple.

Almost all senior party and government officials, friends and relatives were there but conspicuously missing was Malawi’s Vice President Joyce Banda.

No official explanation was given for her absence at this auspicious occasion when her boss was having a daughter getting married.

Former official Hostess Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira was also there dancing with the happy crowd.

People were served with lunch whose menu was limited to nothing.

During the ceremony, people heard the background of the newly weds and gifts were splashed on them.

The gifts included fridges, cookers, dish washing machines, sofa sets, micro waves, kitchen utensils and of course cash.

The Mulhako Wa Alhomwe heritage group in their beautiful colours were also there where they also donated an big item that was well wrapped but carried by over six people.

President Bingu Wa Mutharika is a Lhomwe by tribe and he is founder and patron for Mulhako Wa Alhomwe.

The cash was in different currencies including Malawi Kwacha, United States dollars and South African Rands.

Several people and companies contributed money well over MK1 million each and these include Mr and Mrs Leston Mulli of Mulli Brothers Limited and Bishop Ibrahim Simama and several others.

Speaking on behalf of the Mutharika family at the ceremony, Professor Peter Mutharika said that he was proud that Duwa was getting married to Tonderai.

Mutharika, a lawyer by profession warned the couple that marriage is not about power but working together.

He asked them to respect the matrimonial vows that they had made before God to stay together for life.

“I ask you to keep your wedding vows made before God and the community earlier on today,” he said.

Professor Mutharika welcomed the Mubaira family to Malawi and hoped that they would get to know each other and become one big family very soon.

In his speech, a representative of the Mubaira family, Edward Chisonga said that they were pleased that the two children had brought the two families together.

He said it was even more pleasing in that the marriage had brought the two countries of Malawi and Zimbabwe together.

“With this marriage, the people of Malawi and Zimbabwe have become even more closer,” he said.

He said he was proud of Tonderai and that as a young ambitious young man, he would not let down his family in his new found life of marriage.

Before winding up the ceremony, President Bingu wa Mutharika dances with his daughter and Tonderai with his mother-Malawi Digest.

Prof. Mutharika back from global meet

A senior official from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs welcomes Professor Mutharika at Kamuzu International Airport on Friday. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Frank Malemia

Malawi’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has arrived back home from a successful 10-day trip in India where he attended the 10th Conference for the World’s Chief Justices.

He arrived at Kamuzu International Airport yesterday, Friday by South African Airways to a grand welcome by people from his home village in the mountainous tea growing district of Thyolo. They danced Tchopa to welcome their son and the Professor Mutharika joined them in the dance.

The constituents from Thyolo East told waiting reporters, they had to welcome their son in such grand style because he is making them proud.

“He is not only making Thyolo East proud but also Malawi as a whole because we didn’t expect that our own son and MP could be travelling to far countries such as India to speak to all Chief Justices from the entire world, this is very good for the country,” said a Mr Mulepa, who identified himself as leader for the delegation.

Professor Mutharika himself a Charles Nagel Professor of Internationaland Comperative Law, Washington University, United States of America told reporters that gathered at the airport in their large numbers that he was pleased with the kind of reception that he got both in India and back home upon arrival.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs were there in their large numbers to welcome their minister.

Upon arrival at the VVIP lounge, Professor Mutharika was given a bouquet of flowers by a female official from the Ministry marking a warm reception for one of Malawi’s greatest sons.

Speaking to journalists on his trip, the young Mutharika said that he was humbled and pledged to be invited as a ‘special guest’ and speak to such an important for eminent Chief Justices from all countries throughout the world.

He said his address, centred on the massive abuses of children from around the world.

The minister said that he thought of speaking for the plight children because research has shown that children are becoming the most venerable group of people.

“After my address, participants at the conference agreed that world countries should have laws that are ensuring the protection for the rights of children,” he said.

The minister told the conference that he noted that at least four major Western countries had reports of massive abuses of children.

“I told the conference that as a result of these circumstances, the world needs to resort to regional and national mechanisms to address the plight of our children,” he said.

He said among many other issues, he told the conference that the new National Registration Act adopted by the National Assembly a few weeks ago will in one way establish a system of National Registration for children among so that Malawi as a country is able to identify children for the purpose of access to various government programs.

“In the area of special protection, Malawi established four Childrens Courts in 2006 which have Jurisdiction over our children when they appear in courts either as witness or offenders,” said the Minister, adding Malawi as a country was applauded for making these strides in ensuring that the rights of children are respected.

According to Professor Peter Mutharika, the conference in India, came exactly one year after receiving the International Jurist Award presented to him in New Delhi by the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh-Malawi Digest.

Malawi Flames line-up tough 2010 friendlies

Flames coach Kinnah Phiri says good preparations are needed before Angola 2010. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

The Malawi national football team, the Flames have left this morning for the Mozambican province of Tete where they will play against that country’s national football side.

The Flames left Malawi Friday morning by road for this important international football encounter.

The team that left for Mozambique is comprised of mostly locally based players and three foreign based.

Speaking to Malawi Digest before departure, coach Kinnah Phiri said that friendlies before going to the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola are a must for the country.

“If we are to perform well in Angola 2010, we have to leave no stone unturned in our preparations hence the need for these international friendlies,” he said.

Soon after playing the Mozambicans on Saturday, coach Kinnah Phiri is expected to name his final squad that he will be taking to Angola for the Nations Cup championship.

According to Football Association of Malawi Chief Executive Officer, Charles Nyirenda apart from the Mozambique match, the Flames have also secured three other international matches before leaving for Angola.

Nyirenda said that the Flames will fly to Cairo on December 26 this year and play the Pharaohs on the 29th of December.

The CEO said that then the team will fly back home for another international friendly against Togo on 2nd January, 2010 at Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial city Blantyre.

