The excellent performance from Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes in specific and all African representatives in general at the on going Beijing Olympics has been diluted by the tales of struggles African journalists have gone through to be accredited to the scenes of the games.
To say the least almost all African journalist missed the opening ceremony presided over by United States President George Bush. They were assembled at one place and escorted to various scenes of tourism as the ceremony was underway.
More or less being turned into tourists, the journalists have no option but to live with having to struggle to witness their own athletes perform wonders on the world tage. Some were lucky to watch the events on big screens outside the scenes according to Malawian journalists who accompanied the teams of athletes.
The Olympics so far have provided the biggest market for African sportsmen, with reports consistently suggesting that many Africans are clinching contract deals, getting special scholarships just to mention a few of the opportunities.
And with only a week to close, the African achievements are conspicuous. More with Nigeria's Super Eagles whipping Belgium to book a place in the finals where they are meeting fellow world heavy weights Argentina. Argentine reached finals after beating former worlds cup champions Brazil 3-0.
This is news for African record considering that Nigeria soccer team would be repeating their record of the past editions when they lifted gold medals at the Olympics some time back.
But a report in Malawi media filed by a journalist right there in Beijing chronicled how African journalists are struggling with accreditation despite being officially invited to cover their teams and the games.
Accreditation is a big eyesore here for African journalists, they have missed a number of events because they say African journalists were not accredited in some areas, I think this is an area which needs to improve in the next edition of the games in future, said Gomezgani Zakazaka a journalist working for a Malawian daily publication called The Nation in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial hub.
Africa as a block has done well in a number of competitions including athletics (women and men), Long Jump, Soccer and even swimming. However it is disturbing to note that Africa is not represented in diving, high jump, gymnastics. These are kind of games Africa can shine because they don't have too many limitations in terms of their resources.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Malawi’s off-and-on again parliament reconvenes Wednesday
Malawi’s Speaker of the National Assembly, Louis Chimango, has announced that parliament will resume sitting on Wednesday to finalise the adoption and passing of the crucial national 2008/09 budget, nearly two months past the deadline.
An angry President Bingu wa Mutharika shut the house down last Friday following accusations that the opposition members were acting irresponsibly by delaying the budget’s approval.
"We are requesting all members of parliament, ministers and deputy ministers to attend the Committee of Supply of the budget," he said, in apparent reference to session which will limit its discussions to only fiscal matters.
The Committee of Supply therefore is a stage where members scrutinise the budget lines one item at a time before the members give their final approval.
An angry President Bingu wa Mutharika shut the house down last Friday following accusations that the opposition members were acting irresponsibly by delaying the budget’s approval.
"We are requesting all members of parliament, ministers and deputy ministers to attend the Committee of Supply of the budget," he said, in apparent reference to session which will limit its discussions to only fiscal matters.
The Committee of Supply therefore is a stage where members scrutinise the budget lines one item at a time before the members give their final approval.
African adventure hits home for Aimee
Rothesay girl spends two weeks in Malawi
"I REALISE that we tend to want more things in life than we actually need. Now I really appreciate a flushing toilet and electricity."
So said Young Scot award winner and new Rothesay Academy S1 pupil Aimee Gilmour on her return this week from a fortnight in Malawi as child ambassador for Spirit Aid, the worldwide child support charity set up by actor David Hayman.
"I've had the chance to see the difference between the kind of life childen have here in Scotland and the lives of the young people in Malawi," Aimee told us.
"Every day I saw things that made me very sad, but the children were so affectionate and happy, no matter what.
"It does make you look at the way you live and I am determined, with my friends here in Rothesay, to raise money to help my new friends."
A long way away from her home in Rothesay's Mount Pleasant, 12-year-old Aimee was accompanied by dad John and Spirit Aid's project leader Pat Carrigan on a trip which began with a visit to the parts of the city of Blantyre worst affected by extreme poverty, and looked at ways in which Spirit Aid might be able to help - starting with a soup kitchen, funded by the charity, which should be up and running by January 2009.
The party then moved on to spend time in the village of Milonde, where Aimee was welcomed by the chiefs and local residents, along with 250 school children who had all heard about her - and where the party was later joined by two staff members from the Rothesay joint school campus, Stuart and Hazel McHale.
In Milonde Aimee lived and worked a typical daily routine, with a host family giving the young Scot first-hand experience of a family coping with dire poverty. Up early to help make the breakfast porridge, then fat cook (a bit like doughnuts) for lunch, then working until darkness fell at half past five, when it was time for dinner, consisting of the staple diet of insima, which Aimee described as "like rice".
