Malawi's parliament met for the first time in nearly three weeks on Monday but failed to reach an agreement on the country's budget as a political standoff threatened to cut off key services in the impoverished nation.
The budget debate, which should have been concluded by June 30, was indefinitely suspended last month over a dispute on the poaching of opposition members by the ruling party. The parliament has not met for weeks because of the fight.
The opposition offered on Monday to adopt a temporary three-month budget to allow for public spending while the political dispute over its members is resolved, but the government insisted it needed the $1.2 billion annual budget now.
Talks broke off and were due to start again on Tuesday.
"The government needs to start spending on essential services like procurement of drugs, which is running out in hospitals, and procurement of fertilisers," Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe told parliament.
"We don't want this parliament to approve a budget in instalments," he said.
But leader of the opposition John Tembo said the opposition was only willing to free up government spending for three months.
George Ntafu, deputy leader of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), said the opposition would not back down on its demand that the issue of the poaching of its members be resolved before the full annual budget is adopted.
The proposed budget allocates more resources to poor rural areas, proposes salary increases for civil servants, and higher spending on health care and food production.
Frustrations have been growing in the southern African nation of 12 million people as the standoff deepened between the opposition coalition of the UDF and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Thousands of people have held demonstrations over delays in the budget for the country bordered by Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique.
Monday, 13 August 2007
Zimbabwe: Zambians Wary of Selling Maize
Zambian farmers are reportedly reluctant to export maize to Zimbabwe, citing high transport costs and the unfavourable exchange rate, as a maize-meal shortage worsens in parts of the country.
The crisis comes at a time when the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) said it was negotiating with several Southern African countries to import maize to meet a huge grain deficit.
The southern parts of the country have gone for more than a month without regular supplies of maize-meal, which the GMB has blamed on transport problems.
Although Samuel Muvuti, the acting GMB chief executive officer could not disclose the targeted countries, in the past the parastatal has confirmed plans to import maize from Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.
But last week, Millers' Association of Zambia (MAZ) president Caleb Mulenga told the African Press Agency (APA) farmers in his country were reluctant to export to countries such as Zimbabwe.
His comments coincided with reports that Zimbabwe was struggling to pay for 400 000 tonnes of maize it wants to import from Malawi because of a foreign currency crunch.
Zambia recorded a huge maize surplus last season after luring a number of Zimbabwean white commercial farmers who were displaced during the chaotic land reform programme.
"Exporting the product (maize) to countries such as Zimbabwe is not competitive," Mulenga was quoted as saying, "because of the high transport costs and the high exchange rates."
Recently, the GMB said it had secured 200 000 tonnes of maize from Zambia and a similar amount from Tanzania to cover a huge maize deficit recorded during the 2006/7 season.
On Thursday, Muvuti denied the parastatal had problems sourcing maize from Zambia because it could not offer competitive prices.
"It's not about viability but about feeding our people," Muvuti said. "They (MAZ) could be having other complaints but it's not their responsibility (exporting maize)."
He said the GMB recently reviewed upwards the transportation rates it offered private operators to transport maize.
Aid agencies say more than four million people would need food aid between June and the end of the first quarter of next year.
The country harvested about a third of the 1.8 million tonnes needed to feed the population of over 12 million people annually. GMB has also denied that the country's silos were empty, insisting the imports were designed to consolidate grain reserves.
Zimbabwe has moved from being the main grain exporter in the region to importer following a disastrous land reform programme that has destroyed agriculture.
The crisis comes at a time when the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) said it was negotiating with several Southern African countries to import maize to meet a huge grain deficit.
The southern parts of the country have gone for more than a month without regular supplies of maize-meal, which the GMB has blamed on transport problems.
Although Samuel Muvuti, the acting GMB chief executive officer could not disclose the targeted countries, in the past the parastatal has confirmed plans to import maize from Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.
But last week, Millers' Association of Zambia (MAZ) president Caleb Mulenga told the African Press Agency (APA) farmers in his country were reluctant to export to countries such as Zimbabwe.
His comments coincided with reports that Zimbabwe was struggling to pay for 400 000 tonnes of maize it wants to import from Malawi because of a foreign currency crunch.
Zambia recorded a huge maize surplus last season after luring a number of Zimbabwean white commercial farmers who were displaced during the chaotic land reform programme.
"Exporting the product (maize) to countries such as Zimbabwe is not competitive," Mulenga was quoted as saying, "because of the high transport costs and the high exchange rates."
Recently, the GMB said it had secured 200 000 tonnes of maize from Zambia and a similar amount from Tanzania to cover a huge maize deficit recorded during the 2006/7 season.
On Thursday, Muvuti denied the parastatal had problems sourcing maize from Zambia because it could not offer competitive prices.
"It's not about viability but about feeding our people," Muvuti said. "They (MAZ) could be having other complaints but it's not their responsibility (exporting maize)."
He said the GMB recently reviewed upwards the transportation rates it offered private operators to transport maize.
Aid agencies say more than four million people would need food aid between June and the end of the first quarter of next year.
