Malawi's parliament on Tuesday passed the 2007/08 national budget, which had been delayed by a political row between the president and opposition lawmakers.
The debate over the budget should have been concluded by June 30, but was held up by the opposition's refusal to approve government spending unless the president agreed to resolve a dispute over the poaching of its members by the ruling party.
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
"A house complete"
“A home is not complete unless it has visitors.” Following the announcement of the journey to be made by three of the brothers in East Africa in October 2007, this reaction was sent to us by someone committed in the service of the Anglican Church in Malawi.
I was thrilled to hear that you will be visiting East Africa with two of your fellow brothers, and that you will continue to search for how the pilgrimage of trust can be lived in Africa. Kenya, while not being nearby, is certainly more of a possibility to invite people to. Christianity here has a wide spread allegiance in name if not always in depth of commitment. In many respects there are cultural resonances with the Old Testament and often preaching can focus on the need to repent and adhere to "Thou shalts and thou shalt nots". For most it is a strong and reassuring community which gives great comfort and support, particularly at the major landmarks of life such as sickness and death but also times of family celebration when all are expected to attend the wedding of a son or daughter.
There is a great sense of belonging, and giving support to each other is often sacrificial, as may be acts of Christian service. However, any thought that there could be active participation in changing things for the better is quite alien to peoples’ thinking and cultural practice. People will often go more than the second mile to assist a family member, friend or neighbour when disaster has struck, but will make no connection with the fact that maybe it could have been prevented in the first place. If difficulties arise, it is what God has given us and we must accept it. He will provide. The fact that God is providing all the time, but we are required to recognize what He is giving us and to be active in using His gifts in the best possible way is not part of Malawi culture. A Taize understanding of prayer and living the Gospel would I feel, give a new vision to so many.
I was talking to the younger clergy about some of the causes of food insecurity and they cited corruption as being one major issue. On further questioning they said that the Village Headmen are responsible for distributing the vouchers which entitle people to buy greatly subsidized fertilizer. These they distribute mainly to their friends who they know will be growing tobacco and will reward them accordingly for their assistance. It is these same Village Headmen who will have to deal with the issues arising from poor harvests. It is these same Village Headmen who are Church Elders. I asked if there was any way they could discuss this with the local Government Officials responsible and the Village Headmen concerned and they were adamant that this door was closed to them. They had no right to knock upon it.
It is difficult being a young priest. "Youth" in Malawi is seen as extending from the age of about thirteen to 40 -45 years and of course, many will be married with young and not so young families. Most of these priests are in their late twenties. It is seen as lacking in respect and being rude to challenge elders on issues such as these. This is a common complaint when the Bishop visits the various stations that the youth are "rude" and the youth say the elders don’t listen. He now makes a point of sitting with both groups to hear what they have to say. This feeling is probably universal but I think more profound here.
The Diocesan Youth Department runs on a shoe string budget. But every three years the Diocesan Youth Adviser does his best to organize a week long Diocesan Youth Conference in Mzuzu, the Administrative Centre of the Northern Region. In 2006 it was held in a girls’ boarding school the last week in November early December. Each parish was asked to choose ten representatives and the numbers were intended to be in the region of certainly no more than 250. Close on 340 came and members of the local church in Mzuzu threw open their doors uncomplainingly to allow the over spill to sleep on their floors and dug into their pockets to help provide extra food even when their own lives are such a struggle. In spite of the large numbers, the school was most impressed at how well everything was cared for. I was most impressed when I heard that 41 young people had walked from Usisya on the Lake shore. They had been unable to pay the transport and walked for several hours on perhaps the most appalling road I have experienced in the Northern Region, a dirt road with steep ups and downs and hair pin bends dropping away to near vertical sided valleys. When the Conference was over they walked back again. I think this is a measure of one of the few instances when young people feel that something of worth is happening involving them and they will have a forum in which to speak and to share and be heard.
