Malawi has banned imports of all Chinese milk products after contaminated milk and formula killed four children and made thousands others ill in China, the trade minister said on Friday.
Chinese-made milk products have been pulled off shelves worldwide in a widening health scandal after the industrial chemical melamine was found in milk and milk formula. Melamine is used to cheat nutrition tests.
Many African nations rely heavily on cheap Chinese imports.
"We have put all our eyes on the imported milk and we are restricting entry of all milk into the country from China," minister Henry Mussa told Reuters.
Director-general of Malawi's bureau of standards, Devlin Chokazinga, said authorities were testing some samples of imported powdered milk from China and Asia.
"What we are doing is qualitative analysis since we cannot actually do the quantitative test for the identification of melamine because we don't have equipment," Chokazinga said.
Malawi established diplomatic relations with China in December last year.
Friday, 10 October 2008
Malawi hosts DR Congo in crucial clash Saturday
The Flames, Malawi’s football team, on Saturday will clash with the Simbas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a joint 2010 FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Kamuzu Stadium in the southern commercial city of Blantyre.
Flames Coach Kinna Phiri said his charges were upbeat and will sail through and qualify for the second round of the tournament.
"We are promising the nation nothing but victory in this game. Playing at home-ground is the only advantage for us to win this match and we are optimistic of that," he said.
Meanwhile President Bingu wa Mutharika and former President Bakili Muluzi have sent their best wishes to the team and promised to reward the footballers if they bring home victory.
Flames Coach Kinna Phiri said his charges were upbeat and will sail through and qualify for the second round of the tournament.
"We are promising the nation nothing but victory in this game. Playing at home-ground is the only advantage for us to win this match and we are optimistic of that," he said.
Meanwhile President Bingu wa Mutharika and former President Bakili Muluzi have sent their best wishes to the team and promised to reward the footballers if they bring home victory.
Malawi scientists develop new, better yielding tobacco strains
Malawian scientists have two disease-resistant tobacco varieties, according to Agriculture Research Extension Trust (ARET) director, Ibrahim Phiri, here Friday.
Phiri said that the two varieties are called AWL 10 and AWL 28, and are said to have high yield potential apart from being resistant to several diseases that attack tobacco.
"The new tobacco varieties are expected to boost the tobacco trade because the farmers will realise better yields," he said, adding that farmers are encouraged to grow the new tobacco strains in order to earn more profits.
Tobacco is the country\’s main cash crop, earning more than US$400 million dollars in the just ended tobacco market season.
Phiri said that the two varieties are called AWL 10 and AWL 28, and are said to have high yield potential apart from being resistant to several diseases that attack tobacco.
"The new tobacco varieties are expected to boost the tobacco trade because the farmers will realise better yields," he said, adding that farmers are encouraged to grow the new tobacco strains in order to earn more profits.
Tobacco is the country\’s main cash crop, earning more than US$400 million dollars in the just ended tobacco market season.
Gay association launched in Malawi
Gays have launched an association in Malawi known as "Malawi Gay Rights Movement." The move is to change the shape and face of human rights advocacy in the country. It was graced by a number of women, hinting that, in two years time, gay rights will have been taken as a crucial component of human rights.
The interim chairperson of MAGRM, Mc Leod, said the scenery was deliberate, in the sense that, “we have been living in fear ever since news of our intended launch broke out. Some of us have been aware of the hate emanating from some quarters of society, as espoused in newspaper opinion articles.”
“But we are happy that, for a moment, we began to influence national debate: you have seen some pastor-columnists commenting on homosexuality, as well as members of the general public, but we know that we are fighting for the rights of our children," he added.
He said arrangements were made carefully, as any lapses would have meant trouble for the people who graced the occasion. Leod cited assertions by some members of the public that all those fighting for gay rights in Malawi be dealt with, by hook or crook, a development he termed as worrisome and against the principals of human rights.