Work for Aimee was alongside local adults making bricks, harvesting crops, collecting water from pumps, preparing food and helping to paint and decorate a newly-built creche, all the while carrying a baby, called Innocent, on her back.
That creche was officially opened by Aimee on Friday, August 1, and is equipped with solar panels, mattresses, cups, bowls, spoons and first aid equipment - all provided by the people of Bute.
The first step of Aimee's journey was filmed by Spirit Aid for distribution throughout Scotland to highlight the extremes of the Milonde children's extreme daily existence, but it wasn't all hard work and no play. Aimee attended some school classes along with 14- to 18-year-old local children, and organised games for them, including a football match between the local Milonde school and a local rival team at which the Milonde boys sported full strips presented to them by Rothesay's very own Brandanes.
Aimee's singing talents were put to great use when Spirit Aid were invited to the local Hope and Glory Church, and she was invited to sing 'Another Unique Day' to an appreciative congregation including the famous Malawi Chitheka Gospel Family.
On a more sombre note, Aimee attended the local health clinic, where many of the child patients are orphans and suffer from HIV and Aids.
She was saddened by what she saw and said: "The children all had big sad eyes and were very quiet compared to other children I met, and I felt so upset when I thought that they would never see their mums and dads again.
"Every day hundreds of people queue for hours outside the clinic for treatment, but they have to turn them away because they have no medical supplies for them."
During her two week stay, Aimee gave the children of Milonde clothes, hair accessories and jewellery, mostly donated by the people of Bute.
On her last day she was treated to a VIP reception with speeches from village elders, some African dancing by the women of the village and had a very special song given to her by the children of the creche - a moment which had dad John "filling up", as he put it - and for which Aimee sang the Skye Boat Song for the villagers in return.
Back in Rothesay last week, Aimee's dad John said of their visit: "It was the most humbling experience of my life; the people of Blantyre and Milonde are living in extreme poverty, but they face their daily lives with a smile.
"They are so appreciative of the help which Spirit Aid and the Rothesay joint campus are giving and I hope that with the establishment of the Scotland/Malawi partnership, supported by Jack McConnell, that more people and schools in Scotland can come forward to change the lives of the wonderful Malawians."
Aimee confided her special memories to The Buteman and said: "One is of a little girl sitting at a door - when my dad gave her half a pastry, she stood up and went to find her friends and shared it with them and that really made me think.
"I found carrying water on my head really heavy, and my bucket wasn't even half full.
"Everyone was so excited to see us, and when they took us on the back of taxi bikes first thing in the morning up and down rocky roads, it was incredible to see the Mulange Mountains.
"The people are just so happy, and I will always remember carrying one-year-old Innocent on my back.
"Now I have a new pen pal called Jess, and Louisa and Gift will write to my sister Samantha."
John is now hopeful that the bonds between Rothesay and Milonde will strengthen with an exchange scheme allowing other children from Bute the opportunity to travel to Malawi to see what can be done to help, as well as bringing children from the African country over to Scotland.
Last word to Aimee, before she starts a new session in S1 at Rothesay Academy on Tuesday: "I'm determined to raise money to help my new friends in Milonde, and I hope the film we've made will encourage other young Scots to help out."
"I REALISE that we tend to want more things in life than we actually need. Now I really appreciate a flushing toilet and electricity."
So said Young Scot award winner and new Rothesay Academy S1 pupil Aimee Gilmour on her return this week from a fortnight in Malawi as child ambassador for Spirit Aid, the worldwide child support charity set up by actor David Hayman.
"I've had the chance to see the difference between the kind of life childen have here in Scotland and the lives of the young people in Malawi," Aimee told us.
"Every day I saw things that made me very sad, but the children were so affectionate and happy, no matter what.
"It does make you look at the way you live and I am determined, with my friends here in Rothesay, to raise money to help my new friends."
A long way away from her home in Rothesay's Mount Pleasant, 12-year-old Aimee was accompanied by dad John and Spirit Aid's project leader Pat Carrigan on a trip which began with a visit to the parts of the city of Blantyre worst affected by extreme poverty, and looked at ways in which Spirit Aid might be able to help - starting with a soup kitchen, funded by the charity, which should be up and running by January 2009.
The party then moved on to spend time in the village of Milonde, where Aimee was welcomed by the chiefs and local residents, along with 250 school children who had all heard about her - and where the party was later joined by two staff members from the Rothesay joint school campus, Stuart and Hazel McHale.
