Malawi has arrested two senior army officers for plotting to overthrow the government, police said on Wednesday, a day after the arrest of two opposition leaders on the same charges.
The detentions have left crisis talks between the government and the opposition on the brink of collapse, which threatens to derail vital international donor programmes.
Police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said the army head of intelligence, Brigadier General Cosgrave Mituka, and Major General Mathews Chirwa had been arrested on treason charges.
"All those arrested are supposed to appear in court on Thursday in Lilongwe," Mwaluka said.
Police said on Tuesday they had arrested opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) Secretary General Kennedy Mwakwangwala and senior UDF executive member John Chikakwiya, as well as former army commander Joseph Chimbayo and ex-Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi.
Authorities also ordered the arrest of former President Bakili Muluzi, who is the UDF's candidate for next year's presidential election in the impoverished southern African country. Muluzi is out of the country.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has been holding talks with the opposition to end an impasse over the right of parliamentarians to switch their party allegiance -- a sensitive issue which led to a recent 5-day opposition boycott of the assembly and its temporary suspension.
The stalemate threatens to delay important debates on the country's budget and other measures required by donors.
The arrests are likely to worsen the crisis.
The Malawi Congress Party -- who together with the UDF forms a majority in parliament -- said they would withdraw from the talks with the government.
But UDF leader in parliament George Ntafu said his party was still committed to the talks.
"The president wants to finish UDF and he should know that we are not intimidated by these arrests. That's why we are still continuing with dialogue that was started to settle our dispute," Ntafu told Reuters.
Under wa Mutharika, the country of 12 million people has won praise and billions of dollars in debt relief for reforms that have steered healthy economic growth.
But political bickering has overshadowed those gains. Wa Mutharika's rule has been troubled since he took office in 2004, after winning an election marred by violent protests and opposition allegations of rigging.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Mulroney returns to Africa's 'Warm Heart'
Ben Mulroney returns to Africa for his second field trip as National Ambassador for UNICEF Canada.
In 2006, after being named UNICEF's national spokesperson for Canada, the host of CTV's eTalk and Canadian Idol travelled to Malawi to report on UNICEF Canada programs.
This week from May 12 - 17, he returns to different regions of Malawi to witness the impact that UNICEF and its partners have first-hand. The programs help provide safe water supply, innovative community-based care for children affected by HIV/AIDS, effective treatment of malaria and improved access and quality of basic education.
Follow Ben in his Daily Diary for CTV.ca, where he shares his experiences on the ground in Malawi.
Malawi needs money, not jotters, to help economic development, MSPs are told
SCOTLAND should not send jotters and pencils to Malawi, as that could undermine economic development in Africa, where local producers are already making the items, MSPs were told yesterday.
George Finlayson, of the Scotland Malawi Business Group, told Holyrood's European and external relations committee that economic growth was critical in wiping out poverty in developing countries such as Malawi.
"What we should be doing is sending money to allow the Malawian business people to develop a proper market in these," he said.
The committee is carrying out an inquiry into international development and has been looking at Scotland's high-profile aid links with the African nation.
Malawi's leadership recently asked the Scottish Government to refocus its programme to allow more resources to be committed to sustainable economic development.
George Finlayson, of the Scotland Malawi Business Group, told Holyrood's European and external relations committee that economic growth was critical in wiping out poverty in developing countries such as Malawi.
"What we should be doing is sending money to allow the Malawian business people to develop a proper market in these," he said.
The committee is carrying out an inquiry into international development and has been looking at Scotland's high-profile aid links with the African nation.
Malawi's leadership recently asked the Scottish Government to refocus its programme to allow more resources to be committed to sustainable economic development.
HIV-Affected Families in Malawi Benefit from Raising Fish
Many people with HIV/AIDS in Malawi are getting more protein these days and as a result are healthier. They’re getting it from fish, through a project funded by the European Union. An international humanitarian aid organization, WorldFish Center, runs the effort, known as Aquaculture for HIV/AIDS Households. It encourages fish farming among families affected -- and infected -- by the pandemic. The center encourages fish farming among the vulnerable populations in developing countries. Voice of America English to Africa Service’s Lameck Masina reports that scientists at the WorldFish Centre say families taking part in the project have shown a 150 percent increase in the consumption of fresh fish.