The team will then fly to Swaziland where they will camp before going to Angola.

Apart from camping in Mbabane, the Flames will also test their powers against African giants Ghana.

This will be the Flames last international friendly before travelling to Angola.

In Angola, the Flames have been put in the same group and will be playing their matches in Luanda together with Mali, Algeria and the hosts Angola-Malawi Digest.

Mulli says will support any DPP candidate

Mulli says that he ready to support any candidate that will come after State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Frank Malemia

Mulli, was speaking in the week in an exclusive interview with one of Malawi’s private radio stations, Capital Radio.

Speaking in the interview, Mulli, who runs a number of businesses under the umbrella, Mulli Brothers Limited said that it was wrong to associate him with any potential presidential candidates for the 2014 presidential elections.

He was responding to a question from Capital Radio suggesting he was sponsoring Malawi’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to run for the high office for the 2014 elections.

Professor Mutharika is a younger brother to the incumbent Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.

In his response to these suggestions, Mulli said that these reports are false as he is preoccupied with the affairs of his business.

“Those reports are false. I am not a politician,” he said.

He said he was ready to support any presidential candidates elected by the party democratically.

“In the party, there are procedures to be followed and we are ready to support any candidate who has been elected by the party,” he said.

Mulli said that as a businessman, he was not concerned with the presidential candidature in the ruling party.

“It is the policy of the Mulli Brothers to support the government of the day and for now it is time for the DPP,” he said.

Mulli gave a historical background of his business association with ruling parties.

“Our company supports the government of the day, we did it during the UDF time and we are also doing it now under DPP,” he said.

Leston Mulli disclosed that although not directly involved as a politician, they normally come in to help whenever requested to do so.

Among many other businesses, Mulli Brothers Limited have interests in transport business, tea plantation and production, stationary, accommodation and general farming among many other businesses-Malawi Digest.

Muluzi should regret ill-treating Kamuzu

By Lucy Liponda

Former President for the Republic of Malawi should regret his actions for ill-treating Malawi’s first head of State the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

This was disclosed by former opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice president Nicholus Dausi this week.

In an exclusive interview with the national television broadcaster, the Malawi Television (TVM), Dausi, said that the former late head of state was ill-treated so much during the 10-year United Democratic Front (UDF) rule under Bakili Muluzi.

Dausi who is also Member of Parliament for Mwanza Central for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said he feels very bad when he hears former president Muluzi trying to talk good about the late Banda.

“Muluzi and his UDF are the people who ill-treated the late Kamuzu Banda and his family so much,” he told TVM this week in a series of interviews.

Dausi who was one of the closest aides for the late Banda until his death in 1997 said that under Muluzi, the country’s first president saw a lot of hell some of which cannot be explained.

“The late Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda saw a lot of misery through actions directly ordered by Bakili Muluzi and I will leave all this for God to judge Muluzi and his fellow UDF officials,” he said.

Dausi, gave an example of when Bakili Muluzi, then as President of Malawi ordered a search at the Kamuzu Banda’s retirement home of Mudi in the commercial city, Blantyre.

He said the search for the so called ‘documents’ took a good two days and all this time, the late Kamuzu who was sick, old and frail was made to remain awake throughout to witness the exercise.

“I was there when the Bakili Muluzi ordered Police pestered the late Ngwazi Dr Kamuzu Banda even in his bedroom looking for documents for a good two days none stop,” he said.

Dausi explained that although he personally protested this together with the former Official Hostess Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira to the rude and unruly Bakili Muluzi searching Police, all this fell on death ears.

“The Bakili Muluzi Police made us remove the late Kamuzu from his personal bed, for them to search for documents under the sheets, blankets and mattress and this happened several times within the two days they were in the Mudi house,” he said.

Dausi disclosed that although Muluzi was fully aware that the late Banda was old and sick, he ordered the Police to treat him like a criminal.

“There were event points where we had to change positions of the late Dr Banda with the Police searching for documents behind his back and under him between the sheets,” he said.

Dausi who was then working as one of the security officers for the Kamuzu disclosed that one of Bakili Muluzi’s senior ministers the late Alfred Itimu even kicked blankets and danced on the bed of the late Kamuzu.

“In one of our meetings trying to hand over government property, the late Itimu jumped onto the late Kamuzu Banda’s bed, danced on it before kicking away a blanket that was being used by the late Ngwazi,” said Dausi, disclosing that Itimu said was doing this to show that Kamuzu was now powerless.

Dausi, who is also chairperson for Malawi Parliament’s most powerful Public Appointments Committee said that in all these ill-treatments by Bakili Muluzi, God will be the best judge.

He said it is for this reason that he decided that no matter what happens, he will never associate himself with the opposition UDF party and its leader Bakili Muluzi.

“The way Bakili Muluzi, Brown Mpinganjira, the late Collins Chidzumira, Wenham Nakanga and Shaibu Itimu ill-treated the late Ngwazi, Mama Kadzamira and others, we will never forget,” he said almost crying on camera.

Dausi said that whilst as devout Roman Catholic cannot call for revenge on Muluzi, he does see any merit in Muluzi complaining for any ill-treatment after ruling Malawi for 10 years.

“If he is facing any problems that he may describe as ill-treatment, Muluzi should recall what he did to the late Banda and his family, he will find out that it was all beyond explanation,” he said.

Dausi also did shed a tear for Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira for all the suffering she got courtesy of former President Bakili Muluzi.

“Mama Kadzamira was persecuted by Muluzi, suffered a lot even spent nights at Chichiri Prison all because Bakili Muluzi wanted to punish the late Banda, his family and closest aides,” he said.

In the May 19th Presidential and Parliamentary polls, former president Muluzi and his opposition UDF party partnered the opposition MCP of John Tembo but the team was not voted into power.