Their Conference coincided with World Aids Day, 1st December. The whole day was spent discussing the various issues arising from that life threatening situation. I think there is no one in Malawi who is not either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. We have certainly lost several work colleagues in the Diocesan Office to AIDS and it is not infrequently that I have young men (teenagers) begging me to help them complete their secondary education (fee paying, though eight years of Primary Education is free) and find themselves not only without the one who was helping them to find fees but also as the head of a household of younger brothers and sisters. If it is hard to fund oneself through secondary education, it is well nigh impossible to get funds for tertiary training and then jobs are so scarce. It is a miracle that they do not get more disheartened.
You will probably realize from this that Malawi fills my heart and mind. Please continue to pray for us here, to light candles in your beautiful church. It would be so wonderful if you could visit here. Visitors are so welcome and as they say here: “a home is not complete unless it has visitors”… Maybe the first step would be to send someone to Kenya should Taize hold a meeting there. If there is any literature you think might "introduce" Taize to here in a way that makes it relevant to Malawi, to Africa I would love to hear about it. Our music here is so different but it is interesting that the Bishop’s driver plays a tape of Taize music when he is driving. He asked me to tell him what it said. That brought back good memories.
I was thrilled to hear that you will be visiting East Africa with two of your fellow brothers, and that you will continue to search for how the pilgrimage of trust can be lived in Africa. Kenya, while not being nearby, is certainly more of a possibility to invite people to. Christianity here has a wide spread allegiance in name if not always in depth of commitment. In many respects there are cultural resonances with the Old Testament and often preaching can focus on the need to repent and adhere to "Thou shalts and thou shalt nots". For most it is a strong and reassuring community which gives great comfort and support, particularly at the major landmarks of life such as sickness and death but also times of family celebration when all are expected to attend the wedding of a son or daughter.
There is a great sense of belonging, and giving support to each other is often sacrificial, as may be acts of Christian service. However, any thought that there could be active participation in changing things for the better is quite alien to peoples’ thinking and cultural practice. People will often go more than the second mile to assist a family member, friend or neighbour when disaster has struck, but will make no connection with the fact that maybe it could have been prevented in the first place. If difficulties arise, it is what God has given us and we must accept it. He will provide. The fact that God is providing all the time, but we are required to recognize what He is giving us and to be active in using His gifts in the best possible way is not part of Malawi culture. A Taize understanding of prayer and living the Gospel would I feel, give a new vision to so many.
I was talking to the younger clergy about some of the causes of food insecurity and they cited corruption as being one major issue. On further questioning they said that the Village Headmen are responsible for distributing the vouchers which entitle people to buy greatly subsidized fertilizer. These they distribute mainly to their friends who they know will be growing tobacco and will reward them accordingly for their assistance. It is these same Village Headmen who will have to deal with the issues arising from poor harvests. It is these same Village Headmen who are Church Elders. I asked if there was any way they could discuss this with the local Government Officials responsible and the Village Headmen concerned and they were adamant that this door was closed to them. They had no right to knock upon it.
It is difficult being a young priest. "Youth" in Malawi is seen as extending from the age of about thirteen to 40 -45 years and of course, many will be married with young and not so young families. Most of these priests are in their late twenties. It is seen as lacking in respect and being rude to challenge elders on issues such as these. This is a common complaint when the Bishop visits the various stations that the youth are "rude" and the youth say the elders don’t listen. He now makes a point of sitting with both groups to hear what they have to say. This feeling is probably universal but I think more profound here.