That means a boost in their intake of protein, calcium, vitamin A and micronutrients necessary for maintaining good health in AIDS patients. Health experts say people with HIV/AIDS need up to 50 percent more protein and 15 percent more calories than healthy people.
According to the World Food Program, fish provide over 70 percent of national dietary animal protein intake in Malawi and 40 percent of the protein supply. But an increase in population and a decline in catch reduced the annual per capita fish consumption by more than two-thirds from the 1970s until 2005.
Previous efforts to increase fish consumption through aquaculture have failed, in part because they required large financial investments from farmers, who did not have the money.
The WorldFish Centre says the new fish farming approach is succeeding because it meshes cheaply and efficiently with existing farm operations.
The investment is minimal. All farmers have to do is dig small, rain-fed ponds of about 20 meters by 10 meters on their land. Then they cultivate species such as tilapia.
Raising fish is not labor intensive. Farm and chicken waste serves as food for fish. Women, children and the elderly can easily manage the fish in the ponds. So far, about 30 percent of the program’s farmers are women. Experts working with WorldFish and World Vision teach them how to raise, process and market their fish, generating much-needed income for their families.
As in many areas of Africa where the AIDS pandemic has raged unchecked, Malawian women are the primary providers and caregivers for their families.
The ponds are capable of producing 1,500 kilograms of fish per hectare each year, enough for families to sell fish to pay for medical care and household needs.
Joseph Nagoli is the senior research analyst for WorldFish Center in the East and Southern African region. He mentions another benefit of the ponds, “You are also using this water from the pond to grow vegetables, winter maize even seeds that you can sell and get more money. So we want these farmers to be more resilient to outside shocks such as droughts, lack of income and other basic things.”
In addition, some farmers have started growing valuable crops near the ponds -- plants like bananas and guava, which take advantage of the water that seeps into the surrounding soil. The sediment dredged from the bottom of the ponds can also be used to fertilize [surrounding] crops.
Research by the WorldFish group has shown that farms with both fish farming with traditional crops are nearly 20 percent more productive during times of drought than farms without ponds.
Nagoli says the success of the project in Malawi has prompted the organization to consider expanding the initiative to other countries, like Mozambique and Zambia.
The WorldFish Centre has recently partnered with an internet-based fundraising group, Globalgiving.com. It allows individual donors to contribute to the Malawi project on-line. For example, $200 can help build an entire fish pond, and $10 can buy enough fish to stock it.
That means a boost in their intake of protein, calcium, vitamin A and micronutrients necessary for maintaining good health in AIDS patients. Health experts say people with HIV/AIDS need up to 50 percent more protein and 15 percent more calories than healthy people.
According to the World Food Program, fish provide over 70 percent of national dietary animal protein intake in Malawi and 40 percent of the protein supply. But an increase in population and a decline in catch reduced the annual per capita fish consumption by more than two-thirds from the 1970s until 2005.
Previous efforts to increase fish consumption through aquaculture have failed, in part because they required large financial investments from farmers, who did not have the money.
The WorldFish Centre says the new fish farming approach is succeeding because it meshes cheaply and efficiently with existing farm operations.
The investment is minimal. All farmers have to do is dig small, rain-fed ponds of about 20 meters by 10 meters on their land. Then they cultivate species such as tilapia.
Raising fish is not labor intensive. Farm and chicken waste serves as food for fish. Women, children and the elderly can easily manage the fish in the ponds. So far, about 30 percent of the program’s farmers are women. Experts working with WorldFish and World Vision teach them how to raise, process and market their fish, generating much-needed income for their families.
As in many areas of Africa where the AIDS pandemic has raged unchecked, Malawian women are the primary providers and caregivers for their families.
