Blantyre - Malawi has suspended extra monthly payments to its 38 000 civil servants with the HIV virus, a government official said on Saturday, citing "gross abuse" of the programme in the Aids-ravaged country.
"The suspension is due to gross abuse of the facility," Mary Shaba, principal secretary for nutrition, HIV and Aids in the president's office, told AFP.
She said workers were claiming to be HIV positive in order to cash in on the payments of $35.
"Some people who are not HIV positive have been cheating to access the facility," she said.
The payments were a workplace programme aimed at improving nutrition to allow "people to respond to treatment quickly", Shaba said.
She said the government would review the programme, which began in 2007, and seek to allow only those eligible to receive the cash.
Malawi has 120 000 public servants whose monthly salaries average $70. Some 38 000 of those workers are HIV positive.
Many Malawians are unable to meet their nutritional requirements, equivalent to $40 annually.
Official estimates indicate that around 14% of Malawi's 12 million population is HIV positive.
The pandemic has cut life expectancy in Malawi to 36. Some 85 000 people die of Aids-related illness every year.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Soccer-Malawi beat Congo to keep alive World Cup hopes
Sweden-based striker Russell Mwafulirwa scored twice in the second half to hand Malawi a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
The result ensured second place for Malawi in African zone Group 12 but they will have to wait until the end of the weekend's full programme of qualifiers to confirm their progress to the final phase of the 2010 World Cup preliminaries.
Congo, who as Zaire were the first black African side to reach the World Cup finals in 1974, were eliminated after finishing third.
The visitors took an early lead after a powerful long range shot from Lomana LuaLua in the 12th minute. Mwafulirwa equalised early in the second half and then notched the winner eight minutes from time.
The result ensured second place for Malawi in African zone Group 12 but they will have to wait until the end of the weekend's full programme of qualifiers to confirm their progress to the final phase of the 2010 World Cup preliminaries.
Congo, who as Zaire were the first black African side to reach the World Cup finals in 1974, were eliminated after finishing third.
The visitors took an early lead after a powerful long range shot from Lomana LuaLua in the 12th minute. Mwafulirwa equalised early in the second half and then notched the winner eight minutes from time.
Malawi outclasses DR Congo 2-1 in World Cup/CAN qualifier
The Flames, Malawi’s football team, came from a goal at halftime to outclass the Simbas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 2-1 in a fiercely contested 2010 FIFA World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played before a capacity crowd of 60,000 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday.
The victory dance started right at the stadium as Sports Minister Vuwa Kaunda literally jumped up and down, hugging his fellow ministers who came to witness the Malawi demolition of the visitors on the artificial turf of the legendary Kamuzu Stadium in the heart of the commercial city.
The celebrations spilled to outside the stadium and finally to the entire country as cars, trucks, bicycles and pedestrians hooted horns and sang in praise of the victors.
And yet an hour earlier, Malawi appeared to have lost the game when the Congolese and UK-based star forward Loman Lua Lua scored after only 17minutes in the first half of the match.
Soon after the score the visitors settled down to an easy game, instead of working harder to consolidate the lead. They only needed a draw to advance to the next stage of the qualifiers. It is a work plan they will live to regret for years to come
But Malawi, realising what was at stake and that anything less than a victory would mean doomsday, fought hardest in the second half, putting pressure on the retreating Simbas.
The Malawians’ efforts paid off when they equalised through Russell Mwafulirwa who quickly took a pass from Essau Kanyenda after 50 minutes and shook the net with a ground ball that left the DRC goalie helpless.
The entire stadium lit and from then on the Flames knew they had the chance to beat the feared visitors.
And the point of Malawi’s victory came when Chukepo Msowoya tapped in rebound after goal melee to make it 2-1 for the much relieved hosts in the 81st minute.
Malawi Coach Kinna Phiri said what his charges wanted was a win on their home ground and this wish has now been fulfilled.
"We are very happy that the game has been won right here at the home ground. This shows that Malawi has qualified for the second round of the tournaments," he said.
He said the players had played better in the second half than in the first half. They showed more composure, coordination and confidence among the players themselves, unlike in the first half.
Malawi leads Group 12 with 12 points alongside Egypt (12), DRC (9) and Djibouti (0).
The victory dance started right at the stadium as Sports Minister Vuwa Kaunda literally jumped up and down, hugging his fellow ministers who came to witness the Malawi demolition of the visitors on the artificial turf of the legendary Kamuzu Stadium in the heart of the commercial city.
The celebrations spilled to outside the stadium and finally to the entire country as cars, trucks, bicycles and pedestrians hooted horns and sang in praise of the victors.