The Diocesan Youth Department runs on a shoe string budget. But every three years the Diocesan Youth Adviser does his best to organize a week long Diocesan Youth Conference in Mzuzu, the Administrative Centre of the Northern Region. In 2006 it was held in a girls’ boarding school the last week in November early December. Each parish was asked to choose ten representatives and the numbers were intended to be in the region of certainly no more than 250. Close on 340 came and members of the local church in Mzuzu threw open their doors uncomplainingly to allow the over spill to sleep on their floors and dug into their pockets to help provide extra food even when their own lives are such a struggle. In spite of the large numbers, the school was most impressed at how well everything was cared for. I was most impressed when I heard that 41 young people had walked from Usisya on the Lake shore. They had been unable to pay the transport and walked for several hours on perhaps the most appalling road I have experienced in the Northern Region, a dirt road with steep ups and downs and hair pin bends dropping away to near vertical sided valleys. When the Conference was over they walked back again. I think this is a measure of one of the few instances when young people feel that something of worth is happening involving them and they will have a forum in which to speak and to share and be heard.
Their Conference coincided with World Aids Day, 1st December. The whole day was spent discussing the various issues arising from that life threatening situation. I think there is no one in Malawi who is not either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. We have certainly lost several work colleagues in the Diocesan Office to AIDS and it is not infrequently that I have young men (teenagers) begging me to help them complete their secondary education (fee paying, though eight years of Primary Education is free) and find themselves not only without the one who was helping them to find fees but also as the head of a household of younger brothers and sisters. If it is hard to fund oneself through secondary education, it is well nigh impossible to get funds for tertiary training and then jobs are so scarce. It is a miracle that they do not get more disheartened.
You will probably realize from this that Malawi fills my heart and mind. Please continue to pray for us here, to light candles in your beautiful church. It would be so wonderful if you could visit here. Visitors are so welcome and as they say here: “a home is not complete unless it has visitors”… Maybe the first step would be to send someone to Kenya should Taize hold a meeting there. If there is any literature you think might "introduce" Taize to here in a way that makes it relevant to Malawi, to Africa I would love to hear about it. Our music here is so different but it is interesting that the Bishop’s driver plays a tape of Taize music when he is driving. He asked me to tell him what it said. That brought back good memories.
Medical students to work in Malawi
Medical students and staff from the University of Dundee are to undertake work placements in Malawi, which will see them contributing to frontline care and medical research.
The “Medicine in Malawi Placements” will be open to the university’s fifth-year medical students from next July, and will see them based in the capital Lilongwe working on a four-month rotating basis in Kamuzu Central Hospital.
In addition to working on a hospital ward the students will also have the opportunity to do research, audits, and to work on mini projects with international health organisations and local outreach clinics.
Further details of the programme will be discussed when Dr Francis Moto, High Commissioner of Malawi visits the university later today.
Rebecca Baird, one of the students who is organising the scheme said:“All students currently have to do a two-month elective programme at the start of their fifth-year but we thought it would make a greater impact and be more useful if we could spend longer in Malawi and really get to grips with things there.”
“It represents a really good opportunity for us as students but hopefully it will also have a considerable impact on healthcare in Malawi, where there is a real need to develop better infrastructure and care.
“Unlike usual electives our programme will support the employment of an additional local doctor and contribute funds to the receiving unit.
As students we are also committed to preparing ourselves so we are culturally informed as well as versed in relevant conditions found in that area.”
The “Medicine in Malawi Placements” will be open to the university’s fifth-year medical students from next July, and will see them based in the capital Lilongwe working on a four-month rotating basis in Kamuzu Central Hospital.
In addition to working on a hospital ward the students will also have the opportunity to do research, audits, and to work on mini projects with international health organisations and local outreach clinics.
Further details of the programme will be discussed when Dr Francis Moto, High Commissioner of Malawi visits the university later today.
Rebecca Baird, one of the students who is organising the scheme said:“All students currently have to do a two-month elective programme at the start of their fifth-year but we thought it would make a greater impact and be more useful if we could spend longer in Malawi and really get to grips with things there.”
“It represents a really good opportunity for us as students but hopefully it will also have a considerable impact on healthcare in Malawi, where there is a real need to develop better infrastructure and care.
“Unlike usual electives our programme will support the employment of an additional local doctor and contribute funds to the receiving unit.
As students we are also committed to preparing ourselves so we are culturally informed as well as versed in relevant conditions found in that area.”