The ponds are capable of producing 1,500 kilograms of fish per hectare each year, enough for families to sell fish to pay for medical care and household needs.
Joseph Nagoli is the senior research analyst for WorldFish Center in the East and Southern African region. He mentions another benefit of the ponds, “You are also using this water from the pond to grow vegetables, winter maize even seeds that you can sell and get more money. So we want these farmers to be more resilient to outside shocks such as droughts, lack of income and other basic things.”
In addition, some farmers have started growing valuable crops near the ponds -- plants like bananas and guava, which take advantage of the water that seeps into the surrounding soil. The sediment dredged from the bottom of the ponds can also be used to fertilize [surrounding] crops.
Research by the WorldFish group has shown that farms with both fish farming with traditional crops are nearly 20 percent more productive during times of drought than farms without ponds.
Nagoli says the success of the project in Malawi has prompted the organization to consider expanding the initiative to other countries, like Mozambique and Zambia.
The WorldFish Centre has recently partnered with an internet-based fundraising group, Globalgiving.com. It allows individual donors to contribute to the Malawi project on-line. For example, $200 can help build an entire fish pond, and $10 can buy enough fish to stock it.
Madonna too busy to attend Malawi adoption ruling
U.S. pop star Madonna will not attend the final court ruling on her request to adopt a Malawian child because she is busy with other engagements, her lawyer said on Tuesday.
The High Court is expected to approve Madonna's bid to formally adopt 2-year-old David Banda at a final session on Thursday. Malawi's government and David's father -- his only surviving parent -- have endorsed the adoption.
"We are going to court on Thursday, but Madonna will not be there because she is not coming," Madonna's lawyer, Alan Chinula told Reuters. "The judge has indicated that he cannot object to her being absent when making the ruling."
Chinula said Madonna had "other engagements," which he declined to disclose.
A court clerk said Madonna's lawyer has asked for a later court date -- the singer's third request for a postponement -- because their client "had other business matters to deal with." He confirmed the judge could go ahead without her.
The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, a southern African nation ravaged by an AIDS epidemic that has left more than 1 million orphans.
But one of Malawi's fiercest critics of Madonna's adoption bid, the Human Rights Consultative Committee, said on Monday it was no longer interested in pursuing the case, removing another obstacle.
Madonna began adoption proceedings in 2006, and David has been living with the singer and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, in their London home since then. She took custody of David when he was 13 months old after his father had placed him in an orphanage following the death of his wife.
David's father, Yohane Banda, told Reuters Television this week, "This is what I wanted, that Madonna should keep the child."
The High Court is expected to approve Madonna's bid to formally adopt 2-year-old David Banda at a final session on Thursday. Malawi's government and David's father -- his only surviving parent -- have endorsed the adoption.
"We are going to court on Thursday, but Madonna will not be there because she is not coming," Madonna's lawyer, Alan Chinula told Reuters. "The judge has indicated that he cannot object to her being absent when making the ruling."
Chinula said Madonna had "other engagements," which he declined to disclose.
A court clerk said Madonna's lawyer has asked for a later court date -- the singer's third request for a postponement -- because their client "had other business matters to deal with." He confirmed the judge could go ahead without her.
The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, a southern African nation ravaged by an AIDS epidemic that has left more than 1 million orphans.
But one of Malawi's fiercest critics of Madonna's adoption bid, the Human Rights Consultative Committee, said on Monday it was no longer interested in pursuing the case, removing another obstacle.
Madonna began adoption proceedings in 2006, and David has been living with the singer and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, in their London home since then. She took custody of David when he was 13 months old after his father had placed him in an orphanage following the death of his wife.
David's father, Yohane Banda, told Reuters Television this week, "This is what I wanted, that Madonna should keep the child."
Bishops Call for Conducive Atmosphere for National Poll
The government and all relevant actors should ensure a democratic atmosphere prevails for free and fair elections this year, the Catholic bishops said.
The bishops said in a pastoral letter issued on Pentecost Sunday that the election is a "special and opportune time, a time of expectation and anxiety but also a time of grace for our nation."
Incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika is expected to defend his seat against a challenge by his predecessor Bakili Muluzi. The election date has not been set.
The Malawian bishops said the forthcoming election was an ideal occasion for the nation to examine how its democracy is functioning.
In the run up to the polls, political parties should promote internal democracy by holding their own elections, publishing manifestos and conducting credible nominations of candidates, the bishops said.
"Our conviction is that it is within the political party that democracy starts; it is also here that it starts to fail! The symptoms of this failure are when parties give in to the big-man syndrome, when young new blood is not allowed to enter into political leadership and when enough space is not given to women to compete for positions."
The church leaders also called for a totally independent and professional electoral commission to oversee the polls, saying the commission should not only be seen to be acceptable in law, but also acceptable by the various crucial stakeholders in the elections.
The campaign should be used by candidates and parties to tell Malawians what they will do to solve the nation's pressing challenges, including poverty. "This is not the time for outdoing each other by attacking personalities and characters, nor is it a time for buying voters. Remember that the first step towards violent behaviour is violent language!" the prelates said.
On their part, voters should be led by a spirit of discernment, not allowing themselves to be misled by false promises or handouts. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) should draw up an election code of conduct to ensure that peace prevails in the country.
The bishops also called for equal access by all parties to public media. Private media houses should avoid language that could breed hatred and cause violence.
The Malawian bishops urged voters to look out for good leaders who have a vision and challenge everyone to contribute to its realisation, who lead by example, are good listeners, humble, God-fearing and socially conscious.
While Catholic clergy and religious have a right to personal political preferences, they should not take part in active politics, the bishops said.
Parties and candidates should accept the outcome of the polls and move on with the urgent task of nation-building.
"What a good government will do is to create the conditions that will help each individual and each community to take charge of their life and eradicate poverty by hard work. It is the people of Malawi that will develop Malawi."
The bishops said in a pastoral letter issued on Pentecost Sunday that the election is a "special and opportune time, a time of expectation and anxiety but also a time of grace for our nation."
Incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika is expected to defend his seat against a challenge by his predecessor Bakili Muluzi. The election date has not been set.
The Malawian bishops said the forthcoming election was an ideal occasion for the nation to examine how its democracy is functioning.
In the run up to the polls, political parties should promote internal democracy by holding their own elections, publishing manifestos and conducting credible nominations of candidates, the bishops said.
"Our conviction is that it is within the political party that democracy starts; it is also here that it starts to fail! The symptoms of this failure are when parties give in to the big-man syndrome, when young new blood is not allowed to enter into political leadership and when enough space is not given to women to compete for positions."
The church leaders also called for a totally independent and professional electoral commission to oversee the polls, saying the commission should not only be seen to be acceptable in law, but also acceptable by the various crucial stakeholders in the elections.
The campaign should be used by candidates and parties to tell Malawians what they will do to solve the nation's pressing challenges, including poverty. "This is not the time for outdoing each other by attacking personalities and characters, nor is it a time for buying voters. Remember that the first step towards violent behaviour is violent language!" the prelates said.
On their part, voters should be led by a spirit of discernment, not allowing themselves to be misled by false promises or handouts. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) should draw up an election code of conduct to ensure that peace prevails in the country.
The bishops also called for equal access by all parties to public media. Private media houses should avoid language that could breed hatred and cause violence.
The Malawian bishops urged voters to look out for good leaders who have a vision and challenge everyone to contribute to its realisation, who lead by example, are good listeners, humble, God-fearing and socially conscious.
While Catholic clergy and religious have a right to personal political preferences, they should not take part in active politics, the bishops said.
Parties and candidates should accept the outcome of the polls and move on with the urgent task of nation-building.
"What a good government will do is to create the conditions that will help each individual and each community to take charge of their life and eradicate poverty by hard work. It is the people of Malawi that will develop Malawi."