Concerns
"We are Malawians, this is our country, and, apart from it, we have nowhere to live. Why are some ill-informed individuals worried about something that does not concern them; it is very unfair to us. All we want is love and peaceful co-existence because we did not wish to be gays, it is natural. While others may claim to be gays as a means of showing off, to most of us it is natural, like heterosexuality, and we are happy to be what we are," Mc Leod said.
Leod said: "Gay rights are human rights, and people must come to terms with that fact. Whether one likes it or not, we have homosexuals in Malawi, and these people are now ready to stand for their rights. And, in addition, we have well-wishers from around the world who have seen our desperation and sad situation and are willing to help.”
“We hope to meet the country's leaders very soon, we have plans to lobby them before the May 19, 2009 general elections, so that we, too, may vote for people who recognise that we form a very good component of the electorate and can influence the outcome of the elections in a big way," he said.
For the launch in Blantyre, people had to park their vehicles far away from the venue of the launch. They either parked their vehicles in the township of Chilobwe, Manja, Mkolokosa, Soche East, or Zingwangwa, according to Mc Leod, who added that, next time they meet, they hope for a formal place, as their organisation grows and becomes more accepted by Malawian society.
"Next week we will be in Lilongwe (Malawi's capital city) and, then, Mzuzu (in Northern Malawi), where we plan to establish branches, so that we reach as many people as possible. I tell you, Malawi has a lot of gay people who have remained oppressed over the years by outdated laws but are now ready to stand up for their rights. Surpressing us is like imposing a new form of colonialism," said Mc Leod.
He disclosed that they will soon be receiving a foreign delegation for an orientation on effective advocacy campaigns, a development he said will empower them to scale up their activities for gay people to be able to contribute towards sustainable, social-economic development.
One of the people who attended the launching ceremony, Gladys, said she liked the setting, as it reflected well on what homosexuality is all about. She said the natural setting simply reflected that being gay or lesbian in sexuality was natural.
"Life in Malawi should not revolve around anti-gay perceptions; there is so much to it. After all, we are not doing the things the constitution prohibits, all we are saying is that, these things are real, that nature is also real," she said.
Malawi laws criminalise same sex marriages.
The interim chairperson of MAGRM, Mc Leod, said the scenery was deliberate, in the sense that, “we have been living in fear ever since news of our intended launch broke out. Some of us have been aware of the hate emanating from some quarters of society, as espoused in newspaper opinion articles.”
“But we are happy that, for a moment, we began to influence national debate: you have seen some pastor-columnists commenting on homosexuality, as well as members of the general public, but we know that we are fighting for the rights of our children," he added.
He said arrangements were made carefully, as any lapses would have meant trouble for the people who graced the occasion. Leod cited assertions by some members of the public that all those fighting for gay rights in Malawi be dealt with, by hook or crook, a development he termed as worrisome and against the principals of human rights.
Concerns
"We are Malawians, this is our country, and, apart from it, we have nowhere to live. Why are some ill-informed individuals worried about something that does not concern them; it is very unfair to us. All we want is love and peaceful co-existence because we did not wish to be gays, it is natural. While others may claim to be gays as a means of showing off, to most of us it is natural, like heterosexuality, and we are happy to be what we are," Mc Leod said.
Leod said: "Gay rights are human rights, and people must come to terms with that fact. Whether one likes it or not, we have homosexuals in Malawi, and these people are now ready to stand for their rights. And, in addition, we have well-wishers from around the world who have seen our desperation and sad situation and are willing to help.”
“We hope to meet the country's leaders very soon, we have plans to lobby them before the May 19, 2009 general elections, so that we, too, may vote for people who recognise that we form a very good component of the electorate and can influence the outcome of the elections in a big way," he said.
For the launch in Blantyre, people had to park their vehicles far away from the venue of the launch. They either parked their vehicles in the township of Chilobwe, Manja, Mkolokosa, Soche East, or Zingwangwa, according to Mc Leod, who added that, next time they meet, they hope for a formal place, as their organisation grows and becomes more accepted by Malawian society.
