Malawi parliament suspended indefinitely

Malawi’s troubled parliament has suspended the debate of its 2008/09 budget proceedings until further notice following the insecurity which surrounded the House early in the day, Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango said on Friday.

The “insecurity” came from “concerned citizens” who flocked to the main entrance of the New State House which doubles as parliament to force legislatures to pass the budget failing which they would not leave the ornate premises.

The concerned citizens also barred opposition members from entering the gates, a situation which delayed the parliamentarians, including the speaker and officials from National Assembly secretariat, to convene the house as scheduled.

Chimango said the decision to suspend proceedings came after consultations with the members of the Business Committee of Parliament in order to protect members from the angry group.

”Members will be informed of the dates for the resumption of the debates on the budget process when appropriate,” the Speaker said, adding that the suspension was to ensure that members were able to conduct business in a dignified and productive manner.”

However, civil society activists have expressed worry over the decision to suspend budget proceedings, arguing that the country would lose more in the absence of the budget.

"Development sectors, including crucial areas like health, water and agriculture, among others, will be delayed and poor Malawians in rural areas will not benefit,” he said.

Earlier, President Bingu wa Mutharika had warned that he would suspend parliament if legislatures would not discuss and pass the budget by Friday.

Malawi president suspends parliament over budget row

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika on Friday suspended the opposition-dominated parliament over its failure to pass the budget.

"I still maintain my decision that the meeting of parliament will be adjourned on June 20. This is because it has become obvious that the opposition does not want to approve the budget," Mutharika said in a radio and television broadcast.

He said Malawi was "passing through hard times as the opposition is trying to take over government through the back door," in reference to the controversial constitutional clause which allows the speaker of parliament to fire lawmakers who crossed the floor, and subsequently force the president out of office.

The opposition has vowed that it will not pass the budget until Speaker Louis Chimango fired the MPs, most of whom joined Mutharika's minority Democratic Progessive Party (DPP) after he ditched the former ruling United Democratic Front in 2005.

"The opposition wants to use section 65 (of the constitution) to bring down this government and as a tool for revenge and retribution against government members of parliament who are deemed to have crossed the floor by leaving their parties to join the DPP," Mutharika said.

Mutharika, who came into office in April 2004, has questioned the 2007 Supreme Court ruling that allowed the expulsion of defecting lawmakers, saying the judges "ignored the fact that the MPs are free to move from one party to another."

He said the defecting MPs had "exercised their freedom of choice and association" by joining his minority party.

The budget, which was to come into effect on July 1, includes 50 million dollars set aside for the country's fourth multi-party general elections set for May next year.

The president said that the 193-member parliament could reconvene "if there is reasonable guarantee by the opposition that they will adopt the national budget within a specific agreed period."

Mutharika, who has been at loggerheads with ex-president Bakili Muluzi (1994-2004) after he ditched the former ruling party, recently accused his predecessor and an ex-army chief of involvement in a plot to oust him from power.

Muluzi, who has not been formally charged with the coup plot, has denied his involvement in it.

Malawi suspends parliament as feud stalls budget

Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has suspended parliament until opposition legislators give him guarantees that they will adopt the 2008/09 budget, stalled over a political feud.

The opposition alliance of United Democratic Front (UDF) and Malawi Congress Party say that under the constitution, wa Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party should lose 60 legislators they accuse him of poaching when he quit the UDF.

They insist that the impasse should be resolved before the first passage of the budget.

"The opposition is trying to take over government through the backdoor, this cannot be allowed and therefore I maintain my decision that the meeting of parliament will be adjourned on Friday, June 20," wa Mutharika said in a live radio broadcast on Thursday night.

"I have taken a decision in order to save the nation from destruction because the opposition does not care about the suffering of the people, they do not want poverty and hunger to end in this country," he added.

The Malawi Congress Party said wa Mutharika has no powers under the law to suspend parliament.

