WFP plans $100 mln aid to HIV, disaster-hit Malawians

LILONGWE (Reuters) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) hopes to raise $103 million for operations in Malawi over the next three years to help those affected by natural disasters, WFP officials said on Monday.

WFP officials expect in this time to assist 1.2 million Malawians affected by HIV/AIDS and natural disasters in drought-prone Malawi. Local officials have also predicted possible flooding in large parts of Malawi this year.

"WFP in Rome this month approved the new protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO) ... for Malawi which is scheduled to begin in January 2008 and run through December 2010," WFP information officer Mathews Nyirenda said.

"With this approval, WFP can now start raising $103 million to source about 215,000 metric tonnes of maize to feed an estimated 1.2 million people for three years," Nyirenda said.

The government of Malawi is the first donor to the new operation, with 3,000 tonnes of maize that will be used during the initial phase of the programme. Other donors include Slovenia with a contribution of 50,000 euros and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

This is good news for over a million Malawians estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS and for thousands who may suffer the effects of severe flooding this year.

Earlier this month meteorology officials predicted possible flooding across the greater part of the country.

"This programme will help significantly in reducing the hunger of vulnerable groups and just as importantly, strengthen the communities' ability to cope with the added stresses associated with natural disasters and HIV/AIDS," Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Malawi, said.

Uganda: Evicted Maureen Lands Today At 10 - 00am

MAUREEN'S animated face on DStv's Big Brother Africa is no more. After 84 dramatic days of winning friends and haters, a cosy romance with Malawi's Code, and living lavishly, the Ugandan housemate became the ninth evictee from the Big Brother house on Sunday.

I saw it coming. But like a frontline commander who maintains the hip-hip-hurray banter even when all the soldiers are getting wiped out, I had to keep the bugle loud. But deep down inside, I knew our girl had done her best, just that her time was up. Even the best dancer leaves the stage.


Her coming out as the fourth has done Uganda proud. Whoever thought she would not go this far should be ashamed of themselves. Gaetano Kaggwa in the first episode of the reality show in 2003 came out fifth. Who knows? Uganda might continue ascending to the top in the coming episodes until the jackpot comes home.

After presenter Kabelo announced her eviction, Maureen was not as surprised. She had earlier seen it coming after Richard, Tatiana and Ofunneka started sidelining her. They mistook her trying to stay close to them for a move to win favours.

Nevertheless, the peace- lover in Maureen hugged Nigeria's Ofunneka first, and then the Richiana couple before leaving the house to join her fans outside.

She broke down in tears on seeing her mother, Margaret Pulle. But after Kabelo's comforting embrace, she recovered just in time to answer the presenter's questions.

With much vigour and animation, she looked Kabelo right into the face and prophesied her love for Malawi's Code. "I love Code and I am still loving him," she said of the eighth evictee. She hailed herself for giving the other housemate a good run for the staked $100,000, and having managed to bring down Bertha and Lerato, who had tried to make her fail during her head-of-house tenure. Ghana, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa voted to evict Maureen. Ofunneka got votes from Malawi and Uganda, while Zambia voted against Tatiana.

At the live eviction show in South Africa, Uganda's sought-after musician, Jose Chameleone thrilled the audience with raga-infused tunes mixed with African rhythms to hits, among which, Kipepewo.

The crowd kept asking for more, just that he was permitted to perform only two songs. And at the MTN-sponsored eviction party at Faze2, revellers were also thrown into frenzy when Chameleone stepped on to the stage clad in white, with a Ugandan flag draped over his attire. He was flanked by two members of his Leone Island crew. What a good way to receive our Maureen from the house! Meeting Chameleone at her eviction night must have given her a feeling of self importance.

Meanwhile, two fake housemates have been introduced into the house to eliminate the likely boredom. The moles are Ashanti from Kenya and Victor from Zimbabwe. But the finalists; Tatiana, Richard and Ofunneka have been fooled to think the two moles are also competing for the jackpot. They will take part in all the tasks and have diary room sessions like the others.

With two weeks left to the November 11 finale, viewers can now vote the winner, without including the moles.

And following Saturday's scenario in which Richard and Ofunneka disgraced the face of television with raunchy scenes behind Tatiana's back, none of the two can be seen to win. So why not give the money to Tatiana? It could help her take care of her sister who suffers from Leukemia. Type Vote Tatiana and send to 15626 (MTN), 5626 (utl), 0903015626 (Celtel). You can also vote online at www.mnetafrica.co.za/bigbrother. Meanwhile, Maureen arrives today at 10:00am. Let us give her a hero's welcome since she has done us proud by not having sex on television among others.

A Malawian love affair

Andrew Gray hasn't got much of an accent. In fact, if he didn't tell you he was from Malawi in South East Africa, you would never know the difference. Love lured him to Australia more than ten years ago and he has never looked back.

Malawi is only slightly bigger than Tasmania and is a landlocked nation in South East Africa bordering Zambia and Tanzania to the north and Mozambique to the east south and west.

With a population of almost thirteen million people, the country is densely populated. As a white man in Malawi, it means you are part of a minority of 10 000 - 15 000 people. The long and narrow country has a subtropical climate with lush rolling hills, cool mountains and lakes. The main source of income comes from agriculture - mainly tobacco.

Born in Zimbabwe, Andrew Gray's family moved to Malawi when he was two. At six he was sent to boarding school in South African Grahamstown, travelling back to his parents only for school holidays.

His passion for rugby eventually brought him to the UK where he met Leanne from Australia. They were a couple for a bit more than a year until Andrew went back home. A surprising phone call came to change his life forever - Leanne was pregnant. Andrew then left Malawi and moved to Australia. Even though the couple didn't last Andrew's love affair with Australia did, he stayed on and soon met his current wife with whom he now has three kids.

From his kids' perspective, he says life is better for them here.

Malawi is a very poor country and Andrew says that the local schools are sometimes nicknamed al fresco schools, because you sit on a brick stone under a tree.

"If they had stayed in Malawi they would have had to go to boarding school too, and that would have been hard for me as a parent".

So does Andrew call Australia home?

"Well, I support them in sport", he says with a smile.

But on a serious side, he is divided when it comes to his old home country, especially since all his family still lives there.


Quick facts about the Republic of Malawi

- Malawi has a population of 12, 6 million (2005)
- The capital is Lilongwe
- Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa and David Livingstone was the first European to reach the lake in 1859.
- English and Chichewa are the major languages
- 7 in 10 of deaths in Malawi are caused by AIDS.
- Malawi has 49,118 patients for each doctor.
- Average life expectancy is 38-40 years of age
- 1/3 families do not have access to drinking water