Promise Zalakata Kamanga – Lilongwe, Malawi: The European Union (EU) has disbursed Euros 19 million (MK4 billion) to help the country fight effects of global economic downturn. European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs and Malawi’s Minister of Finance, Ken Kandodo signed the financing agreement. Speaking to journalists later, the EU Commissioner said apart from helping the country fight effects of economic crisis, the financial support will also assist Malawi recover from its current foreign exchange position. The just signed support becomes EU’s second Vulnerability-Flex Mechanism disbursement to Malawi having disbursed Euros 25 million in March, 2009. “Malawi has shown that... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Wednesday, November 24th 2010 |
Promise Zalakata Kamanga – Lilongwe, Malawi: The issue of whether Malawi’s free primary education should become compulsory or not, dominated the civil society’s meeting in Lilongwe on Tuesday. Eye of the Child, a child focused human rights organization, engaged the local civil society organizations to look at the observations made at the United Nations committee on the Children’s Rights Convention (CRC). Making a presentation on whether the country was legally obliged to provide compulsory education, a University of Malawi Law expert, Chikosa Banda said as a signatory to the international instruments, Malawi was supposed to take a positive measure. He... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Wednesday, November 24th 2010 |
By Emmanuel Muwamba – Horror has gripped Malawians following revelations that a 22 year-old man currently admitted to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi sustained wounds when he cut off his testicles on Sunday. Malawi Police Service have confirmed that the man, Pilirani Lazaro cut off his testicles with a sharp knife and offered them for sale at US$3 290 (500 000 Malawi Kwacha). He claimed that he wanted to use the money to buy fertiliser for the next farming season (December to March). Lazaro a father of one who divorced in 2009 had travelled about 50km from his Kalaza... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Tuesday, November 23rd 2010 |
By Emmanuel Muwamba – Malawi vice president Joyce Banda escaped unhurt when a lorry rammed into her official vehicle in a highway in Lilongwe. The motive of the lorry driver is not known. The accident happened on Saturday evening barely minutes after she had switched vehicles at Kamuzu International Airport where she welcomed President Bingu wa Mutharika who was returning from a SADC function in Botswana. The office of the vice president and Malawi Police Service have confirmed the accident but ruled out foul play on Banda. According to the police, the driver of the vehicle claims that he thought... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Tuesday, November 23rd 2010 |
By Emmanuel Muwamba – The Media Council of Malawi has raised a red flag over the amendment of the Penal Code on Friday saying the provision gives arbitrary exercise of power to the minister who invariably is a political appointee and a politician. In a statement released on Friday, MCM says the provision also gives the minister powers of judgement of what constitutes public interest. The statement is signed Rev. Patrick Semphere and George Dambula, the MCM national governing council chairperson and executive director respectively. The proposed amendment to section 46 reads; “If the minister has reasonable grounds to believe... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Monday, November 22nd 2010 |