The political crisis delayed passage of the budget last year until pressure from the international community and civil society forced opposition legislators to back down.

The 2008/09 budget, presented in parliament by the finance minister late last month, proposes increasing public service salaries by 20 percent, doubling spending on a fertilizer and seed subsidy programme and introducing tax measures to encourage local cigarette manufacturing.

Economic watchdog Malawi Economic Justice Network said wa Mutharika's move would create a crisis that could undermine donor confidence in the impoverished southern African state.

"What this decision means is that government will not be in a position to spend public funds because it will be unconstitutional to do that and this can disappoint donors who may lose confidence," said the group's executive director Andrew Kumbatira.

The Council for Non Governmental Organisations (Congoma), a group of over 100 non-governmental organisations in Malawi, said the president's actions undermined efforts by the clergy to resolve the political stand-off.

Wa Mutharika, lauded for economic achievements in the last three years, has clashed with the opposition since he quit the UDF, which sponsored his candidature in 2004 elections.

Japan beckons honey from Malawi

Farmers who practice honey production in the Southern African country Malawi can now start smiling as a market for exporting the product has been secured in Japan, the country's minister of Trade and Industry said Tuesday.

Malawi which also exports tea and other commodities to Japan has many farmers who practice honey production however many have failed to export it outside.

The Southern African country depends much on agriculture for its economy through its major crops tea and tobacco however many farmers are now exploring other crops among them mushrooms.

Henry Mussa minister of Trade and Industry said the honey deal would help improve the economy of the Southern African nation as well as the government’s agenda of turning the nation into an exporting nation.

The United Nations said recently that the African nation was suffering because it depended more on imports rather than investing more in agriculture and become exporters.

Malawi’s local daily of the Daily Times reported Thursday that the minister who attended an African fair in Japan made the remarks on Tuesday in the country’s capital of Lilongwe saying it was now time for Malawian honey farmers to reap from their sweat.

“We have indeed found potential market for Malawi’s produce. Clearly, we have clinched deals in tea, coffee, groundnuts and soya beans just to mention a few and in addition, firm orders were placed on Malawi’s honey,” Mussa told the Daily Times.

The local daily said the firm orders were clinched just two months after the Southern African nation signed a lucrative business deal with its partner China, which would allow Malawi to export products duty free.

The African Fair in Japan attracted over 400 companies from Africa who showcased their products.

Last week one of the country’s major private produce merchants Mulli Brothers which also participated in the fair said they would start exporting a new type of Chinese tea grown in the country to Japan.

The company’s director said soon after his arrival from Japan that he had discovered that the country’s tea sells like hot cakes In Japan.

Meanwhile LONRHO, the conglomerate with a structured portfolio of African investments, has signed an agreement with Malawi government to develop a cold store and agri-processing and packing facility in the country’s capital, Lilongwe.

The firm which was a major player during the era of Malawi’s first president Hastings Kamuzu Banda reported on its website Wednesday that the deal would include the development of a 100 hectare agriculture project in Lilongwe.

The website further said the deal is set to provide agronomist advice to help local farmers increase yields and quality of production and pay a nominal ground rent for the farm and the site for the new facility.

LONRHO is one of the popular firms which is also running various projects in the African continent and trades its shares on the London stock market,(AIM). It has over 19,000 shareholders and has business interests in countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Malawi head Ephraim on fact-finder

AN AFRICAN headteacher has been touring Liverpool schools in a bid to boost teaching standards at his own primary in Malawi.

Fewer than three quarters of children can read and write in Malawi and one in four teachers lack formal training.

But charity SOS Children’s purpose-built village in Lilongwe represents a beacon of hope and Ephraim Chinyama is head of its 750-pupil SOS primary school.

Mr Chinyama and village director Kingston Zolowele have been looking at schools in the city to take ideas back.

He said: “We would love to have the resources that are here in Liverpool, but we will be able to adapt some of these things back in Malawi, such as using volunteers in lessons.