And yet an hour earlier, Malawi appeared to have lost the game when the Congolese and UK-based star forward Loman Lua Lua scored after only 17minutes in the first half of the match.
Soon after the score the visitors settled down to an easy game, instead of working harder to consolidate the lead. They only needed a draw to advance to the next stage of the qualifiers. It is a work plan they will live to regret for years to come
But Malawi, realising what was at stake and that anything less than a victory would mean doomsday, fought hardest in the second half, putting pressure on the retreating Simbas.
The Malawians’ efforts paid off when they equalised through Russell Mwafulirwa who quickly took a pass from Essau Kanyenda after 50 minutes and shook the net with a ground ball that left the DRC goalie helpless.
The entire stadium lit and from then on the Flames knew they had the chance to beat the feared visitors.
And the point of Malawi’s victory came when Chukepo Msowoya tapped in rebound after goal melee to make it 2-1 for the much relieved hosts in the 81st minute.
Malawi Coach Kinna Phiri said what his charges wanted was a win on their home ground and this wish has now been fulfilled.
"We are very happy that the game has been won right here at the home ground. This shows that Malawi has qualified for the second round of the tournaments," he said.
He said the players had played better in the second half than in the first half. They showed more composure, coordination and confidence among the players themselves, unlike in the first half.
Malawi leads Group 12 with 12 points alongside Egypt (12), DRC (9) and Djibouti (0).
Malawi: Pornography becoming endemic
A research in Malawi reveals that 21 percent of children whose parents, relatives or guardians own a television set have at one time been exposed to pornographic materials in the past four years. A development that is attributes to the advent of democracy, a process that has given way to lose morals.
The research was carried out between January and February 2008 and commissioned by Media AIDS and Health Watch (MAWA) also revealed that more Malawian children are being exposed to pornographic materials than ever.
Of the 21 per cent exposed to such materials, 13.8 per cent are siblings of Commercial Sex Workers (CSW), a sector of Malawi society the research says let their children watch pornographic films and videos in the name of their profession.
But, for the other children, the watching takes place in the absence of parents, or any adult, an indication that children are also aware that pornography is not good for their mental growth.
The Projects Officer, and lead researcher, Owings Chawanda, Mawa said: “The research revealed that Malawian commercial sex workers often watch pornographic materials in order to keep themselves up dated of ‘latest sexual trends and styles’, and they don’t mind whether their children watches or not. This is a very worrying factor, and, as a nation, we must do something,”
Chawanda further said, of the 21 per cent exposed to pornography, 1.3 per cent have gone on to commit sexual offenses, thinking they may not be punished accordingly for their behaviour. Half of these have, at one time, been kept at a reformatory centre for the past four years, according to Chawanda.
African Network for the Protection and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Malawi Chapter Country Director, Kenwilliams Mhango, said he agreed with the findings, as they tallied with what his organization also found out in 2007.
He said pornography was becoming endemic in Malawi and that it was time society strategised against it.
“it’s not that there was no pornography in the past. But these things were taking place underground, and are now just coming out in the open and getting exposed. That is why we want to work with the Censorship Board on a project aimed at combating the problem; without that, our children will be spoilt and indecent,” Mhango said.
He said ANPPCAN had started an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the evils of pornography among sexual workers; a group he said was vulnerable due to the nature of their profession.
Mhango felt that efforts aimed at curtailing the problem could not work with incorporating sex workers, blaming society for socially marginalizing them.
The research was carried out between January and February 2008 and commissioned by Media AIDS and Health Watch (MAWA) also revealed that more Malawian children are being exposed to pornographic materials than ever.
Of the 21 per cent exposed to such materials, 13.8 per cent are siblings of Commercial Sex Workers (CSW), a sector of Malawi society the research says let their children watch pornographic films and videos in the name of their profession.
But, for the other children, the watching takes place in the absence of parents, or any adult, an indication that children are also aware that pornography is not good for their mental growth.
The Projects Officer, and lead researcher, Owings Chawanda, Mawa said: “The research revealed that Malawian commercial sex workers often watch pornographic materials in order to keep themselves up dated of ‘latest sexual trends and styles’, and they don’t mind whether their children watches or not. This is a very worrying factor, and, as a nation, we must do something,”
Chawanda further said, of the 21 per cent exposed to pornography, 1.3 per cent have gone on to commit sexual offenses, thinking they may not be punished accordingly for their behaviour. Half of these have, at one time, been kept at a reformatory centre for the past four years, according to Chawanda.
African Network for the Protection and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Malawi Chapter Country Director, Kenwilliams Mhango, said he agreed with the findings, as they tallied with what his organization also found out in 2007.
He said pornography was becoming endemic in Malawi and that it was time society strategised against it.