"Next week we will be in Lilongwe (Malawi's capital city) and, then, Mzuzu (in Northern Malawi), where we plan to establish branches, so that we reach as many people as possible. I tell you, Malawi has a lot of gay people who have remained oppressed over the years by outdated laws but are now ready to stand up for their rights. Surpressing us is like imposing a new form of colonialism," said Mc Leod.
He disclosed that they will soon be receiving a foreign delegation for an orientation on effective advocacy campaigns, a development he said will empower them to scale up their activities for gay people to be able to contribute towards sustainable, social-economic development.
One of the people who attended the launching ceremony, Gladys, said she liked the setting, as it reflected well on what homosexuality is all about. She said the natural setting simply reflected that being gay or lesbian in sexuality was natural.
"Life in Malawi should not revolve around anti-gay perceptions; there is so much to it. After all, we are not doing the things the constitution prohibits, all we are saying is that, these things are real, that nature is also real," she said.
Malawi laws criminalise same sex marriages.
Microfinance club aims to start bank in Malawi
Traveling to rural areas of Africa and India. Starting banks in small villages. Finding ways to fund local education and health care.
These are just a few of the goals of Northwestern's Microfinance Club.
Microfinance provides small loans for low-income people in underdeveloped countries so that they can work their way out of poverty, said Jesse Wiener, a member of the club's executive board.
The Microfinance Club hopes to increase student awareness of microfinance as a tool to alleviate poverty in developing nations. To achieve its mission, the club is seeking to organize open forums between students and faculty and to provide students with educational resources, including opportunities for research and independent study.
"Microfinance is a way for people like us to really help change the quality of life of people in underdeveloped countries," said Wiener, a Weinberg sophomore.
Right now, the club is working to raise $5,000 to start a village bank in Malawi. They hope to send members there one day to gain firsthand microfinance experience and to see the impact of their efforts on the community.
"We're not just standing by the Arch and trying to raise awareness," Wiener said. "We're actually going to be responsible for other people becoming educated and working their way out of poverty. I think that's an amazing thing."
Manjari Ranganathan, the club's vice-president, has firsthand experience in microfinance. Now a Weinberg senior, Ranganathan spent winter break of her sophomore year as an intern at a non-governmental organization working in the rural regions of Karnataka, India. Ranganathan planned on working at the organization's health clinic, but became interested in its microfinance programs.
Ranganathan returned to India during the summer of 2007 after receiving $8,000 from the 100 Projects for Peace Grant, which she found through the Office of Fellowships at NU. She used the funds to help expand the microfinance loan program the organization had already established, setting up three microfunds for the local school, entrepreneurs and young women who wanted higher education.
These are just a few of the goals of Northwestern's Microfinance Club.
Microfinance provides small loans for low-income people in underdeveloped countries so that they can work their way out of poverty, said Jesse Wiener, a member of the club's executive board.
The Microfinance Club hopes to increase student awareness of microfinance as a tool to alleviate poverty in developing nations. To achieve its mission, the club is seeking to organize open forums between students and faculty and to provide students with educational resources, including opportunities for research and independent study.
"Microfinance is a way for people like us to really help change the quality of life of people in underdeveloped countries," said Wiener, a Weinberg sophomore.
Right now, the club is working to raise $5,000 to start a village bank in Malawi. They hope to send members there one day to gain firsthand microfinance experience and to see the impact of their efforts on the community.
"We're not just standing by the Arch and trying to raise awareness," Wiener said. "We're actually going to be responsible for other people becoming educated and working their way out of poverty. I think that's an amazing thing."
Manjari Ranganathan, the club's vice-president, has firsthand experience in microfinance. Now a Weinberg senior, Ranganathan spent winter break of her sophomore year as an intern at a non-governmental organization working in the rural regions of Karnataka, India. Ranganathan planned on working at the organization's health clinic, but became interested in its microfinance programs.