“I have really enjoyed my visits.”

Malawi’s reggae star dies

Malawi's well known reggae musician Gift Fumulani died on Wednesday died at Mlambe Hospital in Blantyre.. The artist who made his name with his reggae hits which mostly exalted the name of God and authenticated many biblical tales. He also played love tracks
Gift Fumulani reggae artist malawi
The artist who made his name with his reggae hits which mostly exalted the name of God and authenticated many biblical tales as well as played love tracks died at Mlambe Hospital in Blantyre.

The musician was born on August 22, 1981 and hailed from Chileka in the Southern part of Malawi.

Through his music career he travelled extensively and released his first Chichewa album Ndikuyimba (I will sing) in 2002.

Fumulani created his own style and carved his name in the hearts of his admirers and the whole country is mourning the reggae artist.

Other albums which the artists released include ‘Mphamvu Yake Mulungu( The power of God), Stephano(Stephen) whose story is narrated in the Book of Acts.

He has died whilst setting his pace to release his fourth album Loto La Pharaoh (Pharaoh’s dream).

Musicians Association of Malawi president Costen Mapemba said in an interview Thursday that he was saddened by the death of Fumulani who he said was one of the successful musicians in the country.

“He succeeded to write his name on the local music scene. He had just established himself as a musician and now he is dead. Malawi has lost a talented musician,” said Mapemba.

Preview: Egypt v Malawi

Egypt will be seeking to avenge their 1-0 away defeat to Malawi last week when the two sides face-off at the Cairo stadium on Sunday.

The result saw the Pharaohs drop to third spot in African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifying Group Twelve.

However, the Egyptian FA are more concerned with safety of goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who was the subject of abuse in their last home game against the DR Congo.

Egyptian FA president Samir Zaher told the FA's official website: "We have the utmost confidence in the fans' love for Egypt."

"Their support was a decisive factor in helping the national team win back-to-back Nation Cup titles.

"Some reports said that we intend to implement additional security measures in Sunday's match, but I can affirm that those reports are completely untrue.

"We fully respect Egyptian fans, whom we believe will heavily support the team against Malawi."

Coach Hassan Shehata will breathe a sigh of relief with the return of experienced strike duo of Emad Moteab and Amr Zaky.

The Flames' confidence will still be high as they top the Group but Malawi football chief Charles Nyirenda warned the team not to expect a warm reception in the Egyptian capital.

Nyirenda told FilGoal:"The atmosphere is likely to be intimidating. They will be over 100,000 fans who will be chanting and roaring trying to intimidate the Flames."

"Majority of Flames players are playing in outside where they are used to such type of environment."

"The likes of Mponda, Kanyenda and others are conditioned to that kind of environment and they will withstand the heat."

Building project in Malawi completed by Stonehouse Better World

A BUILDING project in Malawi, which was funded by Stonehouse Better World, has been completed.

Thanks to SBW, a substantial brick home, with electricity and sanitation, has been constructed in Mulanje for a science teacher to live in while he teaches at a secondary school in the area.

The teacher, from Ireland, is expected to take up his post later this month.

The project was funded entirely by the community of Stonehouse through business contributions and several fund-raising events.

Stonehouse Better World hope the introduction of science into the curriculum will have a long-term and sustainable impact on the community and will encourage young people to train in medicine in the future.

From the Diocese of Lake Malawi

Meanwhile some recent correspondence from the Diocese of Lake Malawi -
still bravely standing up for justice.*


*Please note that a culture of intimidation is no longer entirely restricted to Zimbabwe and sadly some of the Anglican bishops are prepared to punish clergy and threaten laity in the dioceses of Lake Malawi and Upper Shire, should they appear to ‘step out of line’.

We have now recorded a number of examples of such actions in our files and have therefore withheld the names of correspondents – however, we will confidentially forward any e-mail responses should readers wish to reply and engage in dialogue.