During that campaign, Muluzi addressed political rallies with John Tembo where he praised the late Banda so much but people did not listen to Muluzi’s plastic smiles and cosmetic talk.

The two partners were jointly kicked out of the Presidential and Parliamentary race by the incumbent State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party-Malawi Digest.

Am happy to belong to Mulhako says Mulli

Mulli Brothers Managing Director Leston Ted Mulli dances proudly with fellow Lhomwes in this Lhomwe traditional dance. Pic courtesy of Mulli Brothers Limited.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Malawi’s business magnate Leston Ted Mulli of Mulli Group of Companies Limited has disclosed that he is proud to be associated with the Lhomwe heritage group, the Mulhako Wa Alhomwe.

Mulli was speaking this week in an interview with one of Malawi’s private radio station, the Capital FM.

Speaking to the radio in an exclusive interview, Mulli said that he does not regret his association with the organisation whose aims are to preserve and promote Lhomwe culture in Malawi.

Mulli who has probably Malawi’s biggest locally owned conglomerate said that people should not question his connection with the Mulhako Wa Alhomwe.

He said like any other human being and a Malawian he has got a right to association with any grouping of his choice.

“Everyone in the world belongs to certain culture and tribe. If I belong to Mulhako Wa Alhomwe, it means I am a Lhomwe and I am just exercising my right,” he said.

Mulli, himself a successful businessman dismissed assertions that the grouping was aimed at promoting people belonging to the Lhomwe tribe into important government positions.

“All Lhomwe people having positions in government are qualified for those positions,” he said.

Speaking an exclusive interview to Malawi Digest on Thursday morning, the business guru said that Mulhako Wa Alhomwe is in Malawi to stay and that is irreversible.

“The Maseko Ngonis from Ntcheu have their grouping, the Jere Ngonis from Mzimba have theirs, the Chewas have their own and many more, so what’s wrong with Mulhako Wa Alhomwe?” he said.

Mulli, who is also a senior member for the Mulhako Wa Alhomwe national executive committee said that the organisation was pleased with the kind of cooperation it is receiving from other heritage groups like those mentioned above.

“It’s good for the country as people are able to learn from each other’s cultures and share experiences,” he said.

Mulli disclosed to Malawi Digest that the organisation has ambitious plans of raising funds that would help the organisation to be self sustaining.

“We have good plans that would help Mulhako Wa Alhomwe to be there for ever and ever, we will be disclosing those plans in due course,” he said.

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is founder and patron for the Mulhako Wa Alhomwe cultural grouping.

According to businessman Leston Mulli, the organisation was launched on October 25, 2008 at a function that was attended by the State President in the mountainous Mulanje district.

Mulli said that the headquarters for Mulhako Wa Alhomwe are at Chonde in Mulanje-Malawi Digest.

Malawi sends SOS for Karonga quake victims

Some of the damaged houses and items for the displaced in Karonga that President Bingu wa Mutharika saw when he visited the disaster prone area on Monday.

By Lucy Liponda

The government has called for urgent appeals for relief items for the people in the lakeshore northern region district of Karonga.

The people were struck by several earthquakes that shook the area last week.

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika visited the displaced people on Monday where he made a donation of MK2.5 million, pledged more government support and appealed for assistance from well wishers.

In a press statement issued in the administrative capital, Lilongwe, Thursday, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs in the Office of President and Cabinet and made available to Malawi Digest said that as a result of the increasing number of people and their increasing needs, government is appealing for assistance from well wishers including individuals, companies, institutions, agencies and non-governmental organisations.

“The assistance will help alleviate the suffering amongst the affected people,” says the statement signed by Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Lilian Ng’oma.

The department says that among many other items, the assistance required include the following: maize flour, matemba/kapenta fish, beans, iodised kitchen salt, Likuni phala, cooking oil, milk, sugar, corn soya blend, tents for shelter and to be used as classrooms, blankets, plastic sheets, plastic plates, plastic cups, spoons, matches, firewood, candles, jericans and building materials among many others.

The department says that donations can be made through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, Private Bag 336, Lilongwe 3 or directly to the District Commissioner for Karonga.

The statement says that all cheques should be made payable to the “National Disaster Appeal Fund”.
Karonga experienced earth quakes on 6th, 7th and December, 2009.

According the Department of Management Affairs, the earth quakes killed one person, injured several people and caused damage to people’s houses and infrastructure.

The department says that so far, 3,047 households in Traditional Authorities Kyungu, Kilupula and Mwakaboko have been affected and that their houses have either collapsed or have developed cracks.

The earth quakes have also displaced 3,000 people, whose villages have developed big cracks on the ground, rendering the area unstable and therefore not safe for habitation.

“A camp has been established for the displaced people. The earth quakes have also damaged institutional infrastructure such as school blocks, teachers’ houses, police houses, health centres and boreholes,” says the department.

The department says that the impact of the earth quake is still being undertaken by the District Assembly, hence the number of affected people is expected to increase-Malawi Digest.

Let everyone plant a tree says Dr Mutharika

GOOD LEADERSHIP: The smartly dressed Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika leading by example by watering his tree after planting two seedlings to mark the launch of the National Forestry Season. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Frank Malemia

Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has issued a directive ordering the government’s Department of Forestry to provide for free, tree seedlings to everyone wishing to open woodlots and those planting along rivers and streams to ensure that more trees are planted during this year’s forestry season.

Although he made this public directive, Dr Mutharika cautioned those benefiting from this free service not to abuse the government’s good gesture by selling the seedlings.

President Dr Mutharika, was speaking on Tuesday at the headquarters of Traditional Authority Nkalo in the southern region district of Chiradzulu.

