The population of Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, has shot up by 2.8 per cent, a senior government minister announced here Monday. Economic Planning and Development Minister Ken Lipenga said here while unveiling the results of the census held in May this year, that Malawi’s population now stood at 13.1 million.
"The preliminary results from the census indicate that the population of Malawi is now 13.1 million," Lipenga said.
According to him, this represented a 2.8 per cent increase from the last census held in 1998, adding that 45 per cent of Malawians live in the populous southern region, while 42 per cent are in the central region while the northern region represents 13 per cent of the population.
"The results will provide policy makers with an updated and solid denominator for their decisions," he said.
Esperance Fundira, resident representative for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Malawi, said the UN believes in the importance of reliable data for effective decision-making and for the monitoring of development policies.
“Clear data on the demographic distribution will ensure proper planning,” Fundir a said.
About US$ 18.4 million was used in the census which was funded by the UNFPA and the governments of Britain, Germany and Ireland.
This is Malawi’s fifth census since the first one in 1966 when the population was four million.
Women represent 51 per cent of the country's population.
Malawi, like most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is worst hit by the AIDS pandemic with about 14 per cent of the population infected.
Life expectancy has been cut to 36 years due to the pandemic.
Over half of the population live below the UN prescribed poverty line of US$ 1 a day and a per capita domestic product is about US$ 210 (155 euros) per year.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Mzati Nkolokosa: Ngwazi Barack Obama
The question was simple. Who is the wife of David Bekham? I asked my Chancellor College fourth year students. Victoria, they answered in unison.
The next question was equally simple. Who is the wife of Kinnah Phiri? I asked. There was some thinking, a slight laughter, and then sadness. Nobody knew the name of Kinnah Phiri’s wife. I told this story to Kinnah Phiri when we met for an interview recently.
"Bekham is a celebrity," he said. "I am not." Kinnah was, in essence, saying that nobody has made him a celebrity. Celebrities are made, they do not make themselves. They are made by the media. The challenge in Malawi is that we in the media have not gone far to make and sustain celebrities.
We do not cherish our great men and women, boys and girls. One reason is lack of skills to write and produce powerful profiles that build our skilled individuals. The other reason is envy.
Why should I make him great? We ask. Envy is an infection that has infiltrated all sectors of our country and we are fighting poverty, illiteracy and disease, leaving out envy which is a great enemy of development. But I want to know about Kinnah.
There are more things to learn from here than from the West. I really don’t admire Britain and US. I admire our rich ways of life.
But one thing we can learn from the US and Britain is how they make their own celebrities. The last time England won the World Cup was in 1964. Since then, the BBC lists England among the favourites to win the cup every time it is being played. Even two years ago, the BBC was busy saying England could win the cup.
Or think about this: Is David Bekham the world’s greatest player? No. Why, then, was he more popular than any other player in the world?
The reason is the media in Britain builds sons and daughters of the land. There are so many Malawians who have lived meaningful lives, whose stories can help us answer difficult, puzzling questions about life. Think of George Patridge, Rose Mkandawire, Matthews Chikaonda, DD Phiri—the man who introduced me to the art of writing in 1993/94, Rose Chibambo, Cecilia Kadzamira, T/A Chitera, Young Chimodzi, Jack Chamangwana, Lawrence Waya, and Ethel Kamwendo Banda—not apostles who give themselves the title Dr without reading for a PhD; these liars must have their stories buried because they are dangerous to Malawians.
Think of Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda. How many of us know him well? Who is there to tell us about him? Cecilia Kadzamira, John Tembo, Aleke Banda, Gwanda Chakuamba. But are these people telling us anything about the Ngwazi? No yet.
Perhaps the media in Malawi is not to blame. Lack of profiles in our newspapers and programmes is a reflection of lack of a biography writing culture. We can count biographies in Malawi. Professor Brown Chimphamba has one, Bishop James Tengatenga, Vera Chirwa, the late Kanyama Chiume and a few others have also written about themselves.
Aleke Banda, a man with over 50 years of public service, does not have a biography yet. But reading his brief piece in Weekend Nation recently puzzled thousands. The man has a story. It is a story that must be told, and beautifully, so.
But are we going to read about this story? Ask Aleke, not me. Then there is Edge Kanyongolo whose real first name is Fidelis. The story is that he was a very brilliant student and his professors used to say, ‘He has an edge over other students’ to the extent that Edge became his name.