“it’s not that there was no pornography in the past. But these things were taking place underground, and are now just coming out in the open and getting exposed. That is why we want to work with the Censorship Board on a project aimed at combating the problem; without that, our children will be spoilt and indecent,” Mhango said.
He said ANPPCAN had started an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the evils of pornography among sexual workers; a group he said was vulnerable due to the nature of their profession.
Mhango felt that efforts aimed at curtailing the problem could not work with incorporating sex workers, blaming society for socially marginalizing them.
Malawi beat Congo to keep alive World Cup hopes
Sweden-based striker Russell Mwafulirwa scored twice in the second half to hand Malawi a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
The result ensured second place for Malawi in African zone Group 12 but they will have to wait until the end of the weekend's full programme of qualifiers to confirm their progress to the final phase of the 2010 World Cup preliminaries.
Congo, who as Zaire were the first black African side to reach the World Cup finals in 1974, were eliminated after finishing third.
The visitors took an early lead after a powerful long range shot from Lomana LuaLua in the 12th minute. Mwafulirwa equalised early in the second half and then notched the winner eight minutes from time.
The result ensured second place for Malawi in African zone Group 12 but they will have to wait until the end of the weekend's full programme of qualifiers to confirm their progress to the final phase of the 2010 World Cup preliminaries.
Congo, who as Zaire were the first black African side to reach the World Cup finals in 1974, were eliminated after finishing third.
The visitors took an early lead after a powerful long range shot from Lomana LuaLua in the 12th minute. Mwafulirwa equalised early in the second half and then notched the winner eight minutes from time.
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.
Teens, adults work together to build schools in Malawi
In 1990, Jim Ziolkowski was trekking across Nepal when he happened upon a two-day school dedication ceremony in a remote village. Moved by the deep appreciation of the villagers for their school, Jim returned to his home in New York and founded Building With Books, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building schools in developing countries. The first school funded by Building With Books was in Malawi, Africa, in 1992. To date, BWB has built more than 250 elementary schools in nine countries.
Recently, four Chico residents returned from Malawi where they participated in a unique partnership between BWB and teens from International Centers for Spiritual Living (ICSL), a religious organization.
The Rev. Teri Lerch, Melia Yamada-Bryant, Megan Yamada-Bryant and David Kahn of the Spiritual Enrichment Center in Chico, an ICSL church, joined 24 adults and teens from throughout the United States for school building and dedication ceremonies for five schools in the central Kasungu District of Malawi.
The project was born in 2006, when ICSL teens learned about the hardships facing the people of Malawi during their annual summer camp. Malawi is one of the four poorest countries in the world with a per capita income of $170 a year, an infant morality rate of 10 percent, an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 14 percent, and a life expectancy of only 36 years.
Moved by this bleak picture, the teens decided to raise money to support one of Malawi's greatest needs, educating its children.
By the end of their week at camp, ISL teens had raised over $9,000. In January 2007, they partnered with BWB and by May of 2007, teens from churches across the United States as well as from Jamaica, Canada, and Belgium, had raised over $65,000 — enough to build three schools.
In June 2007, I and Rev. Teri Lerch, a fellow staff minister at the Spiritual Enrichment Center, joined the first ICSL group to travel to Malawi for school-dedication ceremonies for the first three schools. This past June, a second group of ICSL teens and advisers traveled to Malawi to dedicate three new schools and help build two others. ICSL youth have committed to raising funds to build a total of 20 schools in the Kasungu District of Malawi, a rural region of approximately 1 million people.
Teens from Chico's Spiritual Enrichment Center arrived home in July filled with satisfaction for the joy of service given and thrilled by the many gifts they received in return.
In the words of Megan Yamada-Bryant, 18, "We gave them books and they gave us the most elaborate welcoming ceremonies I've ever witnessed. We gave them schools, and they gave us their hearts, but most important, they have allowed us to give. There is truly nothing more rewarding than that."
Melia, 14-year-old sister of Megan, came home with a new outlook on life: "Malawi to me was an amazing, life-changing experience that has shaped the way I think about the world. Even though they had very little, their hearts were filled with love and their faces were shining with smiles. I have given and received unconditional love, respect, and kindness. I know appreciate everything more, and I strive to live life to its fullest."
David Kahn, 16, echoed the same: "After being in Malawi, I can't take for granted anything I have. It was an amazing experience, a chance to not only help people who are not as well off as we are but also to touch people's lives and in turn have our lives be touched. We got as much out of our time there as we gave."
For more information on the Spiritual Enrichment Center of the Malawi Schools Project, call 895-8395.
The Rev. Jill Lacefield is a pastor of the Spiritual Enrichment Center-Religious Church of Christ.
Malawi scientists develop new 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.
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