Malawi Opposition Condemns Arrests of Its Members
Malawi’s opposition United Democratic Party (UDF) is accusing President Bingu Wa Mutharika for undermining the country’s young democracy after some party members were arrested over allegations of coup de’tat. President Mutharika recently announced he had uncovered a plot by former President Bakili Muluzi and his supporters to overthrow his government. But the opposition says the arrests of its supporters are aimed at weakening the party ahead of next year’s general elections. Some political observes believe the UDF would be a formidable challenge to President Mutharika in next year’s elections.
The government however, said plans by the leadership of the UDF to overthrow the current government are treasonous. Humphrey Mvula is the director of research for Malawi’s opposition UDF. He tells reporter Peter Clottey from the commercial capital, Blantyre that he is facing possible arrest by the police in the coming days.
“As UDF this has come as a serious set back in the democratic process because at no time were they anticipated and the manner in which they were carried out leaves quite a considerable doubt and genuiness or the truth of what may have happened. The arrests involved persons that live very valid and very diverse background. We have been told that a few brigadiers of the army have also been taken on board, and there are several other individuals who are due for arrest,” Mvula pointed out.
He said the arrests come as a shock to most Malawians.
“As a country or the UDF we are shocked, particularly since coming off in the midst of some mediation talks government and the opposition on the issues of parliament. And also if you come to think about the 12 months ahead of us where we are going to have our next elections in 2009. So, I mean this leaves a serious doubt as the political under step and where we would be going, and as and whether within the next 10 months or 12 months we should be able to reconcile and face a free and fair election,” he said.
Mvula denied being part of a plot to overthrow President Mutharika’s government as the president alleges.
“That is a serious allegation. As an individual, I have never in my life considered issues of assignation. I’m a pure democrat, and the UDF is a democratic party. I can tell you that I have been arrested 10 times during the past four years the last one was two weeks ago. I don’t hold grudges against the president, I always believe that come 2009, we can go to the polls and the winner would be decided then,” Mvula noted.
He accused the government of using the coup plot as a ploy to weaken any opposition ahead of next year’s election.
“What must be true is an attempt by the incumbent leadership to disable the opposition parties. So that come 2009, these parties are completely weakened,” he said.
Mvula described as unfortunate the opposition’s inability to stop what the government plans.
“There is very little that the party can do... I think we have been dragged back into a one-party state. We believe though that we all deserve to be part of this country. Malawi is for everyone, whether you are in UDF, MCP (Malawi Congress Party), DPP (ruling Democratic Progress Party) or whether you don’t belong to a party, this is your country,” Mvula said.
He accuses the government of preventing the attorney for those arrested to see his clients.
“The situation is dire. We’ve been briefed by the attorney in Lilongwe, Fahad Assani who has been trying to meet his clients since morning and from this late afternoon to now, but he has not been able to. The most worrisome is that all the individuals are quite advanced like myself in age and we suffer various ailments. Fahad Assani had carried medicine for the former general, but it was not given to the general,” he said.
The government however, said plans by the leadership of the UDF to overthrow the current government are treasonous. Humphrey Mvula is the director of research for Malawi’s opposition UDF. He tells reporter Peter Clottey from the commercial capital, Blantyre that he is facing possible arrest by the police in the coming days.
“As UDF this has come as a serious set back in the democratic process because at no time were they anticipated and the manner in which they were carried out leaves quite a considerable doubt and genuiness or the truth of what may have happened. The arrests involved persons that live very valid and very diverse background. We have been told that a few brigadiers of the army have also been taken on board, and there are several other individuals who are due for arrest,” Mvula pointed out.
He said the arrests come as a shock to most Malawians.
“As a country or the UDF we are shocked, particularly since coming off in the midst of some mediation talks government and the opposition on the issues of parliament. And also if you come to think about the 12 months ahead of us where we are going to have our next elections in 2009. So, I mean this leaves a serious doubt as the political under step and where we would be going, and as and whether within the next 10 months or 12 months we should be able to reconcile and face a free and fair election,” he said.