To be honest, I don’t know whether or not this is true. He needs to tell us. But what I do know is that he was detained at Mikuyu while a college student. This, too, is a story that must be told.
Then there are professors who started as primary school teachers, going to evening secondary school classes and passed MSCE, went to teacher training college, finally Chancellor College. And there is a successful woman who was a cleaner at a health centre until she married a graduate who encouraged her to sit for MSCE, went to TTC, Domasi College and finally Chancellor College.
Or do you want me to tell you about my college mate who was a houseboy and was sent to evening classes by his master? He passed JC and MSCE and ended up in the University of Malawi. All these are wonderful stories that must be told in profiles and biographies.
Sadly, we are not telling each other our stories and we lose our history because a country’s history is in the stories of its people. Instead, our stories are told by outsiders. They come and write about the Ngwazi from their perspective.
Who is going to tell our story? We must tell our own story and redeem it from the hands of hijackers.
By the way, the past two years I have been saving for a Christmas holiday in Egypt (the Suez Canal), Greece and Spain. But I will not go for a good reason: the victory of Barack Obama. If you know the history of the US, you should know why Obama, the conqueror, maybe the face of a new America.
My plain view is that I will not spend my money on holiday. Instead, I will fund Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa to witness the swearing-in of Obama on January 20. M’mbelwa will have one task: to declare Obama the Ngwazi of America—or is it the Ngwazi of the world?
I thought M’belwa enjoys giving out this title?
The next question was equally simple. Who is the wife of Kinnah Phiri? I asked. There was some thinking, a slight laughter, and then sadness. Nobody knew the name of Kinnah Phiri’s wife. I told this story to Kinnah Phiri when we met for an interview recently.
"Bekham is a celebrity," he said. "I am not." Kinnah was, in essence, saying that nobody has made him a celebrity. Celebrities are made, they do not make themselves. They are made by the media. The challenge in Malawi is that we in the media have not gone far to make and sustain celebrities.
We do not cherish our great men and women, boys and girls. One reason is lack of skills to write and produce powerful profiles that build our skilled individuals. The other reason is envy.
Why should I make him great? We ask. Envy is an infection that has infiltrated all sectors of our country and we are fighting poverty, illiteracy and disease, leaving out envy which is a great enemy of development. But I want to know about Kinnah.
There are more things to learn from here than from the West. I really don’t admire Britain and US. I admire our rich ways of life.
But one thing we can learn from the US and Britain is how they make their own celebrities. The last time England won the World Cup was in 1964. Since then, the BBC lists England among the favourites to win the cup every time it is being played. Even two years ago, the BBC was busy saying England could win the cup.
Or think about this: Is David Bekham the world’s greatest player? No. Why, then, was he more popular than any other player in the world?
The reason is the media in Britain builds sons and daughters of the land. There are so many Malawians who have lived meaningful lives, whose stories can help us answer difficult, puzzling questions about life. Think of George Patridge, Rose Mkandawire, Matthews Chikaonda, DD Phiri—the man who introduced me to the art of writing in 1993/94, Rose Chibambo, Cecilia Kadzamira, T/A Chitera, Young Chimodzi, Jack Chamangwana, Lawrence Waya, and Ethel Kamwendo Banda—not apostles who give themselves the title Dr without reading for a PhD; these liars must have their stories buried because they are dangerous to Malawians.
Think of Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda. How many of us know him well? Who is there to tell us about him? Cecilia Kadzamira, John Tembo, Aleke Banda, Gwanda Chakuamba. But are these people telling us anything about the Ngwazi? No yet.
Perhaps the media in Malawi is not to blame. Lack of profiles in our newspapers and programmes is a reflection of lack of a biography writing culture. We can count biographies in Malawi. Professor Brown Chimphamba has one, Bishop James Tengatenga, Vera Chirwa, the late Kanyama Chiume and a few others have also written about themselves.
Aleke Banda, a man with over 50 years of public service, does not have a biography yet. But reading his brief piece in Weekend Nation recently puzzled thousands. The man has a story. It is a story that must be told, and beautifully, so.
But are we going to read about this story? Ask Aleke, not me. Then there is Edge Kanyongolo whose real first name is Fidelis. The story is that he was a very brilliant student and his professors used to say, ‘He has an edge over other students’ to the extent that Edge became his name.