In his speech marking the launch of this year’s National Forestry Season, Dr Mutharika said that he was aware that forests in the country are getting depleted at a faster rate than expected mainly for energy in forms of firewood and charcoal.

The State President said that it was for this reason that his government is putting in place mechanisms that would help reduce the rate of deforestation in the country.

Dr Mutharika disclosed that his government is not just sitting idle but exploring other alternatives for energy such as the use of small hydro power stations to ensure that electricity is available in all areas within the affordable means for most Malawians.

He said, his government has intensified the afforestation programme, hence the introduction of the forestry season to enable more individuals, institutions and organizations to plant as many trees as possible.

He said that it was his wish to see that all the bare land especially on hills, slopes and along rivers and streams is forested through out Malawi.

“Let’s try to restore the environment which used to be there in the past. There used to be different forestry products in this area which I enjoyed during my childhood days,” recalled the State President.

He appealed to all traditional leaders in the country to join hands with government in encouraging the Malawian population to plant more trees. The same message was also sent to all cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament and all senior government officials.

To mark the launch of this year’s National Forestry Season, the State President led by example by planting two tree seedlings namely; m’bawa and nthete.

President Mutharika planted the tree seedlings along Namitembe river near Traditional Authority Nkalo’s headquarters.

This year’s National Forestry Season (NFS) which runs from the 15th of December to the 15th of April, 2010 under the theme ‘Conserve Forests and Trees Mitigate Climate Change’.

The two seedlings that the State President planted, are among 65 million seedlings that the Malawi government expects people to plant during the national forestry season.

The exercise takes place throughout Malawi-Malawi Digest.

Kuntiya replaced over Mulanje pirate radio

Malawi's Information and Civic Education Minister Leckford Thotho confirmed of a new Director General at Macra. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda

The broadcasting regulator, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has replaced its acting Director General Mike Kuntiya.

The new Director General is Charles Nsaliwa formerly for Malawi Telecommunications Limited.

Information Minister Leckford Thotho confirmed to Malawi Digest on Wednesday the replacement of Kuntiya with a new Director General.

The Minister, however, declained to take any more questions saying; "Mr Nsaliwa is replacing an acting Director General."

However information gathered by Malawi Digest indicates that Kuntiya has been replaced following his decision to award a radio license to a convicted radio pirate operator, Gabriel Kondesi from the mountanious tea growing district of Mulanje.

Kuntiya has been acting Director General for Macra for over one year and our sources say that he was due to be confirmed in his position as Director General for the organization.

However, things turned sour on October 27th this year when Kuntiya without consulting his board of directors and management addressed a press conference where he made a single man’s decision to award the convict an operating license.

During the briefing, Kuntiya, also committed Macra to MK10 million radio station project where Kondesi was going to be one of the directors.

Both Kondesi and his father were present during the press briefing.

However, the news backfired at Kuntiya almost hours later when the Macra board chairperson Thengo Maloya distanced his organization from the pledge and license.

Maloya said the decision to award a convict a license was wrong and that the MK10 million radio project pledge was done by Kuntiya in his personal capacity and not as Macra.

“If it was Macra’s decision, we, as board would have been consulted,” he said.

The Macra board chairperson promised that they were investigating the acting Director General’s conduct and that a decision would follow in few weeks.

Following this promise, the board of director appointed Nsaliwa as Director General.

Although the news was only made public on Wednesday, Nsaliwa’s contract is reported have started on 9th December, 2009.

Meanwhile, a source within Macra has disclosed to Malawi Digest that Mike Kuntiya has gone back to his old job as Director for Telecommunications at Macra.

“They wanted to sack him but he has been saved because he only had his contract renewed in March this year for the next two years so, Macra would have paid him a lot of money,” said the source.

The Standard 7 school drop-out, Gabriel Kondesi was arrested on 14 October, this year for operating a radio station called Pachikweza without a broadcasting license.

Two days later, the Mulanje Magistrate Court fined 21-year-old Kondesi MK50, 000.00 or face 10 months imprisonment with hard labour.

However, two days later, villagers who had benefited from the boy’s creativity together with his parents sold their little property and organized a MK50, 000.00 before freeing the boy from custody.

This is the first time in Malawi that Macra has arrested an individual for operating a pirate radio station in the country.

Before his arrest, Gabriel Kondesi had been operating Pachikweza Radio Station in areas surrounding the boarder areas of Limbuli in Mulanje.

Kondesi used local materials such as car batteries, television aerial, wires and a radio cassette player to operate this illegal radio station for over 3 years.

Two years ago, the boy went to Macra to apply for a radio license but his efforts were frustrated when Macra failed to come back to him despite assurances that supervisory body would come back to him through the Mulanje District Commissioner-Malawi Digest.

Dr Mutharika cheers Karonga quake victims

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, on Monday this week visited some victims of the series of earthquakes that have hit some parts of the northern region including Karonga.

During the visit, the State President cheered the victims and ordered for their immediate re-settlement.

As part of his efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people, President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika also donated MK2.5 million to the nearly 4,000 natural calamity victims.

There have been a series of earthquakes that have hit the northern lakeshore district of Karonga that has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people.

At least one person has been confirmed dead as a result of this catastrophe with several others injured and the Bingu wa Mutharika led government has swiftly moved in to help the victims.

The Malawi government through the Department for Disaster Management Affairs in the Office of President and Cabinet is also assisting the victims with relief materials like tents, plastic sheets, blankets, cooking utensils, beans, sugar, salt and the country’s staple food maize.

Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Lilian Ng’oma has appealed for help for the all Malawians including the private sector saying the victims require urgent help that may not be solicited from government alone.

In the picture, President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, as a caring father and leader, carries one of the children for the victims during his visit in Karonga on Monday-Malawi Digest.