Ranganathan returned to India during the summer of 2007 after receiving $8,000 from the 100 Projects for Peace Grant, which she found through the Office of Fellowships at NU. She used the funds to help expand the microfinance loan program the organization had already established, setting up three microfunds for the local school, entrepreneurs and young women who wanted higher education.
Top US malaria envoy visits Malawi
A top envoy of the US President George W. Bush on Malaria, Retired Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer, will pay a three-day official visit to Malawi next week to review progress made in the fight against malaria.
A statement from the US embassy in the Malawi capital capital, Lilongwe, says Rear Admiral Ziemer, who is the US Malaria Coordinator and leads the implementation of the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), will review the progress of the PMI/Malawi initiative's first full year of implementation.
"Admiral Ziemer will meet with senior government officials and civil society representatives in the health sector to discuss malaria activities in Malawi," according to the statement.
President Bush launched the PMI 30 June, 2005. It is a collaborative US Government effort led by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in conjunction with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of State, the White House, and others.
PMI represents a historic five-year expansion of US Government resources to fight malaria in Africa, the region most affected by the disease, according to the US embassy statement.
President Bush committed an additional US$ 1.2 billion over a period of five years in malaria funding to the Initiative with the goal of reduc ing malaria-related deaths by 50% in 15 focus countries, including Malawi.
Malaria is Malawi's highest killer disease with 18% of all hospital-recorded deaths and 40% of all hospital cases.
Last year alone, 4 million malaria cases were recorded, resulting into 7,000 deaths, according to the National Malaria Control programme.
Rear Admiral Ziemer previously served as Executive Director of World Relief, which provides disaster response, community development, child/maternal health, HIV/AIDS, agricultural assistance, and micro credit programmes in over 30 countries.
A statement from the US embassy in the Malawi capital capital, Lilongwe, says Rear Admiral Ziemer, who is the US Malaria Coordinator and leads the implementation of the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), will review the progress of the PMI/Malawi initiative's first full year of implementation.
"Admiral Ziemer will meet with senior government officials and civil society representatives in the health sector to discuss malaria activities in Malawi," according to the statement.
President Bush launched the PMI 30 June, 2005. It is a collaborative US Government effort led by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in conjunction with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of State, the White House, and others.
PMI represents a historic five-year expansion of US Government resources to fight malaria in Africa, the region most affected by the disease, according to the US embassy statement.
President Bush committed an additional US$ 1.2 billion over a period of five years in malaria funding to the Initiative with the goal of reduc ing malaria-related deaths by 50% in 15 focus countries, including Malawi.
Malaria is Malawi's highest killer disease with 18% of all hospital-recorded deaths and 40% of all hospital cases.
Last year alone, 4 million malaria cases were recorded, resulting into 7,000 deaths, according to the National Malaria Control programme.
Rear Admiral Ziemer previously served as Executive Director of World Relief, which provides disaster response, community development, child/maternal health, HIV/AIDS, agricultural assistance, and micro credit programmes in over 30 countries.
Malawi’s ethanol-fuel tests show promise
Malawi has successfully completed a project to test the practicability of using locally produced ethanol instead of petrol or diesel to power vehicles.
The experiment was under- taken in two phases by the Malawi government and privately owned Ethanol Company of Malawi (Ethco), with the first phase involving the testing of a modified Mitsubishi Pajero and the second a flexi-fuel vehicle that Ethco imported from Brazil.
“The tests showed that the performance of the ethanol-powered vehicle is good, just like that of a petrol-powered vehicle. The difference is that ethanol consumption for a similar distance is [slighly] more than the fuel consumption of a petrol vehicle. This is understandable, as petrol is more ambient than ethanol, [but] this should be compensated by the pricing structure,” says Ethco GM Daniel Liwimbi.
He says that, following the successful completion of the experiments, the Malawi government plans to procure flexi-fuel vehicles.