In Milonde Aimee lived and worked a typical daily routine, with a host family giving the young Scot first-hand experience of a family coping with dire poverty. Up early to help make the breakfast porridge, then fat cook (a bit like doughnuts) for lunch, then working until darkness fell at half past five, when it was time for dinner, consisting of the staple diet of insima, which Aimee described as "like rice".
Work for Aimee was alongside local adults making bricks, harvesting crops, collecting water from pumps, preparing food and helping to paint and decorate a newly-built creche, all the while carrying a baby, called Innocent, on her back.
That creche was officially opened by Aimee on Friday, August 1, and is equipped with solar panels, mattresses, cups, bowls, spoons and first aid equipment - all provided by the people of Bute.
The first step of Aimee's journey was filmed by Spirit Aid for distribution throughout Scotland to highlight the extremes of the Milonde children's extreme daily existence, but it wasn't all hard work and no play. Aimee attended some school classes along with 14- to 18-year-old local children, and organised games for them, including a football match between the local Milonde school and a local rival team at which the Milonde boys sported full strips presented to them by Rothesay's very own Brandanes.
Aimee's singing talents were put to great use when Spirit Aid were invited to the local Hope and Glory Church, and she was invited to sing 'Another Unique Day' to an appreciative congregation including the famous Malawi Chitheka Gospel Family.
On a more sombre note, Aimee attended the local health clinic, where many of the child patients are orphans and suffer from HIV and Aids.
She was saddened by what she saw and said: "The children all had big sad eyes and were very quiet compared to other children I met, and I felt so upset when I thought that they would never see their mums and dads again.
"Every day hundreds of people queue for hours outside the clinic for treatment, but they have to turn them away because they have no medical supplies for them."
During her two week stay, Aimee gave the children of Milonde clothes, hair accessories and jewellery, mostly donated by the people of Bute.
On her last day she was treated to a VIP reception with speeches from village elders, some African dancing by the women of the village and had a very special song given to her by the children of the creche - a moment which had dad John "filling up", as he put it - and for which Aimee sang the Skye Boat Song for the villagers in return.
Back in Rothesay last week, Aimee's dad John said of their visit: "It was the most humbling experience of my life; the people of Blantyre and Milonde are living in extreme poverty, but they face their daily lives with a smile.
"They are so appreciative of the help which Spirit Aid and the Rothesay joint campus are giving and I hope that with the establishment of the Scotland/Malawi partnership, supported by Jack McConnell, that more people and schools in Scotland can come forward to change the lives of the wonderful Malawians."
Aimee confided her special memories to The Buteman and said: "One is of a little girl sitting at a door - when my dad gave her half a pastry, she stood up and went to find her friends and shared it with them and that really made me think.
"I found carrying water on my head really heavy, and my bucket wasn't even half full.
"Everyone was so excited to see us, and when they took us on the back of taxi bikes first thing in the morning up and down rocky roads, it was incredible to see the Mulange Mountains.
"The people are just so happy, and I will always remember carrying one-year-old Innocent on my back.
"Now I have a new pen pal called Jess, and Louisa and Gift will write to my sister Samantha."
John is now hopeful that the bonds between Rothesay and Milonde will strengthen with an exchange scheme allowing other children from Bute the opportunity to travel to Malawi to see what can be done to help, as well as bringing children from the African country over to Scotland.
Last word to Aimee, before she starts a new session in S1 at Rothesay Academy on Tuesday: "I'm determined to raise money to help my new friends in Milonde, and I hope the film we've made will encourage other young Scots to help out."
Zambia to maintain Mwanawasa policies
The country's minister of finance Ngandu Magande has said on Tuesday that Zambia was saddened by the death of Mwanawasa who had put the country's economy back on track. he however added that it will maintain the prudent macroeconomic policies following the death of the country's President Levy Mwanawasa.
Mwanawasa, 59 was well respected among donors for policies that have helped boost growth and for clamping down on corruption in Zambia.
It's indeed a tragedy because he was a good captain, but I am sure another captain will be found to steer the ship," Magande said adding that the country will maintain its prudent macroeconomic policies.
He said the Southern African country which is one of the biggest producers of copper, does not need political changes and hence would focus on boosting economic growth.
A Reuters report Tuesday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other Western donors extended billions of dollars in debt relief to Zambia after Mwanawasa curbed government spending and launched the biggest anti-corruption drive since independence from Britain in 1964.
