Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has authorised the early release of 495 prisoners as part of celebrations marking the country's 43 years of independence, said the prison service on Wednesday.
Prison service spokesperson Tobias Nowa said: "It has pleased the president to pardon 495 prisoners who had shown good behaviour and had done half of their custodial sentence as part of the independence celebrations."
The number of releases accounted for some four percent of the overall prison population, which now stood at 10 691 inmates in the country's 23 prisons.
Nowa said: "It is a big relief on our part because this will reduce medical care, food and space since our prisons are overcrowded", adding that the country's jails were built to hold no more than 4 500 prisoners.
According to Nowa, despite the mass-release, "our prisons are still overcrowded", pointing out that "we often bank on the presidential pardons to reduce congestion".
Mutharika, who came to power after the former British colony's third multi-party elections in 2004, often freed prisoners being held for minor offences during independence, Christmas and Easter festivities.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Childcare group to open Malawi centre
CHILDCARE group Midlothian Sure Start is planning open a new centre — in Malawi.
Carole Dick, co-ordinator for Stepping Forward Midlothian Sure Start's Centre in Penicuik, is in Ekwendeni this summer to work on an Aids/HIV project. While in Ekwendeni, Carole will attempt to set up something similar to Sure Start.
Young people in the area whose parents have died of Aids are often sole carers for their siblings, and increasingly grandparents are the sole carers for children. Resources are tight and as most is used for medication, there is no money left to provide additional family support or community development work.
Carole, who is undertaking the project with Midlothian Sure Start and Glasgow University, is hoping to encourage local people to support one another and will be working with those who are capable to set up childcare facilities.
Carole will also teach older teenagers some basic childcare and development, enabling them to provide childcare while the support groups are taking place.
Carole is also keen to explore how a country which cannot afford to foster copes and the contrast and similarities faced by grandparents in Scotland and Malawi.
Midlothian Sure Start operates six centres in Mayfield, Woodburn, Gorebridge, Bonnyrigg, Loanhead and Penicuik. It is hoped the project will help to break the ongoing cycle of oppression and poverty in Ekwendeni.
Sure Start says the parents who attend Stepping Forward at Eastfield Drive are excited at the prospect of having a partner centre, and they will be able to correspond with the project and help raise funds. The project will last to August.
Carole Dick, co-ordinator for Stepping Forward Midlothian Sure Start's Centre in Penicuik, is in Ekwendeni this summer to work on an Aids/HIV project. While in Ekwendeni, Carole will attempt to set up something similar to Sure Start.
Young people in the area whose parents have died of Aids are often sole carers for their siblings, and increasingly grandparents are the sole carers for children. Resources are tight and as most is used for medication, there is no money left to provide additional family support or community development work.
Carole, who is undertaking the project with Midlothian Sure Start and Glasgow University, is hoping to encourage local people to support one another and will be working with those who are capable to set up childcare facilities.
Carole will also teach older teenagers some basic childcare and development, enabling them to provide childcare while the support groups are taking place.
Carole is also keen to explore how a country which cannot afford to foster copes and the contrast and similarities faced by grandparents in Scotland and Malawi.
Midlothian Sure Start operates six centres in Mayfield, Woodburn, Gorebridge, Bonnyrigg, Loanhead and Penicuik. It is hoped the project will help to break the ongoing cycle of oppression and poverty in Ekwendeni.
Sure Start says the parents who attend Stepping Forward at Eastfield Drive are excited at the prospect of having a partner centre, and they will be able to correspond with the project and help raise funds. The project will last to August.
DPP offer Dausi K2 mln, diplomatic post
Malawi’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) paid K2 million to Nicholas Dausi to quit his position of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice president and withdraw his membership from the opposition camp, Nyasa Times has gathered.
Sources close to the office of the DPP vice president Khumbo Kachali who was present at the Dausi defection rally/press conference in Mwanza, have revealed that Dausi, who also held the position of publicity secretary of MCP, was given K2 million through a cheque from a local DPP donors, Mulli Brothers.
But the former MCP veep has denied the allegation as mere speculation associated with any high level defection in Malawi politics.
“My dear, I have not been bought by DPP….I have joined them because of their policies which respects the name of Kamuzu and as you know, as a “Kamuzu Boy” I want the name of the Father and Founder of this nation respected,” Dausi told Nyasa Times in an interview.
MCP president John Tembo has claimed his deputy resigned from the party because he solicited money from the ruling party for the maintenance of his grounded vehicle.
Meanwhile, DPP has allocated a vehicle Toyota Carina to Dausi who announced his defection, Sunday.