Mvula denied being part of a plot to overthrow President Mutharika’s government as the president alleges.
“That is a serious allegation. As an individual, I have never in my life considered issues of assignation. I’m a pure democrat, and the UDF is a democratic party. I can tell you that I have been arrested 10 times during the past four years the last one was two weeks ago. I don’t hold grudges against the president, I always believe that come 2009, we can go to the polls and the winner would be decided then,” Mvula noted.
He accused the government of using the coup plot as a ploy to weaken any opposition ahead of next year’s election.
“What must be true is an attempt by the incumbent leadership to disable the opposition parties. So that come 2009, these parties are completely weakened,” he said.
Mvula described as unfortunate the opposition’s inability to stop what the government plans.
“There is very little that the party can do... I think we have been dragged back into a one-party state. We believe though that we all deserve to be part of this country. Malawi is for everyone, whether you are in UDF, MCP (Malawi Congress Party), DPP (ruling Democratic Progress Party) or whether you don’t belong to a party, this is your country,” Mvula said.
He accuses the government of preventing the attorney for those arrested to see his clients.
“The situation is dire. We’ve been briefed by the attorney in Lilongwe, Fahad Assani who has been trying to meet his clients since morning and from this late afternoon to now, but he has not been able to. The most worrisome is that all the individuals are quite advanced like myself in age and we suffer various ailments. Fahad Assani had carried medicine for the former general, but it was not given to the general,” he said.
Cry the beloved country
I am one of the believers in Bingu wa Mutharika's vision.I have an orignal copy of his speech on his inuaguration. I loved more the part of National Youth Development Service- I continously reminded him of it until someone thought I should be a director at the Youth Council. Unfortunately someone removed me verbally before I completed my term of office because I was going on a study leave. I am glad I was out in time before they showed their true colours. They squandered the funding from National Aids Commission. Thank God, the man-charge- is now the Senior official in the Ministry of Youth, courtesy of our foresightdness.
I was removed from Namisa because I want to run for Chairmanship and anything else anyone will convince me that is a good reason that I could be removed.
On Thursday, 9th May 2009, I made news myself after Information Minister Patricia Kaliati went to town over what someone attributed to me in a parliamentary press gallerly. The Minister of Information actually said she hears whatever goes on among Journalists- meaning she has spies all over the country.
I was with Kaliati on Wednesday in Mangochi and we spoke of Nurses and other issues, my passion is public health and not politics. If I had the way of working in a health sector, I would happily just do that. It is more satsfying to learn that student doctors got Hepatitis B vaccine after I did a story on the risks they face. There is nothing more than that.
After working for MBC during Bakili Muluzi and Bingu wa Mutharika regime, I got tired of politics, and hear me out, am very tired of politics to the extent that I have agreed with several of my freinds that next elections I will vote for a mickey mouse and the MP.
I was shocked therefore by Kaliati outbrusts, she should have known better on which ground I stand. In response to her intelligence network, I rarely read Nyasatimes and in whole of my life, I have only written once- a comment on HIV and Aids statistics which they had featured erronously. It was a comment on a story and I was doing Aids research then.
Apart from that, I have never had interest in China for a number of reasons. I have good freinds from Tibet, the ones I went to school with at Cardiff, he told me the story of China and Tibet. I agree with Dr. Banda and I asked Mutharika a number of press conference his position over China that economically we can cooperate and agree without agreeing on other principals.
That is why I do not make fuss over our going to China or stregnthening Iran ties. These are natural choices as Aid with conditions have only led us to be more poor than before.
I have no reason to believe that our aid package includes military assistance. Malawi has no use for arms, we are a peaceful nation unless someone wants to change that.
I cannot wake up and and dream such allegations and make them. Someone did not simply understand my comments which I said and I repeat on Zimbabwe and China, "ntchito za china zimawoneka pa chisankho- they gave Mugabe planes, farm tractors and mini buses to ferry people and half the commercial price" Does this sound anything closer to arms. Please stoogies and informers, do a proper job and find out from us in what context we make these remarks. I was referring to Zimbabwe and not at all Malawi.
