Centre For Social Concern Kanengo Malawi/ revue de Presse

History indeed repeats itself. Malawi's politics at the moment seems to be following this old saying as evidenced by the mass defections of opposition MPs to the party of Mutharika.. Just like was the case during the United Democratic Front reign when every politician was joining the mighty UDF. The trend this time around has seen mass defections among politicians that are now joining the ruling Democratic Progressive Party DPP. Such a development threatens Malawi's democracy because with so many MPs joining government it means a weakened opposition. This occasions fears of a return to a one party state.

On the economy scene the fact that there is shortage of maize has greatly affected the inflation. Maize, which is the staple food in Malawi and a main component in determining the inflation, is still scarce a situation that will increase inflation. It has also caused a shortage of foreign exchange and so put pressure on the kwacha.

Food experts have predicted that Malawi is to have bumper yields this season. Because of good rainfall patterns and government's fertilizer subsidy programmes. Such availability of farm inputs when farmers needed them and substantial rainfalls give Malawians hope for hunger free year.

Civil society and religious groups have criticised the current situation that has seen some cabinet ministers implicated in substantial allowance scandals. Since it is taking a lot of time for the alleged ministers to be brought to book civil society feel president Mutharika is shielding them.

Malawi's education sector came under attack in the month of January over the results of 2005 Form 4 examinations. The Malawi School Examinations result saw many candidates passing impressively with some 26 people scoring 6 points each. However it is alleged that the passing mark was lowered to 16%. Can this improve the dwindling standards of education?

The health sector has all the reasons to smile as it has managed to start solving one of its major problems: the brain drain. The ministry proudly announced that now there are almost no reports of personnel leaving government hospitals.

Environmentalists continue to lament the increasing cases deforestation. At the same time charcoal vending continues. With food shortages in many villages in Malawi charcoal selling seems to be the only way to find money for food. It might be very difficult to stamp out the business, as there seem to be no alternative income generating activities and no alternative sources of energy.

After a series of domestic violence cases in the month of January government has finally decided to propose a new domestic violence bill. Reports of husbands killing their wives, chopping their arms have acted as a wake up call to the gender ministry to speed up the bill that will at least put to rest battered women and men's minds.

The Democratic Progressive Party DPP entered the New Year smiling as a number of opposition Members of Parliament ditched their parties. DPP a party that had a tough time in parliament netted a few more MPs to strengthen it side. However political analysts and some opposition leaders have blamed president Mutharika for inviting the opposition to join the DPP. The analysts feel such an invitation could be a threat to Malawi's democracy as the country might only have one party in parliament with all the opposition joining the DPP. The press also revealed that the defections have got nothing to do with the buying of MPs.

While the DPP is enjoying the defections by MPs who are joining it, some parties on the other hand are paying dearly with these loses. The UDF has lost some notable MPs like Mussa who announced that he is going to support the government of the day. Mussa has been facing tough time in the UDF on several occasions

The year started with very interesting news that favoured the president's DPP. The announcement by Mangochi Malombe MP Maxwell Milanzi that he has withdrawn the impeachment motion, met with mixed reactions from the society. To begin with this was good news to the party and all the people that were not in favour of the proposed motion. On the other hand the United Democratic Front UDF who felt they would benefit from the impeachment motion have vehemently accused Milanzi for not consulting with the party before dumping the motion. Milanzi's latest announcement that he has left the UDF raises a lot of questions considering the fact he has a case to answer.

The UDF seems to have been covered a great deal by the press in the month of January. The press disclosed that all is not well at a UDF National Executive Committee NEC meeting that was held at BCA Hill. Reports show that Muluzi imposed Cassim Chilumpha as the acting chairman in the absence of the former Chairman. However they also reveal that some top UDF officials are not happy with Muluzi's choice of Chilumpha as they felt Kennedy Makwangwala who is the General Secretary or Harry Thomson should fill the post. Some political analysts noted that it is high time Muluzi stopped imposing candidates on his fellow UDF members.

In the month under review former president Bakili Muluzi attended the African Forum in Maputo, Mozambique. The press revealed that at the meeting former heads of state advised Dr Bakili Muluzi to leave active politics and instead play an advisory role to the current government. While some UDF officials are not happy with the announcement several civil society organisations have recommended the move. It could at least ease the political tension that has been going on in the country for quite some time.

Just like any other party the United Democratic Front did not disclose the source of its funds, the public learnt with surprise that the Libyan government has been funding the UDF Reports have disclosed that the Libyan leader Colonel Muarmar Gaddafi has admitted that he used to fund the UDF and Muluzi. According to Libya's envoy in Malawi Mohammad Bashir Enwie Gaddafi used to give gifts to Muluzi because they were friends. However it came as a surprise to learn that since Mutharika came to power Gaddaffi has never given the friend any money. Against this background some UDF gurus are planning to approach Muluzi to ask him to account for the Libyan money. The gurus announced they were going to politely ask the party's Chairman to explain how exactly the money was used. This sudden change of heart means that the senior party officials no longer fear the Tcheya.

