The Brave Warriors beat Malawi 1-0 to top their group and qualify for the quarterfinals of the Cosafa Cup competition on Thursday.
Lazarus Kaimbi scored the winner shortly after half time when he latched onto a long upfield clearance to beat Malawi’s keeper with a cracking 35m shot.
Kaimbi had a great match in midfield, along with Quinton Jacobs and Rudi Louw as Namibia put Malawi under pressure from the start.
Rudi Louw broke clear into the penalty box early on and seemed to be impeded, but the referee failed to award the spot kick and instead booked Louw for simulation.
Kaimbi had several shots on target, but only some great goal keeping kept Malawi’s score sheet clean.
Jeremias Baisako, Quinton Jacobs and Rudi Louw also came close, but the teams went into half time still level at 0-0.
Kaimbi however finally broke the deadlock on 52m when he received a long upfield clearance from goalie Athiel Mbaha, beat his marker, and unleashed a spectacular shot from 35m out that flew into the back of the net.
Malawi tried to come back into the match but they could not penetrate Namibia’s defence, where George Hummel was in fine form, bringing off some fine tackles.
Namibian keeper Athiel Mbaha also brought off some good saves as they held on for the victory.
After the match Kaimbi was awarded the Cosafa Cup Man of the Match award.
The victory saw Namibia overtake Malawi at the top of Group 2 to put them into the quarterfinals where they will face South Africa on Saturday.
The Namibian camp is however still struggling with several injuries and team manager Tim Isaacs said they hoped to call up Sydney Plaatjies and Hartman Toromba to strengthen the team.
“Brian Brendell, Costa Khaiseb and Paulus Shipanga are all injured, so we will ask Cosafa if we can call Hartman and Sydney up to join us. They are both here in South Africa, so it shouldn’t be a logistical problem,” he said.
Plaatjies joined South African glamour club Mamelodi Sundowns at the beginning of the season, while Toromba recently joined Free State Stars.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Ngwenya now in charge of all security matters in Malawi
MALAWI leader, Bingu Mutharika has reportedly placed the intelligence security system in jeopardy by his need to get intelligence information from various sources and in most cases preferring relatives.
The media reports today that Mutharika appointed Brigadier Ngwenya as the chief security advisor operating from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
Without hindsight, this has placed Brigadier Ngwenya in charge of all security matters, as even the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police and the Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS) have to report to Mutharika.
But Brigadier Ngwenya or at least the brigadier will still have the final say, it is said.
According to the reports quoting security experts, this development has greatly compromised the existing security system because the brigadier, who is an expert in military intelligence, is now doubling with internal political and state intelligence.
"The appointment is rather confusing because the Army Commander who is Ngwenya’s boss has now to contain with a situation where his subordinate will vet his reports. In all circumstances and in terms of national security, the Army Commander and the Inspector General are the advisors to the President," explained the security expert to the media.
Fears of this confusion would easily spill over into the operations of the intelligence systems in the Army and at Police, it further said.
"It seems there is confusion on who should get which information and the intelligence system as a whole has been hit further by a ’virus’ of untrained intelligence operatives recruited by the President’s party, DPP," confided the source.
Mutharika seems to have more confidence in reports cooked up by the untrained intelligence officers to the extent that raw reports generated by the political cadres are most relied upon than the professional reports.
When Mutharika came to power in 2004, he dissolved the then National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), dismissing others and transferred some to other departments.
He replaced it with SIS, comprising trained police intelligence officers, remnants of the NIB and relatives.
The media reports today that Mutharika appointed Brigadier Ngwenya as the chief security advisor operating from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
Without hindsight, this has placed Brigadier Ngwenya in charge of all security matters, as even the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police and the Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS) have to report to Mutharika.
But Brigadier Ngwenya or at least the brigadier will still have the final say, it is said.
According to the reports quoting security experts, this development has greatly compromised the existing security system because the brigadier, who is an expert in military intelligence, is now doubling with internal political and state intelligence.
"The appointment is rather confusing because the Army Commander who is Ngwenya’s boss has now to contain with a situation where his subordinate will vet his reports. In all circumstances and in terms of national security, the Army Commander and the Inspector General are the advisors to the President," explained the security expert to the media.