Bakili Muluzi sick: Now using walking stick

By Emmanuel Sobilika

When you are a glass house, don’t throw stones at others this is what has become of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Bakili Muluzi.

Muluzi, who has been in the United Kingdom (UK) for six months on a Malawi government fully paid for trip receiving medical attention, is now back home in Malawi but spotting a walking stick.

Although Muluzi has not explained anything about the walking stick, the item is suspected to be supporting him following an operation he had on his slipped discs.

The UDF leader, who normally addresses his party supporters when arriving in the country from his numerous UK trips, did not do so on Saturday when he landed in the country.

Muluzi was in a very sad mood when he landed by the South African Airways flight at around 1:00pm (Malawi Time).

He descended the steps of the SAA plane with the help of a walking stick on his left hand and the other getting support from the airport mobile stairs.

Behind him watching closely over the former Malawi president Bakili Muluzi was his trusted boy and his official Aide De Camp, Jamil Mwalabu.

Immediately he touched foot on Malawi soil, Muluzi only managed a few steps with the walking stick and he was helped into his vehicle that was granted special clearance by the airport authorities to pick the UDF leader from the aeroplane foot.

As he walked a few steps to the vehicle, Muluzi looked sick and frail.

The vehicle took him to the VIP lounge where he answered a few questions from journalists before being driven to his Anti-Corruption Bureau seized, BCA Hill residence.

A hand full of his supporters who came to hear from the man who ruled Malawi for 10 years but did not get enough for his job, had a rude awakening when Bakili Muluzi just waived at them from his vehicle before speeding off to his residence.

The few supporters dressed in tattered yellow cloth were left with their mouths agape as they watched in disbelief that the man they were watching passing was the same person about eight months ago was blasting the airwaves in Malawi that “Come May 19th, I am going to remove President Bingu wa Mutharika as president of Malawi.”

At the Chileka International Airport, those who saw the drama unfold could not believe that the same opposition UDF national chairman who speaks so freely without caring what he is talking about and casting government like nobody’s business was the one arriving so timidly like this at the international airport in full glance of the public and the nosy press.

What was seen at Chileka International Airport was just another chapter of the UDF national chairman, the same name of Bakili Muluzi but behaving differently, timid Bakili Muluzi, a dwarfed UDF national chairperson

Former President Bakili Muluzi has on three different occasions tried to rape the Malawi Constitution to allow himself stay in power as President of the Republic of Malawi for life.

On all those three occasions, Bakili Muluzi failed miserably in his plans.

Back home in Malawi, Bakili Muluzi is expected to answer corruption charges where he diverted over MK1.7 billion of donor money meant for the people of Malawi into his person coffers.

Muluzi has also another string of cases in court ranging from theft, abuse of office and debts among many other court cases.

About a month ago, former President Muluzi was in the media dismissing rumours that he had died in the United Kingdom.

No media is Malawi both state and private announced news on the alleged death for Muluzi.

It is not known how Muluzi heard the so called rumours and what form of media announced them or that it was just a political gimmick to get sympathy from the Malawian public-Malawi Digest.

Dr Mutharika praises China over projects

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika laying the foundation stone. Looking on is Chinese ambassador to Malawi, Lin Songtian.

By Our Reporter

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has heaped praises on the government for the Peoples Republic of China describing it as a true friend for Malawi.

He said this has been evidenced by the full realization of the projects they promised to undertake when the two countries established diplomatic relations about two years ago.

The Malawian leader was speaking in the administrative capital, Lilongwe during the ground breaking ceremony for an international conference centre and its complimentary hotel.

The luxurious international conference arena and hotel project is receiving funding from the Chinese government.

“The government and the people of the Peoples Republic of China are true friends and this indeed evidenced by the full realization of projects they promised,” said Ngwazi Dr Mutharika.

He said that the Malawi government tried to look for assistance for this project from other donors but to no avail before the Chinese government came in to finance the project.

President Mutharika reminded the gathering that many people criticized him when he switched diplomatic ties by dumping Taiwan and taking on the Peoples Republic of China.

He said in doing so, he showed his visionary leadership skills.

The State President mentioned that even the world at large recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate China.

“The United Nations and the African Union recognizes one China in the Peoples Republic of China, why should Malawi be the odd one out,” he said.

With a number of all the development projects China is carrying out within a short period of establishing relationship, the Malawi leader wondered what would people be looking for in a friend more than what China is doing now.

He challenged his critics, those who were saying he was wrong to dump Taiwan for China, to come out and say he was wrong.

Dr Mutharika then told the gathering that the international conference centre and hotel complex is a milestone in the development of Malawi as it has clearly demonstrated government commitment to develop the infrastructure to international standards.

“Many summits, conferences, workshops in the SADC or Africa could not be hosted in Malawi because of lack of adequate and modern facilities to accommodate large number of people. As a country, Malawi lost out on benefits from these international conferences, that’s why my government looked for assistance from China to build this conference centre and its hotel,” he said.

The State President described the international conference centre and hotel as seen on drawings mounted at the venue as structures out of Malawi and out of this world.

“In fact, I was joking with the Chinese ambassador that it will actually be Shanghai in Lilongwe.”

In his remarks, the Chinese ambassador to Malawi, Lin Songtian, explained that the international conference centre will boost tourism in Malawi, provide employment opportunities and bring to Malawi the much needed revenue.

He said the project is another manifestation of the strong relationship existing between Malawi and China thought it is only less than two years old.

Lin Songtian said that though the whole world is suffering from global financial crisis, China keeps all its promises to Malawi and has not hesitated to deliver the projects one by one including this huge project.

“The relationship between Malawi and China is less than two years but it has developed rapidly and fruitful and China has become a very important development partner for Malawi,” he said.