Sources say diplomatic posting is to move Dausi away from challenging ruling party heavyweight, Davis Katsonga in the impending by-election as he hails in the same constituency in Mwanza. Katsonga beat dausi by 400 votes in the 2004 parliamentary elections.
“Dausi will be first secretary at one of the diplomatic missions of Malawi to be allocated to him by the Foreign Affairs Minister Joyce Banda,” sources said.
Dausi downplayed the allegation; he however, was quick to indicate his readiness to serve government in any capacity.
“I am settling down well in my new party and getting to know the party better. The news about any appointment is just a speculation but I will serve Bingu wa Mutharika in any capacity,” calm-sounding Dausi said.
He could not frankly comment of another assertion linking him to the post of Zeria Chakale, DPP deputy publicity secretary who is also earmarked for a trade attaché post at Malawi diplomatic mission in Brussels.
“No comment on that one my brother,” Dausi said.
Sources close to the office of the DPP vice president Khumbo Kachali who was present at the Dausi defection rally/press conference in Mwanza, have revealed that Dausi, who also held the position of publicity secretary of MCP, was given K2 million through a cheque from a local DPP donors, Mulli Brothers.
But the former MCP veep has denied the allegation as mere speculation associated with any high level defection in Malawi politics.
“My dear, I have not been bought by DPP….I have joined them because of their policies which respects the name of Kamuzu and as you know, as a “Kamuzu Boy” I want the name of the Father and Founder of this nation respected,” Dausi told Nyasa Times in an interview.
MCP president John Tembo has claimed his deputy resigned from the party because he solicited money from the ruling party for the maintenance of his grounded vehicle.
Meanwhile, DPP has allocated a vehicle Toyota Carina to Dausi who announced his defection, Sunday.
Sources say diplomatic posting is to move Dausi away from challenging ruling party heavyweight, Davis Katsonga in the impending by-election as he hails in the same constituency in Mwanza. Katsonga beat dausi by 400 votes in the 2004 parliamentary elections.
“Dausi will be first secretary at one of the diplomatic missions of Malawi to be allocated to him by the Foreign Affairs Minister Joyce Banda,” sources said.
Dausi downplayed the allegation; he however, was quick to indicate his readiness to serve government in any capacity.
“I am settling down well in my new party and getting to know the party better. The news about any appointment is just a speculation but I will serve Bingu wa Mutharika in any capacity,” calm-sounding Dausi said.
He could not frankly comment of another assertion linking him to the post of Zeria Chakale, DPP deputy publicity secretary who is also earmarked for a trade attaché post at Malawi diplomatic mission in Brussels.
“No comment on that one my brother,” Dausi said.
Vatican
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Emmanuel Kanyama pastor and professor in the philosophical seminary of Kachebere, as Bishop of Dedza and accepted the retirement of Bishop Felix Eugenio Mkhori of Lilongwe.
Bishop Mkhori is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie M. Afr.
Bishop-elect Kanyama was born in Dedza on Christmas Day, 1962. After minor seminary he studied at Malawi's two national seminaries: Kachebere for philosophy and St. Peter's (Zomba) for theology.
He was ordained a priest on August 4, 1990 for the Diocese of Dedza. Since his ordination he has ministered as follows: 1990-1992: teacher at Dedza minor seminary; 1992-1996: Studies for a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical Urban College in Rome; 1996-2004: teacher at Kachebere seminary for philosophy and then for 6 years Acting Rector; since 2004: parish priest at Ntcheu, e while teaching at Kachebere. He is a Diocesan consultor.
The Diocese of Dedza has over 1.5 million people, some 449,600 of whom are Catholics, served by 37 priests and 108 religious.
Bishop Mkhori is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie M. Afr.
Bishop-elect Kanyama was born in Dedza on Christmas Day, 1962. After minor seminary he studied at Malawi's two national seminaries: Kachebere for philosophy and St. Peter's (Zomba) for theology.
He was ordained a priest on August 4, 1990 for the Diocese of Dedza. Since his ordination he has ministered as follows: 1990-1992: teacher at Dedza minor seminary; 1992-1996: Studies for a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical Urban College in Rome; 1996-2004: teacher at Kachebere seminary for philosophy and then for 6 years Acting Rector; since 2004: parish priest at Ntcheu, e while teaching at Kachebere. He is a Diocesan consultor.
The Diocese of Dedza has over 1.5 million people, some 449,600 of whom are Catholics, served by 37 priests and 108 religious.
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