Fears of this confusion would easily spill over into the operations of the intelligence systems in the Army and at Police, it further said.
"It seems there is confusion on who should get which information and the intelligence system as a whole has been hit further by a ’virus’ of untrained intelligence operatives recruited by the President’s party, DPP," confided the source.
Mutharika seems to have more confidence in reports cooked up by the untrained intelligence officers to the extent that raw reports generated by the political cadres are most relied upon than the professional reports.
When Mutharika came to power in 2004, he dissolved the then National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), dismissing others and transferred some to other departments.
He replaced it with SIS, comprising trained police intelligence officers, remnants of the NIB and relatives.
Judge Who Rejected Muluzi's Bribe
A MALAWI HIGH COURT JUDGE is making waves for unusual reasons. In a corruption-prone continent, Mr Justice Edward Twea has caught the nation's imagination after rejecting a cash "gift" from former President Bakili Muluzi.
Mr Muluzi is the man who made history when he dislodged President Kamuzu Banda to become post-independence Malawi's second president in 1994.
And the good judge, according to media reports, handled the rejection rather dramatically; he had the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal deputy registrar return Sh7,000 (15,000 kwacha) to Mr Muluzi, who had given him the "gift" when the former was admitted to a hospital in Blantyre last year.
Mr Justice Twea had good cause to reject Mr Muluzi's cash gift; he happens to be one of the three constitutional court judges handling a case that seeks to interpret Section 83(3) of Malawi's constitution, which seeks to restrict the president, the vice-president and the second vice-president to a maximum two consecutive terms.
Mr Muluzi became president on a crest of popularity following decades of the Banda dictatorship. Then, Malawi Young Pioneers held sway.
The Pioneers literally forced beleaguered citizens to buy membership cards from the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which alone guaranteed their access to markets, grinding mills, hospitals, transport, you name it.
The Young Pioneers would simply leave a batch of cards at an office, only coming back for the money.
Pregnant women had to buy, not only their cards, but also for their yet-to-be born babies.
These Pioneers had a military wing reportedly trained by Israelis, which was better equipped than the national army.
IT WAS, THEREFORE, WITH A HUGE sigh of relief that Mr Muluzi took the reins of power a year after a successful referendum for multiparty politics in 1993.
But Mr Muluzi's good will among the people was short-lived - a fact that was amply demonstrated when he failed to convince Malawians to allow him to run for a third term.
Enough about historical background; the issue at hand is Mr Justice Twea's rejection of Mr Muluzi's K15,000. Not only that; the country's Anti-Corruption Bureau is currently investigating the former president on another case involving bribery of court clerks.
While the amount involved may be trivial, there is no escaping the judge's own explanation: " it would be inappropriate and unethical for him to accept the money that accompanied your good will message", wrote the registrar of the High Court.
Given that the money was linked to Mr Muluzi's visit to the judge, who had been admitted to hospital when the gift was made, it is easy to accuse the judge of being petty.
After all, isn't common for relatives, friends and well-wishers to offer gifts to those in hospital?
And yet, Mr Muluzi was not your normal well-wisher; he is a former Head of State seeking another term. It is, therefore, common sense that his financial gift should raise a red flag.
Secondly, Mr Justice Twea's rejection draws attention to the thin line between traditional hospitality and graft. When does a gift cease to be a gift and become a bribe that compromises a public officer in the execution of his duties?
Mr Muluzi is the man who made history when he dislodged President Kamuzu Banda to become post-independence Malawi's second president in 1994.
And the good judge, according to media reports, handled the rejection rather dramatically; he had the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal deputy registrar return Sh7,000 (15,000 kwacha) to Mr Muluzi, who had given him the "gift" when the former was admitted to a hospital in Blantyre last year.
Mr Justice Twea had good cause to reject Mr Muluzi's cash gift; he happens to be one of the three constitutional court judges handling a case that seeks to interpret Section 83(3) of Malawi's constitution, which seeks to restrict the president, the vice-president and the second vice-president to a maximum two consecutive terms.
Mr Muluzi became president on a crest of popularity following decades of the Banda dictatorship. Then, Malawi Young Pioneers held sway.
