Malawi's First Lady in action

Malawi's in-coming First lady Madame Calista Chapola Chimombo (right) has taken into action as wife to Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika. Madame Chimombo, herself a former cabinet minister and distinguished member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party engaged President Mutharika on 14th February( the Valentines Day), 2010.

The couple is set to get married in the Roman Catholic church on 1st May, 2010.

Waiting for her official marriage day, has not stopped the in-coming Malawi First Lady from getting into action in her new role. Over the weekend, Madame Chimombo was in the tea growing district of Thyolo, southern Malawi where she presided over the launch of a government initiative on family support package for child headed households in Thyolo East.

In the picture, looking on is Women and Children Affairs Minister, Patricia Kaliati and Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister and Member of Parliament for the area, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika-Malawi Digest.

Malawi's presidential marriage engagement

Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika unveiling his beloved wife-to-be Calista Chimombo during their private traditional engagement (chinkhoswe) at the New State in the administrative capital, Lilongwe.

The just engaged couple Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and Madame Calista Chimombo waving and smiling to the crowd that came to the afternoon feast after their tradition chinkhoswe (engagement) earlier in the day.

The First Lady to-be Madame Calista Chimombo looking and smiling at her husband to-be Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika during afternoon celebrations after the traditional engagement (chinkhoswe) in the morning.
The pick of the traditional engagement (chinkhoswe). Two marriage counsellors (ankhoswe) from the two engaging families exchanging a cock standing for a man (Bingu) and a hen representing the woman (Calista).
Traditional engagement at its best as ankhoswe (counsellors) from Bingu's home village district of Thyolo bringing utensils for Calista's home use.

Ngwazi the AU chair tours Addis office hqs

By William Malimero
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Malawi State President and Chairperson of the African Union Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, has urged the African Union (AU) secretariat staff to be innovative to ensure that aspirations of Africans are realized.

He was speaking at AU Secretariat in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on familiarization tour to acquaint himself with activities of the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Dr Mutharika said at the just ended AU summit, a bureau comprising Malawi, Uganda Gabon, Liberia and Libya set priorities and isolated agriculture and food security, transport infrastructure, communication and energy to be priorities among priorities for the AU.

“For the priorities to yield results there is need for the secretariat to work hard for the union to yield results within a short period of time,” he said.

President Mutharika observed that any meaningful development starts with food security and hoped that Africa will achieve that within the coming five years.

“I am optimistic that in five years time no child will die of hunger or go to bed without eating in Africa,” he said.

He also said that transport and infrastructure were important for Africa as food produced need to be transported to the market or other areas of need within Africa and beyond.

He noted that most African countries construct roads of no direction as most of them fail to link with their neighbours.

“It is time we make our transport network, be it roads, railway or airline have a purpose. It is sad to note that some countries in African can only be reached though Europe. For how long are we going to go through that,” wondered Dr Mutharika.

He, therefore, advised the Secretariat that as they are entrusted in running the affairs of the AU they should consider linking Africa so that mobility of people and commodities can be eased.

President Dr Mutharika also said that Africa need to improve its communication facilities to ensure that services are improved.

“I note with sadness that when one want to communicate with countries in Europe faces not problem but when it is countries within Africa there are a lot of intermissions,” he observed-Malawi News Agency.

Dr Mutharika meets UN Secretary General

WITH THE POWER THAT BE: Malawi State President and AU Chairman holding talks with the world's most powerful man, the United Nation's Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon in Ethiopia. Pic by William Malimero, Malawi News Agency.

By William Malimero

The global grouping of countries, the United Nations Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon has asked the newly elected African Union chairperson Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika to intervene in political conflicts taking place in Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

The UN chief, said this in an interview after an audience with Dr Mutharika on Saturday at African Union Secretariat on the sidelines of the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union.

Moon said that he has a trust in Dr Mutharika’s experience and his ability to lead in various issues, hence his request.

“I know Dr Mutharika very well, he is able and mean it when he wants to achieve something, that is why I thought that he is the right person to put to rest political conflicts in the SADC region,” he said.

Meanwhile, State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has expressed concern over armed conflicts in some African countries which, he said, remained the biggest obstacle towards achieving prosperity and development in Africa.

Speaking in his acceptance speech soon after being elected AU Chairman, Dr Mutharika urged African countries to redouble their efforts to eliminate the conflicts and promote peace and security, democracy and good governance to ensure sustainable development of the continent.

Apart from the UN's Ban-ki-Moon, Dr Mutharika has also held secret talks with Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and Djibouti President Omar Ghelli among many other global leaders-Malawi News Agency.

Malawi's new chancery in Addis commissioned

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika cutting a ribbon marking the official openning of the Chancery in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pic by William Malimero, Malawi News Agency.

By William Malimero

Malawi State President Ngwazi Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika on Friday opened a magnificent K210 million chancery, an office complex for the Malawi mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Speaking during the opening ceremony in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Dr Mutharika
spelt the need for better facilities at the country’s foreign missions, saying such facilities would motivate staff to be committed to their work.

“I hope you will make better use of the facility to foster better relations with the people of Ethiopia and those from other countries as this is the political capital of Africa,” he advised staff working at the Mission.

Government, through ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Lands, Housing and Urban Development, has embarked on an infrastructure improvement programme of its foreign missions.

Other offices are also being built in Lusaka, Zambia. The programme has also earmarked Missions in Brussels, Belgium, Berlin in German, Maputo in Mozambique, Washington and New York in the United States of America.

Foreign Affairs minister, Prof. Etta Banda, and Lands, Housing and Urban Development Prof. Peter Mwanza said during the opening ceremony that the programme was aimed at improving the work environment for Malawians in Foreign Service.

Malawi’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, James Kalirangwe described the chancery as a manifestation of President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika’s commitment to Malawi’s development.