The country harvested about a third of the 1.8 million tonnes needed to feed the population of over 12 million people annually. GMB has also denied that the country's silos were empty, insisting the imports were designed to consolidate grain reserves.
Zimbabwe has moved from being the main grain exporter in the region to importer following a disastrous land reform programme that has destroyed agriculture.
Zimbabwe: Govt Commends Malawi for Supplying Maize
GOVERNMENT has hailed Malawi for selling maize to Zimbabwe under the two nations' export agreement to abate the acute grain shortage in the country owing to successive droughts.
The country has been importing grain from friendly Sadc countries in the past few months as part of drought mitigatory efforts.
The Minister of Information and Publicity, Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, praised the Malawian government for availing maize to Zimbabwe in response to the Government's call for assistance.
Cde Ndlovu expressed his gratitude during a briefing with Malawian journalists at his offices in Harare last Friday. The journalists, who arrived in the country last week, are on a fact-finding mission.
"I want to express our Government's gratitude and appreciation for your country's response to provide us with maize at a very concessionary rate," said Cde Ndlovu.
He said problems currently facing Zimbabwe were a result of persistent droughts and illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the British, Americans and their Western allies in an attempt to effect an illegal regime change.
"May that gesture continue. Mawa musa tope, lakusasa lingadinwa (Even when we ask for help in the future, don't desist from your generosity)," said Cde Ndlovu.
Government has declared 2007 a drought year, meaning that drought-prone areas should receive food relief from the State.
James Chipofya of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation asked the minister how the Government price monitoring and income stabilisation programme would stimulate the growth of the economy.
Cde Ndlovu said the move was a milestone to stop the "madness" by businesses that were arbitrarily increasing prices beyond the reach of consumers. He said the corporate world, which was supposed to play a critical role of supporting the country's development, created the parallel market to mop up the foreign currency supposed to go the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
"They created artificial shortages. As a Government, we were watching this," he said.
"We took a decision to control prices. Government put in place shock therapy in the economy to have it recover quickly."
Cde Ndlovu said Government had also put in place a facility through the Zimbabwe Investment Trust to help companies that may face viability problems to supply retailers with basic commodities.
The country has been importing grain from friendly Sadc countries in the past few months as part of drought mitigatory efforts.
The Minister of Information and Publicity, Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, praised the Malawian government for availing maize to Zimbabwe in response to the Government's call for assistance.
Cde Ndlovu expressed his gratitude during a briefing with Malawian journalists at his offices in Harare last Friday. The journalists, who arrived in the country last week, are on a fact-finding mission.
"I want to express our Government's gratitude and appreciation for your country's response to provide us with maize at a very concessionary rate," said Cde Ndlovu.
He said problems currently facing Zimbabwe were a result of persistent droughts and illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the British, Americans and their Western allies in an attempt to effect an illegal regime change.
"May that gesture continue. Mawa musa tope, lakusasa lingadinwa (Even when we ask for help in the future, don't desist from your generosity)," said Cde Ndlovu.
Government has declared 2007 a drought year, meaning that drought-prone areas should receive food relief from the State.
James Chipofya of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation asked the minister how the Government price monitoring and income stabilisation programme would stimulate the growth of the economy.
Cde Ndlovu said the move was a milestone to stop the "madness" by businesses that were arbitrarily increasing prices beyond the reach of consumers. He said the corporate world, which was supposed to play a critical role of supporting the country's development, created the parallel market to mop up the foreign currency supposed to go the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
"They created artificial shortages. As a Government, we were watching this," he said.
"We took a decision to control prices. Government put in place shock therapy in the economy to have it recover quickly."
Cde Ndlovu said Government had also put in place a facility through the Zimbabwe Investment Trust to help companies that may face viability problems to supply retailers with basic commodities.
Canadian actor visits orphans in Malawi
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds used some of his famous wit to bring smiles to the faces of children orphaned by disease and famine in one of the world's poorest countries.
The Vancouver native accompanied Hollywood writer/director John August to the Mulanje region of Malawi last month, where they spent a week with orphans and helped repair a facility that feeds 300 children a day.
Click here to see photos of Reynolds in Malawi.
Reynolds, 30, and August, 37, were in the country of more than 13 million in southeastern Africa – where HIV/AIDS has wiped out most of the adult population – as guests of Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO).
The star of such films as Van Wilder and The Amityville Horror played games with the youngsters and delighted them by showing images on his digital camera. Reynolds, his face covered with a bandana to protect him from the dust, spent hours sanding, spackling and painting the walls of the four-room Gulumba Centre, which has no running water or electricity.
It is one of 10 centres FOMO runs for as many as 4,000 orphans.
Reynolds and August also visited medical clinics, where they learned about the crippling lack of medicine and infrastructure.
August wrote and directed the new movie The Nines, in which Reynolds plays three different characters. It opens in L.A. and New York on Aug. 31 and will be screened at the Venice Film Festival in early September. A wide release is expected to follow.
August's credits include Charlie's Angels, Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Reynolds, who ended his engagement to Ottawa's Alanis Morissette last year after almost four years of dating, has starred in Blade: Trinity and Smokin' Aces.