The Pioneers literally forced beleaguered citizens to buy membership cards from the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which alone guaranteed their access to markets, grinding mills, hospitals, transport, you name it.
The Young Pioneers would simply leave a batch of cards at an office, only coming back for the money.
Pregnant women had to buy, not only their cards, but also for their yet-to-be born babies.
These Pioneers had a military wing reportedly trained by Israelis, which was better equipped than the national army.
IT WAS, THEREFORE, WITH A HUGE sigh of relief that Mr Muluzi took the reins of power a year after a successful referendum for multiparty politics in 1993.
But Mr Muluzi's good will among the people was short-lived - a fact that was amply demonstrated when he failed to convince Malawians to allow him to run for a third term.
Enough about historical background; the issue at hand is Mr Justice Twea's rejection of Mr Muluzi's K15,000. Not only that; the country's Anti-Corruption Bureau is currently investigating the former president on another case involving bribery of court clerks.
While the amount involved may be trivial, there is no escaping the judge's own explanation: " it would be inappropriate and unethical for him to accept the money that accompanied your good will message", wrote the registrar of the High Court.
Given that the money was linked to Mr Muluzi's visit to the judge, who had been admitted to hospital when the gift was made, it is easy to accuse the judge of being petty.
After all, isn't common for relatives, friends and well-wishers to offer gifts to those in hospital?
And yet, Mr Muluzi was not your normal well-wisher; he is a former Head of State seeking another term. It is, therefore, common sense that his financial gift should raise a red flag.
Secondly, Mr Justice Twea's rejection draws attention to the thin line between traditional hospitality and graft. When does a gift cease to be a gift and become a bribe that compromises a public officer in the execution of his duties?
Malawi consortium wins cell phone licence
Malawi has awarded a mobile phone service licence to Global Advanced Integrated Networks Ltd, making the local consortium the third operator to enter the southern African nation's growing cell phone market.
Malawi's Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) said on Wednesday that the consortium beat out two other bidders -- U.S. firm Global Telecoms and Econet, a South African and Zimbabwean-owned firm.
"We hope the company will promote competition in the telecommunications industry, thereby increasing the quality and affordability of the telecommunication services for the benefit of all people in the country," said Zadziko Mankhambo, an official with the regulatory body.
The consortium, which consists of Malawian executives and entrepreneurs, will compete with Celtel Malawi and Telekom Networks Malawi.
Celtel Malawi is the country's leading cellphone service provider, with more than 1 million customers.
Malawi's Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) said on Wednesday that the consortium beat out two other bidders -- U.S. firm Global Telecoms and Econet, a South African and Zimbabwean-owned firm.
"We hope the company will promote competition in the telecommunications industry, thereby increasing the quality and affordability of the telecommunication services for the benefit of all people in the country," said Zadziko Mankhambo, an official with the regulatory body.
The consortium, which consists of Malawian executives and entrepreneurs, will compete with Celtel Malawi and Telekom Networks Malawi.
Celtel Malawi is the country's leading cellphone service provider, with more than 1 million customers.
Malawi need draw, Namibia must win
Malawi need only draw but Namibia must win when the two countries meet today (Thursday) in their final Cosafa Senior Challenge Group B clash in Secunda.
The winner will play South Africa’s developmental side in the quarter-finals of the tournament in Witbank on Saturday.
Malawi have eeked out two narrow 1-0 victories over Lesotho and competition newcomers, the Comoros Islands, and one more point to add to the six they have amassed already would be enough for top place.
But Namibia, who let a 1-0 lead against Lesotho slip late in their last match on Tuesday and ended up drawing, must win the game.
The two countries played out a friendly in Windhoek last March, which Malawi won 3-1 but traditionally the Brave Warriors have held the upper hand over the Flames.
Lesotho and the Comoros Islands also conclude their participation with a match in Secunda on Thursday, but both countries are out of the running.
The quarterfinals begin on Saturday with Angola playing the Group A winners and South Africa up against the best team in Group B. Both matches are at Witbank.
On Sunday in Secunda, Zimbabwe take on Zambia and Botswana meet Mozambique. All four sides have been given byes into the last eight.
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