“This will motivate us to work even harder,’’ he said.

He, however, asked government to consider constructing houses for staff as well, saying this will help to cut rental costs which were very high.

Senior officials from the Ethiopian government, AU and representatives of other African countries witnessed the opening ceremony.

President Mutharika left for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday to attend the 14th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) where he was to elected Chairperson of the continental grouping on Sunday.

Speaking before departure for the session, Mutharika said as AU chairperson, he would work to attain food security on the African continent.

“Africa is not a hopeless continent, and I am confident that Africa will develop. It’s just a matter of time,” he told dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony of the Chancery.

Dr Mutharika observed that Africa has all the required resources to make herself self sufficient and become more independent.

‘It is just a matter of changing our mindset that Africa is poor, and concentrate on developing our continent using the available resources,’’ he said-Malawi News Agency.

Parliament meets Tuesday in Lilongwe

Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda

The Malawi National Assembly starts meeting in the country’s administrative capital, Lilongwe on Tuesday.

State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is expected to officially open this new session of Parliament following the prorogation of the previous one.

During the official opening, the State President will perform the State opening of the 42nd Session of Parliament at exactly 10:00am.

Under the Malawi Constitution, the State President has powers to prorogue parliament, meaning all the business from the previous session automatically falls-off.

According to Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu-Banda, State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika prorogued Parliament in December 2010.

The Speaker says that as a result, the new session starting on Tuesday will start afresh with no business being carried forward from the previous session.

According to information gathered from the Speaker’s officer at Mbelwa building in the heart of Lilongwe, featuring high on the new Parliamentary session will be a mid-year review on the national budget.

The 192 strong house will start business in welcoming two newly elected Members of Parliament in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s Fredrick Kamwangala of Lilongwe North West and Donnex Mpuzeni of the opposition UDF in Machinga South East.

The two newly elected legislators won by-elections held in the two areas on January 12, 2010.

Kamwangala replaces the late Ishmael Chafukira who died last year under mysterious circumstances whilst Mpuzeni replaces Rev. Wilson Ndomondo of the opposition UDF party.

Ndomondo was thrown out of the National Assembly after cheating the Malawi Electoral Commission by contesting in the May 19th general elections when he was a convict.

The Malawi Constitution does not allow convicts to seek a public office unless after seven years when seeking a Parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, Parliament is also expected to observe a minute of silent for two legislators who lost their lives during the recess period.

These fallen MPs are Hastings Petros Chitsamba of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for Dowa South East and Ajinga Hilalie Hassan of the opposition UDF from Mangochi-Malombe-Malawi Digest.

Another UDF MP in the spotlight for fake MSCE

Mbaya, his future as Member of Parliament now hangs in balance. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Maxwell Ng’ambi

When the Malawi National Assembly starts meeting in the administrative capital, Lilongwe tomorrow, Tuesday, the Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda is expected to act on a petition from some constituents of Mangochi East who are asking him to grant authority to the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) to investigate their Member of Parliament (MP) Abubakar Mbaya over allegations that he has been contesting as MP using his brother’s Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).

In an e-mail response to a Weekend Nation questionnaire, National Assembly spokesman Ian Mwenye said: “The office of the Speaker will act on the petition and issues that have been raised as per procedures and practices that are followed when handling petitions.”

The people claim their research shows that the MSCE with examination number 112/082, which Mbaya allegedly presented to the Electoral Commission in 1994, belongs to Anaki Wisiki Mbaya who is the MP’s brother.

In the letter dated January 4, 2010, the petitioners whose names and signatures are about one thousand, say they have written Chimunthu-Banda because Maneb executive director is on record that he can only act on authority from the Speaker.

“The people of Mangochi East, do hereby petition your office to investigate Hon. Abubakar Mbaya for obtaining a post as Member of Parliament of Mangochi East constituency during the 1994, 1999 and 2004 general elections with false pretence,” reads the petition which was received and duly signed for by the Speaker’s secretary Grace Mpagaja on January 5, 2010.

The petitioners, from Traditional Authority (T/A) Katuli, say that Mbaya has served in that capacity after presenting false information about his person at the District Commissioners office that he does not have both Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) and Junior Certificate (JC).

In November last year the constituents, in the letter to Maneb, alleged that Mbaya has never uttered a word since entering Parliament 15 years ago.

The constituents calling themselves ‘People of Mangochi East constituency’ asked Maneb to verify Mbaya’s MSCE because they are suspicious of its authenticity.

But Mbaya last week hit back, arguing the petitioners are being sponsored by people he competed against in the May 19 elections but lost.

“Malawi is a democratic country and if indeed I was a non performer they could have voted me out. This is my fourth time to be MP in Mangochi East constituency. Can a non performer with four times?” wondered Mbaya.

Mbaya said he is ready to be investigated, saying he has committed no crime.

On concerns that he does not contribute to debate in Parliament, Mbaya said the Hansards will show his record.

Mbaya’s brother Anaki accused accused the MP’s political opponents of ‘causing the trouble’.

“If he used my certificate, he should have been known as Anaki and not Abubakar. It is not true that my brother used my certificate,” Anaki said.

Maneb executive director Mathews Matemba confirmed receiving the letter from ‘the People of Mangochi East constituency’, requesting his office to investigate Mbaya over an MSCE.

In the earlier petition, the constituents claimed the MP does not present their development needs in Parliament because he is not educated to MSCE level as he claimed in 1994.

In May 2009 elections Mbaya got 10291 votes out of 20275 who voted in the constituency.

He beat five of his competitors with Paison Omar Kaisi on second position getting 3,265 votes.

Former opposition UDF Balaka North MP Lucious Banda was convicted in 2006 for presenting a fake MSCE to a person employed in public service-Weekend Nation.