On the rounds
DR FRANCIS Moto, high commissioner of Malawi, will visit Dundee University today to discuss a range of possible links between Malawi and the university, supporting the Scotland Malawi Partnership. These will include a new programme for Dundee's medical students to work in a hospital in Malawi and the distance learning programmes that...
Asylum seekers on hunger strike in UK detention facility
FIVE of eight Zimbabwean asylum seekers held at a British immigration removal centre for women went on hunger strike on Monday, pressing for their release.
The eight -- detained at Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedford -- have been told they face deportation to Malawi and South Africa after UK authorities refused to accept they were Zimbabweans who travelled on foreign passports to beat a new visa regime introduced in Harare.
Britain has stopped deportations to Zimbabwe pending the outcome of a country guidance case known as HS Zimbabwe. Judgment in the case was reserved after a week-long hearing last month.
Human rights groups say Zimbabweans face an automatic risk of torture if deported back to the southern African country where President Robert Mugabe is accused of human rights abuses.
Maud Kadango Lennard, a spokesperson for the striking detainees, told New Zimbabwe.com that they would not call off the hunger strike until they were released.
“We are determined to resist deportation to countries whose geography and systems are alien to us,” said the 36-year-old who came to England in January 2004 on a Malawian passport.
“The Home Office, against all the evidence, has refused to accept that we are Zimbabwean and we are saying that is wrong. It’s convenient for them, but potentially hazardous for us.”
Hundreds of Zimbabweans who bought travel documents in neighbouring countries in order to avoid visa restrictions imposed on the country have been told they will not be considered for UK asylum.
Lawyers and human rights groups say the UK is endangering Zimbabwean asylum seekers who are detained and interrogated on arrival in Malawi and South Africa, and face criminal prosecution for using fake travel documents. The deportees are then handed to Zimbabwean authorities, with no system in place to check their wellbeing.
Lennard said she was detained after overstaying in the UK, while other Zimbabwean detainees were arrested after being found working.
She has been told she will be deported to Malawi on September 19.
A letter from the Home Office, seen by New Zimbabwe.com, states that she left Zimbabwe on a valid Malawian passport on January 27, 2004, and transited via Egypt, arriving in the UK a day later.
She was refused leave to enter the UK on arrival, but granted a temporary admission on condition that she would catch a flight back to Zimbabwe on January 30, 2004, but she absconded. She was detained after turning up at Heathrow Terminal 3 to claim asylum on August 8 last month.
The Home Office wrote to her: “You disputed the fact that you would be returned to Malawi as you claim to be from Zimbabwe. However, you hold a valid Malawian (sic) and are therefore removable to Malawi.”
Lennard’s appeal was dismissed on August 30 -- a judge ruling that she was not in danger of being persecuted if deported to Malawi, “and accepted the fact that she was entitled to a Malawian passport”.
Campaigners said there were many similar cases of the Home Office deporting Zimbabweans to foreign countries after refusing to accept several forms of identification disproving their assumed identities on the false travel documents.
Sarah Harland of the campaigning Zimbabwe Association said they had tried to make representations to the Home Office to no avail.
And New Zimbabwe.com’s legal columnist, Lloyd Msipa, said: “The tragedy of this situation is that once these Zimbabweans are deported, they are forgotten. It’s like putting people on a conveyer belt to nowhere.
“Nobody wants to touch these cases with a long stick because legal aid is no longer available to most of them, and the cases are notoriously difficult to win. I have seen people who have produced birth and death certificates of their parents, letters from headmen and many other forms of identification to invalidate their false passports, but they all suffer the same fate.”
Rights groups have been pushing the UK government to follow-up on people who have been deported to guarantee their safety – one of the key elements of the argument in the HS Zimbabwe case.
Although Air Zimbabwe and British Airways have both refused to fly deportees, some airlines like Kenyan Airways and Air Malawi continue to accept deportees. They have previously been targeted by campaigners.