To be honest, I don’t know whether or not this is true. He needs to tell us. But what I do know is that he was detained at Mikuyu while a college student. This, too, is a story that must be told.
Then there are professors who started as primary school teachers, going to evening secondary school classes and passed MSCE, went to teacher training college, finally Chancellor College. And there is a successful woman who was a cleaner at a health centre until she married a graduate who encouraged her to sit for MSCE, went to TTC, Domasi College and finally Chancellor College.
Or do you want me to tell you about my college mate who was a houseboy and was sent to evening classes by his master? He passed JC and MSCE and ended up in the University of Malawi. All these are wonderful stories that must be told in profiles and biographies.
Sadly, we are not telling each other our stories and we lose our history because a country’s history is in the stories of its people. Instead, our stories are told by outsiders. They come and write about the Ngwazi from their perspective.
Who is going to tell our story? We must tell our own story and redeem it from the hands of hijackers.
By the way, the past two years I have been saving for a Christmas holiday in Egypt (the Suez Canal), Greece and Spain. But I will not go for a good reason: the victory of Barack Obama. If you know the history of the US, you should know why Obama, the conqueror, maybe the face of a new America.
My plain view is that I will not spend my money on holiday. Instead, I will fund Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa to witness the swearing-in of Obama on January 20. M’mbelwa will have one task: to declare Obama the Ngwazi of America—or is it the Ngwazi of the world?
I thought M’belwa enjoys giving out this title?
Malawi population now 13.1 million: Census
The population of Malawi has risen by more than a quarter in the last decade to 13.1 million despite the devastating impact of AIDS, according to the results of a census released Monday.
“The preliminary results from the census indicate that the population of Malawi is now 13.1 million,” said Economic Planning and Development Minister Ken Lipenga while announcing preliminary results from June’s headcount.
Malawi’s population stood at 9.8 million when the last such nationwide survey was conducted in 1998.
Lipenga said 45 percent of Malawians are found in the south, 42 percent in the central and 13 percent from the north.
The rise in population comes despite the HIV-AIDS pandemic which has cut life expectancy in the impoverished southern African nation to 36. Around 14 percent of the population are affected by the virus.
“The preliminary results from the census indicate that the population of Malawi is now 13.1 million,” said Economic Planning and Development Minister Ken Lipenga while announcing preliminary results from June’s headcount.
Malawi’s population stood at 9.8 million when the last such nationwide survey was conducted in 1998.
Lipenga said 45 percent of Malawians are found in the south, 42 percent in the central and 13 percent from the north.
The rise in population comes despite the HIV-AIDS pandemic which has cut life expectancy in the impoverished southern African nation to 36. Around 14 percent of the population are affected by the virus.
Malawi opens annual HIV testing week campaign
Malawi on Monday kick-started its third weeklong national HIV testing and counselling (HTC) campaign in order to give an opportunity to Malawians to know their sero-status.
According to Health Minister Khumbo Kachali, this year\’s annual campaign has targeted more than 200,000 people. \"This includes all people of reproductive age group of 13 to 49 years,\" he said.
Last year during the same period the country targeted 130,000 people but the number reached 190,000.
"We are optimistic that this year the number would also increase due to high demand for people who want to know their sero-status," he said.
He said the campaign allowed government to facilitate changes in risky behaviour and linked persons to HIV and Aids care and support services like putting them on treatment and special nutrition.
He added that although the HIV prevalence rate appears to have stabilised in the country over the past years to 13 percent, Malawi still faced a lot socio-economic challenges due to the epidemic.
Kachali said in order to overcome these challenges government has instituted a number of strategies and activities aimed at reducing the spread and impact of HIV, and HTC week is among the activities.
The campaign’s theme is: “Tested and Counselled Together."
According to Health Minister Khumbo Kachali, this year\’s annual campaign has targeted more than 200,000 people. \"This includes all people of reproductive age group of 13 to 49 years,\" he said.
Last year during the same period the country targeted 130,000 people but the number reached 190,000.
"We are optimistic that this year the number would also increase due to high demand for people who want to know their sero-status," he said.
He said the campaign allowed government to facilitate changes in risky behaviour and linked persons to HIV and Aids care and support services like putting them on treatment and special nutrition.
He added that although the HIV prevalence rate appears to have stabilised in the country over the past years to 13 percent, Malawi still faced a lot socio-economic challenges due to the epidemic.