“South Africa, where Malawi gets most of its cars, is working on producing flexi-fuel cars, which would make their deployment easier. We await this further development before moving to the next step,” he says.
The Pajero used in the first series of the experiments was modified to run on 100% ethanol and underwent two tests during which it was ethanol-driven for a total distance of 2 110 km at an average speed of 110km/h.
“The results proved that the Pajero can be powered by 100% ethanol,” says Malawi’s director of science and technology, Henry Mbeza.
The Brazilian-made Ford, which was used in the second series of the experiments, is designed to run on 100% ethanol or 100% petrol or any mixture of ethanol and petrol in a single tank.
Malawi launched the ethanol-driven vehicle research project following a Cabinet directive which came about as a result of unstable prices of fossil fuels on the world market.
“Much as we cannot control the price of fuel on the global market, we cannot afford to just sit down and watch these events as they unfold,” says Malawi’s Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Richard Msowoya.
Malawi currently uses unleaded petrol blended with 10% ethanol at its refineries, and before it adopted the use of unleaded petrol in February 2006, the Southern African country used to blend its petrol with 20% ethanol.
Malawi produces cane ethanol at two plants: the Ethco-owned Dwangwa plant, in the central region, and another one at Nchalo, in the southern reigion, which is owned by local firm Press Cane. The two are adjacent to sugar cane plantations and sugar factories owned by multinational sugar group Illovo.
Each of the two plants has a design capacity of 16-million litres of ethanol but the two factories are producing below capacity because of the low availability of molasses, a by-product of sugar production.
Press Cane and Ethco produce 18-million litres of ethanol a year, which, Liwimbi says, is not enough to meet local demand, should Malawi start using ethanol to power vehicles.
The experiment was under- taken in two phases by the Malawi government and privately owned Ethanol Company of Malawi (Ethco), with the first phase involving the testing of a modified Mitsubishi Pajero and the second a flexi-fuel vehicle that Ethco imported from Brazil.
“The tests showed that the performance of the ethanol-powered vehicle is good, just like that of a petrol-powered vehicle. The difference is that ethanol consumption for a similar distance is [slighly] more than the fuel consumption of a petrol vehicle. This is understandable, as petrol is more ambient than ethanol, [but] this should be compensated by the pricing structure,” says Ethco GM Daniel Liwimbi.
He says that, following the successful completion of the experiments, the Malawi government plans to procure flexi-fuel vehicles.
“South Africa, where Malawi gets most of its cars, is working on producing flexi-fuel cars, which would make their deployment easier. We await this further development before moving to the next step,” he says.
The Pajero used in the first series of the experiments was modified to run on 100% ethanol and underwent two tests during which it was ethanol-driven for a total distance of 2 110 km at an average speed of 110km/h.
“The results proved that the Pajero can be powered by 100% ethanol,” says Malawi’s director of science and technology, Henry Mbeza.
The Brazilian-made Ford, which was used in the second series of the experiments, is designed to run on 100% ethanol or 100% petrol or any mixture of ethanol and petrol in a single tank.
Malawi launched the ethanol-driven vehicle research project following a Cabinet directive which came about as a result of unstable prices of fossil fuels on the world market.
“Much as we cannot control the price of fuel on the global market, we cannot afford to just sit down and watch these events as they unfold,” says Malawi’s Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Richard Msowoya.
Malawi currently uses unleaded petrol blended with 10% ethanol at its refineries, and before it adopted the use of unleaded petrol in February 2006, the Southern African country used to blend its petrol with 20% ethanol.
Malawi produces cane ethanol at two plants: the Ethco-owned Dwangwa plant, in the central region, and another one at Nchalo, in the southern reigion, which is owned by local firm Press Cane. The two are adjacent to sugar cane plantations and sugar factories owned by multinational sugar group Illovo.
Each of the two plants has a design capacity of 16-million litres of ethanol but the two factories are producing below capacity because of the low availability of molasses, a by-product of sugar production.
