Uniform benefits for Malawi

THE reorganisation of primary schools in Norwich has had an unexpected benefit on children in Malawi.

When the schools amalgamated and changed their names at the end of last term, many left-over uniforms, book-bags and surplus equipment, were donated to the Norwich-Dedza Partnership, a charity which links the city with Dedza District in Malawi.

The Partnership arranged the shipment to Dedza, where they have been distributed to some of the 200 primary schools in the district by the education department.

Nick Nicholson, chairman of the Norwich-Dedza Partnership said: “We are very grateful to the schools that donated these things. The warm clothes were useful as Dedza has cold mornings at some times of the year and children have to get up early and walk a long way to get to school.”

As part of its work, the Partnership links schools in Norfolk with ones in Dedza. Seven schools have been linked and the pupils exchange letters and drawings about their lives.

The schools involved include Bignold Primary, Bluebell Primary, Catton Grove Primary, Eaton Primary, Heartsease Primary, Horsford Church of England Junior, Lionwood Infants', Lodge Lane Infant, Mile Cross Community Primary and Tuckswood Community Primary.

Malawi choir to give concert

BUCHANAN — The First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan will host a concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 featuring the Malawi Association Choir.

The program will consist of a range of music, including traditional Malawian gospel songs and folk hymns.

Proceeds from the event will be donated for mission work in the African nation.

According to choir mistress Nelli Namwali, the FPC Malawi Association Choir is composed of native Malawians now living in Michiana, many of whom attend the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend and the houses of worship of other denominations in the area.

Music forms a large part of the culture of Malawi, a small but densely populated country in southeastern Africa, between Tanzania and Mozambique. The concert offers a unique opportunity to hear the strong melodies and harmony of traditional Malawian music.

The choir formed in South Bend as a way for transplanted Malawians to keep in touch with their culture. The choir aims at bringing awareness of Malawi and Mission opportunities to the Michiana community. Supporting the choir is a well-known Indiana-based Malawi Gospel recording artist, Allan Ngumuya.

The church, 115 W. Front St., will host a reception on its grounds after the concert. A suggested donation of $5 at the door will help cover the event’s costs.

Rights group urges Malawi leader to reconcile with opposition

Malawi’s human rights activists on Tuesday said that there was need for President Bingu wa Mutharika to hold genuine reconciliation talks with opposition leaders to end the current political impasse in the country, and to ensure that such an impasse does not recur in future.

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Executive Director Undule Mwakasungura said in Lilongwe that the president needed to be reminded how damaging the impasse has been to the nation.

He said the impasse had tarnished the country’s image on the international scene by placing Malawi, though a peaceful nation, in the same light as Zimbabwe.

"We commend the president for appreciating the role the opposition played during the passing of the budget but it should go beyond this by making sure that he invites the leader of the opposition, John Tembo, and United Democratic Front leader and former president Bakili Muluzi to a round table discussion to finally end the impasse," he said.

Mwakasungura added that the impasse had taught the nation a number of important lessons — which include the importance of the three arms of government not to interfere in each other’s affairs.

But rather, the three arms should complement each other for the good of the nation. \"If this can be respected, then we will have a healthy political environment in Malawi,\" he added.

Australian miner starts prefeasibility study at Kanyika in Malawi

Africa-focused uranium resource company Globe Metals & Mining has started a prefeasibility study on its wholly owned multi-commodity Kanyika project, in Malawi.

The prefeasibility study followed the positive results of the scoping study, which indicated that the Kanyika project had the potential to become a profitable operation with at least a 20 year life-of-mine.

The Kanyika project has showed mineral resources including uranium, tantalum, zircon, and niobium.

“The start of prefeasibility work marks the next stage in our rapid development of the Kanyika project. It is a very large deposit, the scoping study confirmed that it has the potential to be very profitable, so we are moving immediately on to the next step,” said MD Mark Sumich.

The prefeasibility study would initially focus on two aspects, including an upgrade of the higher-grade, near surface component and overall increase in resource tonnage, and the completion of the testing of the proposed metallurgy processing routes.

Australia-listed Globe Metals & Mining was also in discussions with potential off-take partners, and noted that other aspects of the project, including the actual mining, legal, operating, social and environmental procedures were set to follow soon.

Sumich added that the resource upgrade drilling and metallurgy were under way, and that the announcement formalised the company’s start of the prefeasibility study.

Ezenet turns to Malawi coal

Ezenet will carry out due diligence on a coal deposit in Malawi as part of a planned expansion of its resources arm, the Nedlands-based company has announced.

The company will undertake due diligence on the Mchenga Coalfield and the Ngana Goldfields in the nation’s Northern Coalfield over an eight week period.

During this time, the company will have the right to negotiate terms on its potential acquisition of some or all of the interests.

Ezenet, which continues to work on installing various digital movie and high speed internet systems in the hospitality, healthcare and mining accommodation markets, set up its E-Resources arm last year as the holding body for its investments in the resources sector.

These investments include stakes in London-listed companies Weatherley International and KP Renewables, and Australian Securities Exchange listed Carbine Resources.

Shares in the company were down 11 per cent to 4¢ at 12.00pm.