Kachali said in order to overcome these challenges government has instituted a number of strategies and activities aimed at reducing the spread and impact of HIV, and HTC week is among the activities.
The campaign’s theme is: “Tested and Counselled Together."
Malawi pays homage to fallen heroes
Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika is this week leading Malawians in paying homage to the country’s fallen heroes from the two Great Wars of the world.
Troops from Malawi, then known as the British protectorate of Nyasaland, fought under their colonial masters from Britain in the First World War of 1914-1918 and the Second World War of 1939-1945.
Thousands of Malawians were recruited by the British to fight the Germans, Italians and the Japanese in different parts of the world under the banner of the King African Rifles battalion based in Zomba, the country’s former colonial capital city.
Speaking in the northern city of Mzuzu on Sunday, Mutharika said Malawians need to remember their fallen heroes because they fought for peace which people are currently enjoying.
"We need to remember them every year as a nation because these people lost their lives during these wars to bring peace to the world," he said.
The rest of the Commonwealth (former British colonies) officially pays homage to the war heroes on 11 November every year.
Troops from Malawi, then known as the British protectorate of Nyasaland, fought under their colonial masters from Britain in the First World War of 1914-1918 and the Second World War of 1939-1945.
Thousands of Malawians were recruited by the British to fight the Germans, Italians and the Japanese in different parts of the world under the banner of the King African Rifles battalion based in Zomba, the country’s former colonial capital city.
Speaking in the northern city of Mzuzu on Sunday, Mutharika said Malawians need to remember their fallen heroes because they fought for peace which people are currently enjoying.
"We need to remember them every year as a nation because these people lost their lives during these wars to bring peace to the world," he said.
The rest of the Commonwealth (former British colonies) officially pays homage to the war heroes on 11 November every year.
Malawi: Journalists Threatened With Arrest for Non-Cooperation With Anti-Corruption Body
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has warned that it will soon start arresting journalists who make corruption allegations but refuse to cooperate during investigations, on charges of obstructing justice and hiding evidence.
On 6 November 2008, ACB Director Alex Nampota said the bureau has been unable to investigate many alleged corruption cases published or broadcast in the media because reporters have not been forthcoming with information to help during investigations.
According to Nampota, most journalists refuse to give details of their sources or share with the bureau the information they publish on allegations of corrupt practices.
"We have summoned a lot of journalists to give us further details anonymously, but reporters insist on clinging to their ethics. As a result, we can't manage to investigate a lot of cases," Nampota was reported as saying in a local daily.
Journalists in Malawi have been in the forefront of writing about cases of alleged corruption involving high ranking officials, some of whom the bureau has managed to successfully pursue and convict. For most stories the media have quoted off-the-record sources and, when summoned by the bureau to reveal them, the journalists have been refusing because their ethics do not allow them to disclose anonymous sources. Commenting on this, the chairperson of MISA Malawi, Brian Ligomeka, said as much as journalists were playing a crucial role in fighting corruption, the bureau should not expect them to disclose their sources as that would violate their code of ethics.
The most notable case which the bureau has pursued, and secured a conviction in, involved a former education minister in 1994 who was implicated in a school stationery procurement scam, later known as the Field York scandal. When the issue was made public, the minister sued a newspaper for defamation and was awarded damages. The newspaper failed to settle the amount and folded up. However, the case was pursued by the ACB and in 2007 the former education minister, who also served as Speaker, was convicted and is now serving a jail term. The media also broke the news that a cabinet minister used state funds for his wedding and, when the issue was pursued by the ACB, the minister was dropped from cabinet and was consequently convicted by the court, thereby losing his parliamentary seat. Currently, the bureau is also investigating the information minister after the media reported that she received a bribe from a firm based in Asia for the awarding of a tourism concession.
On 6 November 2008, ACB Director Alex Nampota said the bureau has been unable to investigate many alleged corruption cases published or broadcast in the media because reporters have not been forthcoming with information to help during investigations.
According to Nampota, most journalists refuse to give details of their sources or share with the bureau the information they publish on allegations of corrupt practices.
"We have summoned a lot of journalists to give us further details anonymously, but reporters insist on clinging to their ethics. As a result, we can't manage to investigate a lot of cases," Nampota was reported as saying in a local daily.