According to the report, Zambia's economy is said to have averaged 5 percent growth over the last six years and the inflation rate declined to single digits in 2006 for the first time in over three decades, although it has accelerated recently on higher global fuel and food prices.
However the country's kwacha currency fell as much as 3 percent on news of Mwanawasa's death.
Mwanawasa suffered stroke two months ago whilst attending an African Union (AU) summit. He was later flown to France before his death on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Zambia's neighbour Malawi has described the death of Mwanawasa as a great loss to the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region.
Malawi's deputy minister of information and civic education John Bande said the Zambian president would be remembered for fighting high level corruption in his country, subsequently, making the malpractice an enemy of the entire Sadc region.
Several leaders worldwide have also expressed their sadness on the death of Mwanawasa who was also the chairman of Sadc.
Mwanawasa, 59 was well respected among donors for policies that have helped boost growth and for clamping down on corruption in Zambia.
It's indeed a tragedy because he was a good captain, but I am sure another captain will be found to steer the ship," Magande said adding that the country will maintain its prudent macroeconomic policies.
He said the Southern African country which is one of the biggest producers of copper, does not need political changes and hence would focus on boosting economic growth.
A Reuters report Tuesday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other Western donors extended billions of dollars in debt relief to Zambia after Mwanawasa curbed government spending and launched the biggest anti-corruption drive since independence from Britain in 1964.
According to the report, Zambia's economy is said to have averaged 5 percent growth over the last six years and the inflation rate declined to single digits in 2006 for the first time in over three decades, although it has accelerated recently on higher global fuel and food prices.
However the country's kwacha currency fell as much as 3 percent on news of Mwanawasa's death.
Mwanawasa suffered stroke two months ago whilst attending an African Union (AU) summit. He was later flown to France before his death on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Zambia's neighbour Malawi has described the death of Mwanawasa as a great loss to the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region.
Malawi's deputy minister of information and civic education John Bande said the Zambian president would be remembered for fighting high level corruption in his country, subsequently, making the malpractice an enemy of the entire Sadc region.
Several leaders worldwide have also expressed their sadness on the death of Mwanawasa who was also the chairman of Sadc.
How cans collected in Formby are helping families in Malawi become self-sufficient
EVERY time a tonne of aluminium cans or foil is picked up from the roadside in Formby, a tree is planted in Malawi.
Householders in the town who use the Green Bee recycling scheme are helping families there to become self-sufficient.
Not-for-profit recycling organisation Alupro is behind the scheme which donates a tree to help people in the African country.
Last year more than 216 grafted orange trees were planted for families in rural Malawi to grow and cultivate thanks to recyclers throughout Sefton. Plaques have now been planted in the orchards saying where the trees have come from.
Cherry Hamson, from Alupro, said: “The plant label acknowledging the contribution made by people in Sefton will be given to local community orchards when the trees are planted out.
“Someone had an idea and said how great it would be if people in the rural Malawian villages felt a connection to the communities in the UK which had helped them so much be providing the fruit trees.”
The tree nurseries are run by local garden clubs and schools, and the first orange grafted trees have been produced by trainees learning new horticultural skills at the project.
As well as providing greenhouses, training and materials in Malawi, Alupro is making sure that a fruit tree is grown to maturity for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled in the UK by local authorities.
Sefton’s Cabinet member responsible for environmental matters, Cllr David Tattersall said: “It’s good news that after just one year, recyclers in Sefton have been responsible for giving so many fruit trees to the project.
“Recycled aluminium drinks cans and foil are not only reused in the UK but go towards helping Malawi.”
l Recycling aluminium is 20 times more efficient than making it from the raw material bauxite.
Householders in the town who use the Green Bee recycling scheme are helping families there to become self-sufficient.
Not-for-profit recycling organisation Alupro is behind the scheme which donates a tree to help people in the African country.
Last year more than 216 grafted orange trees were planted for families in rural Malawi to grow and cultivate thanks to recyclers throughout Sefton. Plaques have now been planted in the orchards saying where the trees have come from.
Cherry Hamson, from Alupro, said: “The plant label acknowledging the contribution made by people in Sefton will be given to local community orchards when the trees are planted out.
“Someone had an idea and said how great it would be if people in the rural Malawian villages felt a connection to the communities in the UK which had helped them so much be providing the fruit trees.”
The tree nurseries are run by local garden clubs and schools, and the first orange grafted trees have been produced by trainees learning new horticultural skills at the project.
As well as providing greenhouses, training and materials in Malawi, Alupro is making sure that a fruit tree is grown to maturity for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled in the UK by local authorities.