Press Cane and Ethco produce 18-million litres of ethanol a year, which, Liwimbi says, is not enough to meet local demand, should Malawi start using ethanol to power vehicles.
Zimtrade to hold solo exhibition in Malawi
ZIMTRADE, the country’s trade promotion body, is set to hold a solo exhibition in Malawi at the end of this month in an effort to assist local companies to expand their external markets.
The move is also anticipated to put the country back on the trading map by increasing exports and generating foreign receipts for the country.
ZimTrade’s market advisor, Mrs Vuyiswa Mafu, in an interview said preparations were at an advanced stage for the Malawi exhibition.
"We are having a stakeholders’ meeting today (Thursday) to clarify and smoothen out a few issues, but we are ready and everything is working out well according to our schedule," she said.
ZimTrade facilitates and sponsors companies in export initiatives. The export promotion body is also involved in market and product research, trade fairs and assists in trade policy formulation.
She however was not at liberty to divulge the number of local companies that would be participating at the exhibition.
"The actual specific number of local companies to exhibit in Malawi would only be available after the meeting.
"But if the overwhelming response we have been getting since we published out intention to hold the exhibition is anything to go by, then we are likely to have quite a number," she said.
This month’s exhibition is part of ZimTrade’s efforts to market Zimbabwean products ahead of the Fifa 2010 soccer showcase to be held in South Africa.
Zimtrade chief executive Mr Herbert Chakanyuka said: "Everything boils down to this region and this area is our main thrust.
This is in terms of the World Cup where a lot of people will come and when they sample Zimbabwean products it will trigger increased demand," he said.
Recently Zimtrade has been carrying out exhibitions and trade fairs in countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Zimtrade will also hold another solo exhibition in Angola during the last week of November.
Angola, which is rebuilding its economy following a 27-year civil war, offers huge business opportunities in building and construction materials, processed foods, footwear, furniture, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural equipment.
For the past few years Zimbabwean goods have been finding their way into Angola through South Africa, highlighting the need to establish partnership and trade directly.
Last month ZimTrade cancelled out its participation in the Maputo International Trade Fair due to viability problems and lack of foreign currency.
The move is also anticipated to put the country back on the trading map by increasing exports and generating foreign receipts for the country.
ZimTrade’s market advisor, Mrs Vuyiswa Mafu, in an interview said preparations were at an advanced stage for the Malawi exhibition.
"We are having a stakeholders’ meeting today (Thursday) to clarify and smoothen out a few issues, but we are ready and everything is working out well according to our schedule," she said.
ZimTrade facilitates and sponsors companies in export initiatives. The export promotion body is also involved in market and product research, trade fairs and assists in trade policy formulation.
She however was not at liberty to divulge the number of local companies that would be participating at the exhibition.
"The actual specific number of local companies to exhibit in Malawi would only be available after the meeting.
"But if the overwhelming response we have been getting since we published out intention to hold the exhibition is anything to go by, then we are likely to have quite a number," she said.
This month’s exhibition is part of ZimTrade’s efforts to market Zimbabwean products ahead of the Fifa 2010 soccer showcase to be held in South Africa.
Zimtrade chief executive Mr Herbert Chakanyuka said: "Everything boils down to this region and this area is our main thrust.
This is in terms of the World Cup where a lot of people will come and when they sample Zimbabwean products it will trigger increased demand," he said.
Recently Zimtrade has been carrying out exhibitions and trade fairs in countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Zimtrade will also hold another solo exhibition in Angola during the last week of November.
Angola, which is rebuilding its economy following a 27-year civil war, offers huge business opportunities in building and construction materials, processed foods, footwear, furniture, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural equipment.
For the past few years Zimbabwean goods have been finding their way into Angola through South Africa, highlighting the need to establish partnership and trade directly.
Last month ZimTrade cancelled out its participation in the Maputo International Trade Fair due to viability problems and lack of foreign currency.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