Journalists in Malawi have been in the forefront of writing about cases of alleged corruption involving high ranking officials, some of whom the bureau has managed to successfully pursue and convict. For most stories the media have quoted off-the-record sources and, when summoned by the bureau to reveal them, the journalists have been refusing because their ethics do not allow them to disclose anonymous sources. Commenting on this, the chairperson of MISA Malawi, Brian Ligomeka, said as much as journalists were playing a crucial role in fighting corruption, the bureau should not expect them to disclose their sources as that would violate their code of ethics.
The most notable case which the bureau has pursued, and secured a conviction in, involved a former education minister in 1994 who was implicated in a school stationery procurement scam, later known as the Field York scandal. When the issue was made public, the minister sued a newspaper for defamation and was awarded damages. The newspaper failed to settle the amount and folded up. However, the case was pursued by the ACB and in 2007 the former education minister, who also served as Speaker, was convicted and is now serving a jail term. The media also broke the news that a cabinet minister used state funds for his wedding and, when the issue was pursued by the ACB, the minister was dropped from cabinet and was consequently convicted by the court, thereby losing his parliamentary seat. Currently, the bureau is also investigating the information minister after the media reported that she received a bribe from a firm based in Asia for the awarding of a tourism concession.
Baby Warriors On Track for Finals
A lapse of concentration in the Namibian defence cost the national Under-17 football team dearly after the “Baby Warriors” defeated a stubborn Malawi team by 2 goals to 1 in an otherwise exciting match in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Under-17 qualifier at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams resorted to playing a cautious game in the hope of catching each other on the counter attack and it came as no surprise when the first half ended goalless.
However, the hosts came out smoking after the break and struck with two quick goals in the opening three minutes of the second half.
With a paltry attendance of less than 200 spectators – the usually exciting Baby Warriors outfit struggled to get out of first gear with the exception of purple haired winger Enslin Kamunhanga who tormented the Malawian rearguard with some of his trademark penetrating runs down the leftwing in the early stages of the match.
It was the visitors who almost took the lead when Robin Ngalande’s long range effort hit the cross bar.
Sylvetser Ortmann came off the substitutes’ bench to break the deadlock in the 74th minute when the butterfingered Malawian goalkeeper failed to handle Tariq Claasen’s well executed free-kick – allowing the ever alert Ortmann to stroke the loose ball home.
Three minutes later, Ortmann turned from goalscorer to provider when his telling cross found Gregorius Isaack in space and the striker needed no second invitation and his well taken volley kissed the roof of the net.
The hosts almost stretched their lead but Kamuhanga’s effort cannoned off the post with eight minutes left on the clock. With time ticking by and Namibia firmly in the driving seat – Malawian substitute Vilipo Mhango reduced the deficit with a 20-meter scorcher that left Namibian goalkeeper Colin Ndjai catching flies.
The return leg will be played in Blantyre, Malawi in less than two weeks’ time and Namibia need to score an early goal to unsettle the Malawians and avoid conceding goals.
Both teams resorted to playing a cautious game in the hope of catching each other on the counter attack and it came as no surprise when the first half ended goalless.
However, the hosts came out smoking after the break and struck with two quick goals in the opening three minutes of the second half.
With a paltry attendance of less than 200 spectators – the usually exciting Baby Warriors outfit struggled to get out of first gear with the exception of purple haired winger Enslin Kamunhanga who tormented the Malawian rearguard with some of his trademark penetrating runs down the leftwing in the early stages of the match.
It was the visitors who almost took the lead when Robin Ngalande’s long range effort hit the cross bar.
Sylvetser Ortmann came off the substitutes’ bench to break the deadlock in the 74th minute when the butterfingered Malawian goalkeeper failed to handle Tariq Claasen’s well executed free-kick – allowing the ever alert Ortmann to stroke the loose ball home.
Three minutes later, Ortmann turned from goalscorer to provider when his telling cross found Gregorius Isaack in space and the striker needed no second invitation and his well taken volley kissed the roof of the net.
The hosts almost stretched their lead but Kamuhanga’s effort cannoned off the post with eight minutes left on the clock. With time ticking by and Namibia firmly in the driving seat – Malawian substitute Vilipo Mhango reduced the deficit with a 20-meter scorcher that left Namibian goalkeeper Colin Ndjai catching flies.
The return leg will be played in Blantyre, Malawi in less than two weeks’ time and Namibia need to score an early goal to unsettle the Malawians and avoid conceding goals.
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