* From a correspondent:


‘Ngati timayenda ndi mzimu oyera tilolenso kuti mzimuyo atitsolele, Mtendere wa Ambuye Ukhale ndi Inu masiku onse!
Ukhalenso ndi inu. (If we live in the Spirit, we should allow the Spirit to guide us)

Are Christians in this Province surprised at the way our political leaders are behaving, especially in Zimbabwe? No, if our Church leaders behave like dictators, our leaders will behave the same way. In Chichewa we say Fisi sabeleka galu meaning ‘a hyena will always produce a hyena, not a dog’.

As Christians we should pray hard that our Church leaders should be exemplary in the way they live and manage Church affairs. These same bishops mediate political impasse in our country but they fail to mediate the problems of the church in a Christian way. For example, they chose Bishop Trevor Mwamba (Bishop of Botswana, the popular previous Dean of the Province) to mediate the problems in Lake Malawi Diocese but somehow let the devil confuse the process (a reference to the arbitrary sacking of Mwamba by former Archbishop Bernard Malango). Leaders what exactly is it you want to see before you can reconcile and reach a compromise with the Church?

This Province will in due course choose a new Archbishop for Central Africa (when all the currently vacant sees are filled). Can we pray for a God-Fearing leader who can once and for all bring peace to this confused Province. Don’t the bishops of this Province question their own integrity. Bad society produces bad leaders.

May God open the eyes of our bishops to reflect and meditate on this letter.’

A concerned Anglican citizen


* And from another correspondent:

‘Could someone enlighten me about what role the retired former Archbishop Bernard Malango is playing at St Thomas’s Anglican Church? (St Thomas’s is at the Lake Malawi Diocesan Headquarters) For four weeks on the trot he has been conducting Mass. Talk of giving someone a yard – they want to take a mile! Surely the congregation has a right to know of these changes.’

A member of the congregation


ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that following the terms of the recent pronouncement of excommunication on Bishops Kunonga and Jakazi – Malango himself should be excommunicated or at least suspended from any duties as he has been the principal supporter of the Zimbabwean renegades who owe their very positions to him – no wonder the St Thomas’s congregation is unsettled.

Malawi Government Faces Budget Showdown with the Opposition in Parliament

Malawi opposition parties describe President Bingu Wa Mutharika’s threat to dissolve parliament today if the opposition fails to pass this year’s budget a “complete arrogance of power.’’ Opposition parties say Mutharika’s threat is unlawful and should be condemned in no uncertain terms. Some Malawians are reportedly worried the ongoing political impasse between the government and the opposition would undermine the government’s developmental agenda and the inflow of donor funds essential for sustaining the country’s economy. Some political analysts say President Mutharika’s latest threat would undermine peace negotiations between his administration and the opposition, which are being mediated by Malawi clergy. George Mtafu is the leader of the opposition United Democratic Front in Malawi’s parliament. From the capital, Lilongwe, he tells reporter Peter Clottey that it would be impossible for parliament to pass the budget today.

“The president has no right whatsoever to suspend or adjourn parliament. That authority lies in the hands of the speaker. The president can prorogue parliament, in which case he would be proroguing (suspending) parliament for the second time after the first prorogation on September 14 last year. It will be extremely unconstitutional and undemocratic. It would mean that we are sliding back into an era of another dictatorship or a fascist dictatorship and that would be very sad for the young democracy in Malawi,” Mtafu pointed out.

He said President Mutharika would be mistaken if he expects the budget to be passed today.

“Technically it would be absurd to expect parliament to pass a budget only one day today on Friday because on Fridays, we meet only in the morning half day, from 9:30 to 12:30, and I don’t know how a budget can be passed in that short space of time,” he said.

Mtafu dismissed accusations that the opposition is dismissing government projects as propaganda in an effort to stifle their passage by diverting attention.