The ambassador revealed that trade mainly through tobacco export has greatly increased and Chinese investment has grown tremendously amount to 55% of direct foreign investments in Malawi in the first half of this year, one such investment is the Balaka cotton project.

According to the deputy Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure, Francis Kasaila, the capacity for the conference centre will be 1, 500 seats while the banquet hall will have 1, 000 occupants, and the hotel 130 rooms plus 10 VVIP on top of 20 presidential villas.

He said it will be completed in two and half years and will cost U$ 90 million.

Apart from this international conference hall and the hotel, the Chinese government is also funding the construction of the new Parliament building in Lilongwe, the Chitipa-Karonga road construction and very soon, the Chinese will kick-start the construction of an international football stadium in Lilongwe-Malawi Digest.

Prof Mutharika in India for global conference

Professor Peter Mutharika stressing a point to a Malawi Digest reporter at Kamuzu International Airport before departure for India on Wednesday. Pic exclusively by Malawi Digest.

By Frank Malemia

Malawi’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is in India to attend the 10th International Conference of Chief Justices.

He left Malawi through the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

Professor Peter Mutharika been invited as a ‘Special Guest’ to address the 10th International Conference of Chief Justices from all over the world.

The international conference is scheduled to take place between the 11th and 14th of December, 2009 in India.

Professor Mutharika is expected to address the conference on December 13th, 2009.

In press statement from the Ministry of Justice and Constitution Affairs made available to Malawi Digest, Professor Peter Mutharika was sent an invitation to the conference by the convener of the conference Dr Jagdish Gandhi, the Honourable Minister is being invited to address the conference because of his high level of experience at Law in order to share with the global judges.

“Having noted your undisputable achievements, which by far cannot be compared to many, we have decided to request you Sir to address the gathering so they benefit from your knowledge,” say Gandhi in invitation letter.

Gandhi says that as a highly learnt lawyer, Professor Mutharika has vast knowledge that the judges from different countries world wide can learn from through his presentation at the conference.

According to Gandhi, in the past conferences over 300 judges from around the world have attended and it is expected that this year’s gathering will surpass the past figures.

Speaking before departure, the press statement said Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika said that he gladly accepted to address the conference.

“I am excited about this invitation to address this international gathering of eminent judges and my speech will be centred on the protection of children in the world,” said Professor Mutharika.

Professor Mutharika said that children of the world are facing a lot of challenges including HIV/Aids, child labour, domestic child abuse and many others that he said will be highlighted in the Minister’s speech to the conference.

The Minister mentioned Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States as just some of the countries in the world where issues of child victimisation have appeared in the media.

“Children are the most venerable group of people although I have just returned from a three-week rigorous Parliamentary sitting where my Ministry took centre stage, I accepted to be part and parcel of trying to come up with solutions of protecting them at this global conference,” he said.

According to the press statement, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is one of Malawi’s most highly educated international lawyers.

Before being appointed Malawi’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Member of Parliament for Thyolo East, Professor Mutharika was lecture of Law at the Washington University in the United States of America.

He was also Malawi Presidential Advisor on Constitution, Legal and International Affairs.

Apart from writing several books on Law, Professor Peter Mutharika is currently serving as advisor to the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law initiative.

He was recently installed by Washington University of Law as the Charles Nagel Professor of International & Comparative Law becoming the first African person to be granted this honour.

In 2008, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika received the International Jurist Award-Malawi Digest.

Mzamo arrives to a lukewarm reception

Mzamose Chibambo got not a so warm reception when she arrived back home. Pic courtesy of Timve Magazine.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Malawi’s 2009 Big Brother Africa Revolution representative Mzamose Chibambo has arrived in the country to a lukewarm reception.

This is contrary to a heroes reception given to another Big Brother finalist Hezel Warren last year and the other year's representative Code Sangala.

Mzamo, landed at Chileka International Airport in the commercial city, Blantyre.

She walked from all alone from the plane to the VIP lounge clutching in her hands, her hand bag. She looked embarassed and none of the on lookers cheered at her.

Twice, she tried to look at the hand-full of people that were outside the VIP fence and on both occasions, she was shy to face the people in the face.

She dropped her face twice, hiding it in her hands before managing a single wave to the people.

She was given a bouquet of flowers by an under five girl before being ushered into the VIP lounge often used by diplomats, members of parliament and company chief executives.

Later on the day, she tried to defend her actions at a press briefing organized by Multichoice Malawi.

She said what she did in the house was trying to be herself and nothing more nothing less.

24-year old Mzamose Jean Chibambo lost in the finals of the 2009 Big Brother Africa Revolution after staying in the house for the entire 91 days period. She came a distant 4th position from the US$200,000.00 prize money.

She said that she believes, Kelvin the Nigerian did not deserve to win the competition.

“My choice for a winner was Edward, the Namibian,” she said.

Interestingly both Mzamo and Edward got a single vote from their respective countries. The two may have possibly differed because of the numbers of people who voted as Edward came third in the competition.

The 24-year old Mzamo stunned many of her critics in Malawi when she reached the finals of the 2009 Big Brother Revolution show which was being held in South Africa.

The daughter of a former diplomat and politician Ziliro Chibambo, Mzamo caused some controversy back home in Malawi because of what many people have described as her un Malawian behavior.

The issues that have not impressed many Malawians include; her excessive drinking culture, smoking habit, dressing, the use of foul language and her sexual escapades with evicted housemate, Lionel from the neighbouring Mozambique. The two are reported to have had sex in the house although this has not been proved.

On arrival in Blantyre, Mzamose dismissed talk that she had sex in the house with the Mozambican. She said they were only friends.

Following her behaviour in the house and a public outcry, her own family back home in Malawi condemned her greatly.

She said then that what Mzamose was doing in the house was not what the Chibambo family had expected of her and that they were embarrassed she behaved that way on live television.