Sefton’s Cabinet member responsible for environmental matters, Cllr David Tattersall said: “It’s good news that after just one year, recyclers in Sefton have been responsible for giving so many fruit trees to the project.
“Recycled aluminium drinks cans and foil are not only reused in the UK but go towards helping Malawi.”
l Recycling aluminium is 20 times more efficient than making it from the raw material bauxite.
Malawian homosexuals form association
Malawian homosexuals, who claim to have been oppressed for a long time, have formed an association, the Malawi Gay Rights Movement (Magrim).
According to the organisation's interim Chairperson, Mc Leod (requested that his surname not be mentioned), Malawian gays and lesbians have never publicly come foward because of the country's repressive laws. Under Malawi law, just like in most Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member states, it is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment with hard labour.
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has gone on to describe homosexuals as 'worse than pigs', a stance Mc Leod fears has been adopted by other Sadc Heads of State, including Malawi.
"What people must know is that Malawi has always had an active gay population. and these people have been meeting for a long time. Only that now we have decided to come forth because we want our views heard; we are Malawian citizens who should be protected like anyone else. Doesn't our Republican constitution say everyone is equal, and that nobody is more equal than others," queried Mc Leod in Blantyre today.
Apparently, when a Malawian civil rights organisation, the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre reported some three years ago that it wanted to advocate for the decriminalisation of homosexual laws, the country went up in flames against the proposal.
But Mc Leod describes the situation as "pathetic", saying, contrary to prevalent perceptions that homosexuals are 'artificial' human beings, the reality is that, just like heterosexuality, being gay or lesbian is natural.
"These people don't understand, but we will fight on. In fact, Malawi has an active population of 89, 000 homosexuals, and this we say because we meet, and have sexual intercourse," said Mc Leod to prove the fact that homosexuality is real in Malawi.
The launch for the association, which currently has 3890 members, including 680 ladies, is slated for Blantyre on September 13.
"We have a place in Blantyre City Centre where we have been meeting for the past six years," he said, adding that thge association was looking for well-wishers to help bank-role the occasion. He added that it also had plans to begin outreach activities, starting this November, to sensitise people that homosexuality is natural, and no cause for shame.
He said they were currently looking for K1, 400, 000 (about U$D10,000) to carry out the activities he said were necessary to rid Malawian gays of the bondage they have suffered for the past 45 years, that is the time Malawi has been independent from her former colonial master Britain.
This is the first time gays have come openly to express themselves, as the world increasingly embraces homosexuality.
According to the organisation's interim Chairperson, Mc Leod (requested that his surname not be mentioned), Malawian gays and lesbians have never publicly come foward because of the country's repressive laws. Under Malawi law, just like in most Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member states, it is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment with hard labour.
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has gone on to describe homosexuals as 'worse than pigs', a stance Mc Leod fears has been adopted by other Sadc Heads of State, including Malawi.
"What people must know is that Malawi has always had an active gay population. and these people have been meeting for a long time. Only that now we have decided to come forth because we want our views heard; we are Malawian citizens who should be protected like anyone else. Doesn't our Republican constitution say everyone is equal, and that nobody is more equal than others," queried Mc Leod in Blantyre today.
Apparently, when a Malawian civil rights organisation, the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre reported some three years ago that it wanted to advocate for the decriminalisation of homosexual laws, the country went up in flames against the proposal.
But Mc Leod describes the situation as "pathetic", saying, contrary to prevalent perceptions that homosexuals are 'artificial' human beings, the reality is that, just like heterosexuality, being gay or lesbian is natural.
"These people don't understand, but we will fight on. In fact, Malawi has an active population of 89, 000 homosexuals, and this we say because we meet, and have sexual intercourse," said Mc Leod to prove the fact that homosexuality is real in Malawi.
The launch for the association, which currently has 3890 members, including 680 ladies, is slated for Blantyre on September 13.
"We have a place in Blantyre City Centre where we have been meeting for the past six years," he said, adding that thge association was looking for well-wishers to help bank-role the occasion. He added that it also had plans to begin outreach activities, starting this November, to sensitise people that homosexuality is natural, and no cause for shame.
He said they were currently looking for K1, 400, 000 (about U$D10,000) to carry out the activities he said were necessary to rid Malawian gays of the bondage they have suffered for the past 45 years, that is the time Malawi has been independent from her former colonial master Britain.
This is the first time gays have come openly to express themselves, as the world increasingly embraces homosexuality.
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