The Vancouver native accompanied Hollywood writer/director John August to the Mulanje region of Malawi last month, where they spent a week with orphans and helped repair a facility that feeds 300 children a day.
Click here to see photos of Reynolds in Malawi.
Reynolds, 30, and August, 37, were in the country of more than 13 million in southeastern Africa – where HIV/AIDS has wiped out most of the adult population – as guests of Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO).
The star of such films as Van Wilder and The Amityville Horror played games with the youngsters and delighted them by showing images on his digital camera. Reynolds, his face covered with a bandana to protect him from the dust, spent hours sanding, spackling and painting the walls of the four-room Gulumba Centre, which has no running water or electricity.
It is one of 10 centres FOMO runs for as many as 4,000 orphans.
Reynolds and August also visited medical clinics, where they learned about the crippling lack of medicine and infrastructure.
August wrote and directed the new movie The Nines, in which Reynolds plays three different characters. It opens in L.A. and New York on Aug. 31 and will be screened at the Venice Film Festival in early September. A wide release is expected to follow.
August's credits include Charlie's Angels, Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Reynolds, who ended his engagement to Ottawa's Alanis Morissette last year after almost four years of dating, has starred in Blade: Trinity and Smokin' Aces.
Workers take final steps for Malawi mercy trip
A MERCY team set to help victims of a killer disease are set to receive life-protecting injections.
The group are being monitored by medics before flying from Glasgow to Malawi to build an Aids-testing clinic.
All nine workers have been inoculated against deadly diseases including typhoid and cholera.
The joiners, electricians, plumbers and decorators are employed by Glasgow firm City Building.
A spokesman said: "They are receiving all sorts of injections to protect them from malaria and other diseases and so far no one has suffered too bad a reaction.
"They are being monitored but all have reported for work fit and well."
They will jet out to the African republic to build a clinic in the village of Chikwawa where locals can be tested for HIV. The team will also help build an extension to a hospital.
Around 1.5million people are suffering from Aids in Malawi, which has only two doctors for every 100,000 people.
It is one of the five poorest countries in the world and doctors are having difficulty obtaining basic drugs and equipment.
The clinic will be a lifesaver. Early detection and treatment can save lives and HIV victims will be treated separately from other patients.
The builders have just 10 days to complete their task which normally would take 10 weeks.
They will also be working in extremely humid conditions and blistering temperatures that can reach 38C.
Making up the team are Graham Robb, Ian Allan, Scott McEwan, Martin Bredin, Alan Burns, Jacob Lee, John Lamb and Stuart Kennedy.
The group are being monitored by medics before flying from Glasgow to Malawi to build an Aids-testing clinic.
All nine workers have been inoculated against deadly diseases including typhoid and cholera.
The joiners, electricians, plumbers and decorators are employed by Glasgow firm City Building.
A spokesman said: "They are receiving all sorts of injections to protect them from malaria and other diseases and so far no one has suffered too bad a reaction.
"They are being monitored but all have reported for work fit and well."
They will jet out to the African republic to build a clinic in the village of Chikwawa where locals can be tested for HIV. The team will also help build an extension to a hospital.
Around 1.5million people are suffering from Aids in Malawi, which has only two doctors for every 100,000 people.
It is one of the five poorest countries in the world and doctors are having difficulty obtaining basic drugs and equipment.
The clinic will be a lifesaver. Early detection and treatment can save lives and HIV victims will be treated separately from other patients.
The builders have just 10 days to complete their task which normally would take 10 weeks.
They will also be working in extremely humid conditions and blistering temperatures that can reach 38C.
Making up the team are Graham Robb, Ian Allan, Scott McEwan, Martin Bredin, Alan Burns, Jacob Lee, John Lamb and Stuart Kennedy.
Ewan's mum is a surprise sight for sore eyes in Africa
FILM star Ewan McGregor had an unexpected meeting during his epic motorbike trip from John o' Groats to Cape Town - with his mother Carol.
Carol was in Malawi as an ambassador for Sightsavers International, the charity which helps treat eye disease across the world. But the producers of Long Way Down, the TV programme charting her son's three-month trip to raise funds for charity, arranged for mother and son to meet up as their itineraries coincided.
Crieff-born Ewan had no idea that his mother was in Africa. "It was so lovely to see him again," Carol recalls in her Malawi diary, published online by Scotland on Sunday today.
Ewan's epic journey ended on August 4 in Cape Town.
• To read Carol McGregor's Malawi diary visit click here.
Carol was in Malawi as an ambassador for Sightsavers International, the charity which helps treat eye disease across the world. But the producers of Long Way Down, the TV programme charting her son's three-month trip to raise funds for charity, arranged for mother and son to meet up as their itineraries coincided.
Crieff-born Ewan had no idea that his mother was in Africa. "It was so lovely to see him again," Carol recalls in her Malawi diary, published online by Scotland on Sunday today.
Ewan's epic journey ended on August 4 in Cape Town.
• To read Carol McGregor's Malawi diary visit click here.
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