Despite some press reports that have shown that Muluzi was faking his illness early this month, recently the media reported that the former president is indeed sick. The Muluzi family announced that the UDF National Chairman was to undergo a major operation following his leg problems that had originated from his back problems. Muluzi who has suffered this problem since 2001 went to the United Kingdom to seek medical treatment. President Mutharika told a press briefing that he was wishing the former head of state a quick recovery and that he was in his prayers.

Some organisations have condemned the use of government vehicles to ferry DPP women during presidential functions. Recent media reports have disclosed that state owned vehicles were ferrying people to and from the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe. This is contrary to people's expectations on the president's conduct. Malawians expected Mutharika to stick to the promise he made when he came to office. Reports have shown that the DPP also hosted a party meeting at the State House. So much for the promised separation of party and state functions.

The Malawi economy seems to have started the year with prospects of high forex circulation. This according to reports will come as a result of exports of Uranium at the newly opened mine in Karonga. The mining of Uranium will see Malawi exporting the mineral to other countries and at the same time earn the country some foreign currency. Economic experts have therefore predicted a lot of forex in circulation in the country.

Having faced a year of shortage of forex last year, government in the month under review announced that this was a result of bad management by the previous government. Reports have revealed that a lot of forex was used on foreign trips and allowances that people never worked for. Media reports have revealed that Malawi is now facing forex shortages because of the previous government large appetite for spending.

After several cries from forex bureaux owners and some indigenous businessmen the Reserve Bank of Malawi announced a reduction in the capital needed for running a Foreign exchange bureau business in Malawi. The amount that was set previously at $100,000.00 has now been lowered to $50,000.00. The business fraternity has welcomed the news as it means some more indigenous Malawians with less capital can also join the trade. This announcement came after some local businessmen complained of trade conditions that do not favour an ordinary Malawian with small capital for business. Now that the capital required has been lowered it gives them a chance to do their trade.

In the month under review the Reserve Bank of Malawi announced that inflation levels will continue to be under pressure. This situation will come about because of the shortage of maize Malawi's staple food and a component that is also used to measure the inflation. At the same time the shortages also coincided with multiple fuel increases that made other commodities to go up drastically. The Central Bank predicts a continued pressure on the inflation because of the maize shortage.

Having failed to appear on a list of countries whose debt was cancelled last year, the Malawi government announced that the International Monetary Fund is coming in February to assess the situation. The IMF seeks to review Malawi's performance in the last five months and see if the country is ready to have its debt cancelled. Malawi missed out on the debt cancellation last year due to what some economic experts have called the previous government's financial mismanagement.

Some economic watchdogs have revealed the local Malawians failed to benefit from the Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (MPRSP) because of the previous government's fiscal indiscipline. The Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) noted that the MPRSP failed to benefit poor Malawians because crucial areas that needed more resources were left with minimal resources. These areas like health and education were not given priority.

Malawi is in the middle of a food shortage due to the low maize yields that farmers experienced last growing season. Concerning this years crop, media reports have shown that many hectares of maize in almost 20 districts of the country have been affected by the armyworms. Just when people were predicting bumper yields the armyworms are threatening to destroy what should have been a very good crop. It is reported that over 27,445 hectors of maize have been attacked. In addition some areas in the lower Shire have had their crops damaged due to the floods. But despite these reports experts have predicted bumper yields this year if the rainfall pattern continues.

Press reports in the month have disclosed that the sale of subsidised fertilizers is going on well although there were reports of shortage of some types of fertilizers. Against this background the ministry of Agriculture has reported that it will source the commodity locally. The Minister responsible Honourable Uladi Mussa announced this. Importing it would have the commodity arrive too late.

Although there seem to be signs of bumper yields this year, government has extended the distribution of relief maize. This has come against a background of increased cases of starvation among Malawians. Reports have shown that government will continue with the programme up to the month of March. Some districts like Nkhata Bay, Salima, Mulanje and Nsanje have been reported as worst hit by the food shortage. For instance people in Salima district at one time were feeding on bamboo seeds. While this has alarmed many people, others have claimed that this is a good coping mechanism and at the same time provides healthy food. Reports indicate that government by the end of January will reach out to over 4.35 million people.

In the month under review some traders were banned from selling maize. This announcement came after the Mzuzu City Assembly officials had accused the traders of buying the grain from ADMARC and later on sell it to desperate Malawians at a very high price. However not all agreed and this directive attracted different reaction from different quarters. This decision according the Chief Executive of the city Samson Chirwa was made at a stakeholders meeting. Reports had shown that some traders buy the grain from ADMARC and later on sell it at very high prices. This contributed to Mzuzu City running out of maize. Some quarters of society have blamed the situation on Mzuzu City assembly officials because they banned the sales of maize earlier in the month.