However, following some great help from Namibian housemate Edward who twice saved Mzamo from possible eviction, the Malawian student reached the finals of the Big Brother Africa Revolution.

The final competition was between Namibia’s Edward, Angola’s Emma, Kelvin and Nkenna both from Nigeria and Mzamo from Malawi.

Although this was the stance taken by the women religious leaders, there has been divergent opinion on the Malawi girl’s behaviour.

Others have argued it’s reality television such that people are displaying their normal behaviour whilst others feel she has embarrassed the nation.

Malawi remains a conservative society that was very dominant under the 31-year autocratic rule under former late president Hastings Kamuzu Banda and the former ruling Malawi Congress Party-Malawi Digest.

Children’s parliament ends in Lilongwe

The real senior Malawi National Assembly in session. The children are trying to emulate this Legislature. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda

The 8th session of children’s parliament has ended this Thursday here in Malawi’s administrative capital, Lilongwe.

The three-day meet for the young parliamentarians opened on Monday attracting about 140 child members from across the country.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi Digest after the house was suspended sine die; Speaker of the Children National Assembly Clotilda Rebello said the meeting allowed the young parliamentarians to exercise their leadership skills.

Rebello, who is also legislator for Balaka North constituency said the children took time to discuss important issues affecting the lives of young Malawians.

“Right to participation is a birth right to all children and this meeting has helped us to exercise our leadership skills for us to be good future leaders,” said Rebello, a Form two student at Lilongwe Girls Secondary School in Lilongwe.

The Speaker, called upon the Malawi government to ensure that all the resolutions made in the children’s parliament are implemented in order to make the session a success.

“We thank the Malawi government under Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika for all the support rendered in the fight against challenges that children in this country face, such as poverty, through school feeding programme,” she said.

Speaking on Monday when he officially opened the session, Director of Children Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Women and Child Development, Hyacinth Kulemeka, said government values such sessions as they help prioritize in the national development agenda of children.

“These meetings help in the national development agenda as it is a nursery for grooming leaders because children are able to air their views,” said Kulemeka adding that this will help shape the minds of the children.

The opening was attended to by Plan Malawi International, which also represented all Non-Governmental Organizations and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

The Children Parliament started in 2001 in Malawi and government has hailed it as a success story as children are given the right to express themselves in any way-Malawi Digest.

Huge demand for ARVs for HIV + in Malawi

Malawi's Health Minister Professor Moses Charuwanangwa Chirambo. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Our Reporter

One of Malawi’s leading international non-governmental organizations, the Concern Universal says that recent statistics show that about 300,000 people need the life-prolonging drugs, the Antiretrovirals.

The organization has since raised an alarm that the figure is too big for a country like Malawi.

This was disclosed by Concern Universal’s Country Director, Samson Hailu in the central region mountainous district of Dedza where he presided over a meeting where Concern Universal employees were reflecting on the HIV/Aids pandemic.

The meeting, focused on the impact of the HIV/Aids pandemic in the implementation of Concern Universal’s projects in the country.

The non-governmental organisation’s boss observed that the pandemic has negatively affected its operations in implementing development projects in their impact areas.

“In this regard, there is need for Concern Universal employees and people they work with to voluntarily go for HIV testing to know their HIV status. If found positive, they can have a chance to access ARVs to prolong their lives and continue contributing towards the development of the country,” he said.

Hailu said according to this year’s World Aids Day theme “Universal Access and Human Rights”, every person including Concern Universal staff have a right to access HIV and AIDS services.

Recently, the Malawi government announced that it is planning to bring into the country, a manufacturer who would be able to produce ARV’s locally.

State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika disclosed that manufacturing ARVs locally, would allow more people to access the life pro-longing drugs at reasonable or cheaper prices on the part of the government.

He said that it was the wish of his government to make sure that very person found to be HIV positive is put on ARVs immediately the need arises.

He said this would unable HIV positive patients to live longer and contribute to the development of the country-Malawi Digest.

Dr Mutharika salutes the Malawi Flames

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika says that he is impressed with the performance of the Malawi national football side, the Flames.

The Flames, recently qualified for the finals of the African Cup of Nations to be held in Angola.

The Flames are in Group A with the hosts Angola, Algeria and Mali.

The government of President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has pledged to support the Flames all the way to Angola.

It is through this support that the Flames qualified for Angola 2010 under a local coach, Kinnah Phiri.

This is the first time in 25 years that the Flames will be taking part in the finals of the Nations Cup.

At a recent Sports function in the capital, Lilongwe, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika took time off to congratulate Coach Kinnah Phiri on his achievement. The State President also took time to offer the coach some fatherly advice to the Flames through the coach.

In the picture, Kinnah Phiri is listening to the advice by Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika. Pic exclusively by Malawi Digest.

Prof Mutharika treats MPs to a banquet

Prof. Mutharika: After a successful sitting of Parliament, it's time to celebrate. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda,

Thursday, the 3rd of December 2009 will go down in Malawi’s history as the day when one of the country’s most distinguished sons Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika treated all Members of Parliament to a dinner and dance in the administrative capital, Lilongwe.

This, after a successful three week Parliamentary sitting in the administrative capital, Lilongwe where business in the house was dominated by Bills tabled by the Justice and Constitution Affairs Ministry.

During the 21-day sitting, the house approved among many other bills including the Police Bill, the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Law, the Courts Act, the Insurance and the National Registration Bill.

All these and others were tabled in the National Assembly by Professor Peter Mutharika such that he had enough reason to thank the MPs for the good job well done.

Instead of using his position as cabinet minister to use public funds in hosting such a huge gathering, Professor Peter Mutharika decided to play it big and cool by hosting all MPs to a delicious dinner and dance from his personal coffers.