Flight captains are handed the passports of any deportees on their planes, which they hand over to immigration officers on arrival at their destination – a process which rights groups say invariably leads to lengthy questioning for the asylum seekers and harassment.
Hunger strikes have been tried by asylum seekers in the past, including other nationalities, with very little success.
The eight -- detained at Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedford -- have been told they face deportation to Malawi and South Africa after UK authorities refused to accept they were Zimbabweans who travelled on foreign passports to beat a new visa regime introduced in Harare.
Britain has stopped deportations to Zimbabwe pending the outcome of a country guidance case known as HS Zimbabwe. Judgment in the case was reserved after a week-long hearing last month.
Human rights groups say Zimbabweans face an automatic risk of torture if deported back to the southern African country where President Robert Mugabe is accused of human rights abuses.
Maud Kadango Lennard, a spokesperson for the striking detainees, told New Zimbabwe.com that they would not call off the hunger strike until they were released.
“We are determined to resist deportation to countries whose geography and systems are alien to us,” said the 36-year-old who came to England in January 2004 on a Malawian passport.
“The Home Office, against all the evidence, has refused to accept that we are Zimbabwean and we are saying that is wrong. It’s convenient for them, but potentially hazardous for us.”
Hundreds of Zimbabweans who bought travel documents in neighbouring countries in order to avoid visa restrictions imposed on the country have been told they will not be considered for UK asylum.
Lawyers and human rights groups say the UK is endangering Zimbabwean asylum seekers who are detained and interrogated on arrival in Malawi and South Africa, and face criminal prosecution for using fake travel documents. The deportees are then handed to Zimbabwean authorities, with no system in place to check their wellbeing.
Lennard said she was detained after overstaying in the UK, while other Zimbabwean detainees were arrested after being found working.
She has been told she will be deported to Malawi on September 19.
A letter from the Home Office, seen by New Zimbabwe.com, states that she left Zimbabwe on a valid Malawian passport on January 27, 2004, and transited via Egypt, arriving in the UK a day later.
She was refused leave to enter the UK on arrival, but granted a temporary admission on condition that she would catch a flight back to Zimbabwe on January 30, 2004, but she absconded. She was detained after turning up at Heathrow Terminal 3 to claim asylum on August 8 last month.
The Home Office wrote to her: “You disputed the fact that you would be returned to Malawi as you claim to be from Zimbabwe. However, you hold a valid Malawian (sic) and are therefore removable to Malawi.”
Lennard’s appeal was dismissed on August 30 -- a judge ruling that she was not in danger of being persecuted if deported to Malawi, “and accepted the fact that she was entitled to a Malawian passport”.
Campaigners said there were many similar cases of the Home Office deporting Zimbabweans to foreign countries after refusing to accept several forms of identification disproving their assumed identities on the false travel documents.
Sarah Harland of the campaigning Zimbabwe Association said they had tried to make representations to the Home Office to no avail.
And New Zimbabwe.com’s legal columnist, Lloyd Msipa, said: “The tragedy of this situation is that once these Zimbabweans are deported, they are forgotten. It’s like putting people on a conveyer belt to nowhere.
“Nobody wants to touch these cases with a long stick because legal aid is no longer available to most of them, and the cases are notoriously difficult to win. I have seen people who have produced birth and death certificates of their parents, letters from headmen and many other forms of identification to invalidate their false passports, but they all suffer the same fate.”
Rights groups have been pushing the UK government to follow-up on people who have been deported to guarantee their safety – one of the key elements of the argument in the HS Zimbabwe case.
Although Air Zimbabwe and British Airways have both refused to fly deportees, some airlines like Kenyan Airways and Air Malawi continue to accept deportees. They have previously been targeted by campaigners.
Flight captains are handed the passports of any deportees on their planes, which they hand over to immigration officers on arrival at their destination – a process which rights groups say invariably leads to lengthy questioning for the asylum seekers and harassment.
Hunger strikes have been tried by asylum seekers in the past, including other nationalities, with very little success.
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