“Such talk is actually empty talk. The constitution is the supreme law of any country, and when the constitution actually dictates that we do A, B, C then you do it. Since 2004 up to the present, the opposition has always supported the budget. This time as well, we are in support of the budget. But what we want is that a law, which has been broken, must be invoked. And it is that invocation of the law, which is causing so much headache for President Bingu Wa Mutharika,” Mtafu noted.

He said the opposition would resist any threats by President Mutharika to force them to approve the budget today.

“Count is for real that the budget cannot pass today. So, President Bingu Wa Mutharika has two options: either he prorogues the house he cannot sustain or adjourn it. That is actually the duty of the speaker. But for him to expect that the budget can pass today, that is out of this world. It is out of the question,” he said.

Mtafu said the president’s threat is dangerous to efforts for solving a political impasse between the government and the opposition.

“Don’t forget that we have in between called for a mediation. And there is a team of eminent clergymen who are actually looking at these things. And they have made a proposition of an agreement, which we are looking at,” Mtafu pointed out.

Malawi in talks over funding for Blantyre–Zomba road reconstruction

The Malawi government is negotiating for funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to reconstruct the 64-km Blantyre–Zomba road, in the south of the country.

Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe says the bank has agreed to consider funding the project and that he “is hopeful that the discussions will be fruitful”.

Malawi will provide some of the funds required for the project and will include it in its budget for the next financial year.

The AfDB is expected to finance the project as part of its transport infrastructure development programme, which is meant to ensure that rural farmers have easy access to urban markets.

“Our major aim is to service the agricultural sector, but transport- ation has been a problem in Africa and that has denied farmers the chance to find markets for their produce. Our aim now is to finance several road-construction projects that will connect rural farmers to urban markets,” says AfDB country director for Malawi Frank Kufakwandi.

The AfDB, which has spent over $800-million on various projects in Malawi since it started oper- ating in the impoverished Southern African country in 1969, is also to partially finance the reconstruction of the Mzuzu–Nkhata Bay road, in Malawi’s northern region.

Meanwhile, the Malawi govern- ment has launched a multimillion- dollar road reconstruction programme targeting 20 main roads across the country.

The programme is being implemented with the assistance of the country’s bilateral and multilateral partners.

Notable projects to be included in this programme include the construction of the Thyolo–Makwasa–Muona–Makhanga road at an estimated cost of $46,5-million, and the $40- million rehabilitation of the Bangula–Nsanje–Marka road.

The Malawi government is also constructing the $59-million Zomba–Jali–Phalombe road and the $45-million Karonga–Chitipa road.

The rehabilitation and upgrading of the Masauko Chipembere highway, in Blantyre, has begun, with funding from the Japanese government to the tune of $15- million.

Japanese construction firm Shimz has been working on the road since April and is expected to complete the project in November 2009.

The Japanese government has also agreed to finance the construction of the Chiromo road/rail bridge, in the lower Shire Valley district of Nsanje, at a cost of about $8-million, and rehabilitate Zomba city roads.

Malawi invites bids for Nsanje water project

The Malawi government is inviting expressions of interest in providing design and construction supervision services for the rehabilitation, upgrading and expansion of the water-supply system in the southern lower Shire Valley town of Nsanje.

Southern Region Water Board operations manager Edward Mbesa says the project will be financed by the World Bank’s International Development Association as part of the country’s multimillion- dollar national water development programme.

The Nsanje water supply project will involve the identification of water sources and the construction of the associated water-supply intakes, in addition to the rehabilitation, upgrading and extension of the entire water-supply system in the town to meet the town’s water requirements until 2020.

Mbesa says the consultancy assignment for the project will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase involving preliminary and detailed design, and the production of tender documents, while the second phase includes tendering and construction super- vision.

“The contract for phase 1 will be paid on a lump-sum basis, while that for phase 2 will be time based. The inputs for phase 2 may change, depending on the results for phase 1,” he says.