One could not believe it when all legislators from both sides of the House converged at the beautifully constructed Great Sapitwa Hall at the Cross Roads Hotel in Lilongwe.

From about 7:00pm, the MPs trooped into the hotel premises in their large numbers, elegantly dressed.

Almost everybody was there including the Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda, Leader of the House Goodall Gondwe, Leader of the Opposition Ephraim Kayembe, Leader of UDF in the House Ibrahim Matola and his colleague Alfred Mwechumu, MPP’s Uladi Mussa, Aford’s Khwauli Msiska and many more.

Almost the entire cabinet was there and the opposition was represented in great numbers expect the UDF’s Abubakar Mb’aya and obviously MCP leader John Tembo and his lieutenants Joseph Njobvuyalema, Vitus Dzoole Mwale and Lingson Belekanyama were in their usual defiance mood, they did not attend.

From the government side, almost everybody was there expect for ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP’s) Vice President and Transport Minister Khumbo Kachali.

He only appeared in the banqueting hall after 10 pm after dinner was already served and the disco dance already hot.

During the event, MPs were served with dinner and drinks before Professor Peter Mutharika opened the dancing floor for the game to begin.

Just before this, director of ceremonies Ben Phiri invited Professor Mutharika to address his guests.

In his short speech, Professor Mutharika said that he decided to host the dinner as a way of appreciating the great role, the MPs played in the national assembly during the current sitting of Parliament.

“All the Bills were passed by the whole house as a unit, hence this invitation to this dinner and dance tonight. We worked as a team,” said Prof Mutharika.

He hailed the MPs for coming in their large numbers to party showing a sign that Malawians are getting matured politically.

“This is the way things are supposed to be,” said Mutharika in winding up his speech to a thunderous applause from the Members of Parliament.

According to Professor Mutharika’s personal assistant Ben Phiri, all the expenses at the dinner and dance have been paid for by the Justice Minister from his personal coffers.

Phiri could however not disclose how much the Professor spent on the merry but said “It’s quite a reasonable figure which I cannot disclose now,” he said.

The dance here is expected to go on to the early hours of Friday-Malawi Digest.

Malawi plans manufacturing of ARVs

Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika viewing some pavilions at the Dowa function.

By Our Reporter

The Malawi government says that it's planning to bring a company that can be manufacturing ARVs locally.

This ambitious plan has been announced by Malawi President Ngwazi Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika.

The Malawian leader, was speaking during events to mark a commemoration of the World Aids Day in the central region district of Dowa under the theme ‘Universal Access and Human Rights'

The State President said that work is already in progress to identify company that would produce the life prolonging medicine.

“This will make ARVs more accessible to people living with HIV thereby reducing the cost since the drugs will be produced locally,” said Dr Mutharika.

He said the project offers hope to people who have been found to have the virus that causes Aids.

“Time to regard ARV treatment as only for the rich is gone. I want each and every person who is HIV positive to access the drugs as any other person,” he said.

Mutharika, who commended Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS, the National Aids Commission and the corporate world for scaling down HIV and AIDS prevalence rate, said he was optimistic that there could be a drastic change if the country produced ARVs locally.

As part of the initiative to make HIV and AIDS services accessible, Dr. Mutharika pledged to continue sourcing equipment and other resources to bring HIV testing and counseling centres close to the people.

He advised Malawians to be responsible enough by making sure that they guard against themselves and their spouses to reduce transmission of the disease.

‘Rejected' Mzamo may win US$200,000.00

Malawi's 2009 Big Brother Revolution representative 24-year old Mzamose Jean Chibambo. Pic courtesy of Timve Magazine.

By Frank Malemia

Malawi’s 2009 reality show, Big Brother Africa Revolution representative Mzamose Jean Chibambo may instantly become a millionaire on Sunday if a viewers’ vote goes in her favour.

The 24-year old Mzamo has stunned many of her critics in Malawi when she reached the finals of the 2009 Big Brother Revolution show which is being held in South Africa.

The daughter of a former diplomat and politician Ziliro Chibambo, Mzamo has caused some controversy back home in Malawi because of what many people have described as her un Malawian behavior.

The issues that have not impressed many Malawians include; her excessive drinking culture, smoking habit, dressing, the use of foul language and her sexual escapades with evicted housemate, Lionel from the neighbouring Mozambique.

The two are reported to have had sex in the house although this has not been proved.

Following her behaviour in the house and a public outcry, her own family back home in Malawi condemned her greatly.

Her own sister, Violet who acts as a spokesperson for the Chibambo family said that Mzamose had shown some un Malawian behavior in the house.

She said then that what Mzamose was doing in the house was not what the Chibambo family had expected of her and that they were embarrassed she behaved that way on live television.

However, following some great help from Namibian housemate Edward who twice has saved Mzamo from possible eviction, the Malawian student is set to grab the US$200,000.00 prize money if viewers vote in her favour.

Following the eviction of Zimbabwean Itai last Sunday, the race now remains between five competitors including Namibia’s Edward, Angola’s Emma, Kelvin and Nkenna both from Nigeria and of course Malawi’s own Mzamo.

Meanwhile, Mzamo’s family has retreated from their earlier remarks and have since announced they are proud of her for reaching the finals.

Last month, a group of women religious leaders petitioned the Malawi Government through Women and Gender Minister Patricia Kaliati to condemn Mzamose behaviour in the reality show and withdraw her from the race.

Although this was the stance taken by the women religious leaders, there has been divergent opinion on the Malawi girl’s behaviour.

Others have argued it’s reality television such that people are displaying their normal behaviour whilst others feel she has embarrassed the nation.

Malawi remains a conservative society that was very dominant under the 31-year autocratic rule under former late president Hastings Kamuzu Banda and the former ruling Malawi Congress Party-Malawi Digest.