Malawi's benefits from China are yet to be realised and I will there to write them when the do happen. I dont cover pledges, Libya did that before and we all learnt a lesson.
However, i stand with the majority of right thinking people that we could push for more openess in China and better human rights environment. It is not a secret that Sars epedemic in China was almost a state secret which led to many cases due to economic and other considerations. On my blog here, one would find my positions that strongly I do not believe that Bakili Muluzi should come back as a President. Muluzi has a way of developing natural chemistry and that he used it to develop historical achievements which include bringing together President Hassan Al Bashir of Sudan with his Ugandan Colleague Yoweri Museveni. The other are include bringing together Congolese Kabila and Rwandan Paul Kagame.
Muluzi as I spoke with a professor at Boston University should have been a peace maker in Africa. Even parties in Burundi respected him.
Now that is my conviction. On John Tembo, I feel his last luck is 2009 but lack of democracy in MCP will weaken the party further as most voters are young and would want somewhere where there is resemblence of democracy. He needs a powerful number two and not puppets to make it.
For Mutharika, I have so many senior people in the party I speak to and we have shared notes-that the party needs an honest team, free primaries and a strong grassroot base which can only be achieved by conducting elections at all levels from branches to the National Executive.
I worked in a cabinet office almost a year and I was impressed by the President's knowledge and insight and his vision. He even had time to comment on my own initiative like a newsletter.
As a Journalist, I would recall jokes that white people have longer audiences with Mutharika than Muluzi as he can comprehend the issues.
But now, some one thinks I have a particular political liking or I would waste my time following a politician.
I dont know where some of these "cheap and very cheap" statements that I would just open my mouth and start making serious allegations as the ones someone attributed to me.
It is very interesting that while someone is attacking me in the same administration, I have been asked to move to the same system for the last three weeks.
Today senior officials in UDF have been arrested, and even some in the military over some charges. Should I as a Journalists not give my mind for fear of Kaliati and company.
If some people think intimidation works with some of us, they should think twice really. At one time, I was told I work for Cassim Chilumpha, then UDF, then MCP, the DPP.
Unfortunately for mongers, my family has never been involved in politics nor worked for anyone.
I will not be cowed by empty threats and information gathered from gossipers paid by the Minister. She should understand that some of us, have worked hard to develop our professional reputations.
Finally arresting people like Retired General Joseph Chimbayo, Joseph Aironi, John Chikakwiya, Humphrey's Mvula and Kennedy Makwangwala will not solve the current political impasse. I am hesistant to add the military officials also in the cooler for Treason.
Some of us saw the signs of times, long time ago, but we chose to ignore it.
Political temperatures have reached boiling point, but it is the man in Karonga who has no food. I was in Lilongwe Kumachenga, when the MCP legislator was screaming that he cannot go to Parliament.
I was happy when Bingu called for the talks only to be dejected later when he went on a political rally to reveal what was going on secretly.
I dont know where Malawi is going to as of today, arrests and intimidation seem to be much more like Kamuzu era not a democratic regime people opted for 15 years ago.
I hope my country will wake up to realisation that leadership is more of a gift from God. Restraint and patience develop good leaders and not tempers.
I hope in the next few years, posterity will prove many of us right in our decisions and be remembered as "great leaders" who brought impact on our people than sheer politicking.
As I continusouly pray and cry for my beloved country-
O' God Bless our Land of Malawi
Keep it a land of peace
Put down each and every enemy
Hunger, Disease, Envy
That we should be free from fear
Bless Our Leader, each and everyone
And Mother Malawi.
This has been the Nations prayer for ages. May God lok after this nation today and forever more as our Leaders leave their selfish reasons of disturbing peace, parliament and the future of 12 million Malawians.
I hope I speak for the majority and for the poor who look up to us to change their lives.
I speak for the nurses working for 16 hours workshift only to be paid what our Members of Parliament are getting for doing nothing per day.
I cry for my beloved country!!!!!
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