Mbesa states that interested consulting firms must submit information indicating that they are qualified to provide the required services. This information may be in the form of brochures, descriptions of experience in similar assignments and appropriate skills among key staff members.

“Only consulting firms with demonstrated experience and a good record in similar assignments will be shortlisted. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications,” says Mbesa.

He says only shortlisted consultants will be invited to submit proposals, which will include specific terms of reference.

The town of Nsanje will host the port to be built as part of the proposed $6-billion Shire–Zambezi waterway project, which will link Malawi to the Indian Ocean by dredging a canal through the Shire and Zambezi rivers.

Apart from Nsanje, Malawi’s national water development programme, now in its second phase, is developing water infrastructure in the country’s major cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu and several urban centres.

The financiers of the programme are the World Bank, the European Union, the government of the Netherlands and the Kuwaiti Fund.

Rwanda: 700 Refugees Seeking Asylum

Kigali

Up to seven hundred and three (703) refugees from largely DR Congo and Burundi want Rwanda as their home fleeing from 'political and ethic' persecution, according to the UN refugee agency - UNHCR.

Figures from the Agency indicate that 574 have fled lawless RDC, another 119 coming in from Burundi - that is struggling to end years of war and ethnic strife. Other countries account for the remaining 10 asylum seekers.

"In most cases when people flee (their countries) they are often running from political persecution, ethnic persecution and several other factors", Ms. JoAnna Pollonais - External Relations Officer of the Agency's Kigali Office told RNA on Thursday.

"In the case of DR Congo and Burundi, these people will most likely run to the nearest place - in this case Rwanda".

Ms. Pollonais said the asylum status of the 703 have been "decided on a case by case basis" to have them determined as genuine complaints.

The figures provided to RNA by the UNHCR Office in Kigali have been released to coincide with World Refugee Day June 20 with various activities lined across the country.

In Rwanda, there is a sizeable refugee population comprised of mainly Congolese and Burundian nationals. Currently, according figures from the Agency, there is a considerable group of urban-based refugees, as well as 4 refugee camps and 2 transit centres housing 55,699 people throughout the country.

In 2008 alone, 3,307 Rwandan refugees returned home to begin the process of integration and to start a new phase of their lives. In May alone, some 555 Rwandans have returned.

Government here announced last month that it intended to national ID cards to all refugees - which would essentially avail them with rights to even seek health care and hold bank accounts.

However, DR Congo and Uganda remain the biggest recipients of Rwandan refugees holding 34,017 and 20,952 respectively. Congo-Brazzaville and Malawi are also harbouring sizable numbers.

In the years following the Genocide, some 3.2 million Rwandan refugees have returned, and UN refugee agency says it wants thousands others still hesitant and have been living in several African countries.

Genocidaires in Malawi?

Other countries where Rwandans have fled include Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Togo and Mozambique.

Interestingly, as an unlikely destination, Malawi stands out as the top recipient of Rwandans seeking asylum. There is another 1,222 who are in camps as refugees.

Some 3,555 are seeking asylum there, as some 3,280 have decided to take Uganda as their home.

In September last year, President Paul Kagame was in Malawi for a three day visit and part of his discussion with his host Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika centered on how Rwandans in that country could be repatriated.

According to African Rights - that has been tracking down Genocide fugitives - Malawi is another country where there are many Genocidaires 'especially given the close ties between the Rwandese communities in Malawi and Zambia'.

The secretary general of the DR Congo based Rwandan rebels - FDLR - in Malawi, Frodouald Ntawulikura, a former state radio journalist where he is said to have made incendiary speeches - lived for a long time in Zambia.

Refugees in Rwanda are spread in 7 camps across the country. They include Kiziba camp, Gihembe camp, Nkamira Transit Center (TC) and Nyagatare TC - all in western province neighbouring DR Congo. Others are Gihembe camp - in Northern Rwanda, Nyabiheke camp - in Eastern province.

Kigali is home to what the Agency calls urban refugees.