The media this month disclosed that the Feed the Nations Fund FNF raised K140 million and that the fund expects to raise K200 million more by the end of the campaign. President Mutharika launched the FNF last year with the aim of instilling a helping spirit among Malawians. Although the fund has of late received huge donations, it still has some unfulfilled pledges.

Police in the month under review announced that the hunger situation has caused an increase in crime in some areas. Reports have shown that more than 60% of the crimes committed in some areas came about because people were in need of food Since some people were hungry they resorted to stealing and fighting to release the tension that comes with starvation.

This month the Minister of Agriculture announced that the prices of maize might go up this harvesting season. Honourable Uladi Mussa announced that government was planning to raise the price of maize so that more farmers would be motivated to sell their grains at ADMARC depots. For quite some time farmers have shunned ADMARC markets because of low buying prices. Farmers have resorted to selling their harvests locally because of competitive prices.

The civil society organisations have spoken at length on the current political situation. They have noted that Mutharika's continued abuse of state resources is contrary to his inaugural speech. Mutharika has been blamed for using the state radio and television for his party functions. On the other hand hosting party functions at the state house has also irked the civil society who feels party activities should be separated from state activities.

In the month the Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee have dealt much on the alleged cases of allowance scandals in Mutharika's cabinet. Recent media reports claimed that some cabinet ministers received allowances for a job they never did. What is more surprising is the fact that some people were jailed for misusing small amounts of money and yet some cabinet ministers who wasted large amounts are left to move around freely. Against this background the civil society have accused Mutharika of shielding his ministers who are mentioned in these scandals. Such a scenario has left some people wondering if at all the zero tolerance on corruption will work in Malawi.

The Moslem community in the month under review petitioned Mutharika over his relationship with the Vice President Cassim Chilumpha who is a Moslem. The group called Islamic Voice for Peace feels there are a lot of issues pertaining to their faith that need the president's attention. This follows the sour relationship between the two that has witnessed estrangement. Following this announcement the Muslim community this month announced their intention to stage another protest against president Mutharika's style of leadership.

Amid reports of violence against women the civil society added their voices to condemn the acts of violence that were reported in the press this month. The hacking of a wife's hands by her husband and another case reported of a man who killed his wife for refusing him sex, are some of these instances of violence. Against this background civil society organisations have asked the National Assembly to speed up in formulating laws that will put such men to task. The Malawi nation learnt with shock about the increasing rate of violence against women. The Malawi press carried a story of a woman or child that has been abused in one way or the other almost on a daily basis in the month under review.

Malawi Watch demanded an apology from the MP Maxwell Milanzi who moved the impeachment motion in parliament last year. The civil society feels Milanzi made the nation unstable by tabling the motion. Milanzi's recent announcement, that he has withdrawn the motion, met with different reactions from several people having diverse views over the issue. People in parliament exchanged bitter words when the bill was presented in the August House last year. To sum it all there were some demonstrations that ended with property being damaged. Media reports last year announced that government is going to foot the bills on the damaged property.

Government in the month under review noted with great concern the minimum wage that civil servants get. Reports have shown that some civil servants are receiving very low salaries and it becomes very difficult to meet their monthly basic needs. This has resulted in many people living in dire poverty despite working the entire month. It is against this background that government through the ministry of Labour and Vocational Training will look into the possibility of raising the minimum wage for workers.

The events that took place in the month under review have shocked almost each and every sector of the society. To begin with Malawi has always been associated with peace to the extent that it is called The Warm Heart of Africa. However recent media reports have revealed acts of violence among some members of the society. Press reports disclosed quite a large number of domestic violence cases in the month of January alone. It seems cases of wife battering are now common because of our culture. Occasionally men suffer a similar fate. Because women are brought up in such a way that they have to obey their husbands, they find it very hard to get out of their marriages when they are abused. Although some wives are victims of domestic violence they have resorted to suffer in silence rather than leave their marriages. Again some customs encouraging women to persevere in marriage have also fuelled this gender-based violence. It still remains a headache to all as to how such acts of violence can be completely eliminated. Bearing this in mind president Mutharika advised women to stop practising traditions that put their lives in danger.

The month also witnessed a number of reported cases of alleged Satanism. The issue on Satanism, which in the past was never talked about, dominated the press early in the month under review. In the past it never occurred to discuss such issues. As a God fearing nation such reports gave shivers to some believers. Some of the members actually alleged that the sect is the one that is responsible for some of the accidents that the country faced last year. Will Malawi ever find the truth about the existence of the sect in the country?

Police in the country launched a clean up campaign where all minibus touts were flushed out of the streets. Despite some of them being arrested reports have disclosed that the call boys are now posing as minibus conductors and are threatening to start robbing people if they are not allowed to restart their job once more. However residents in cities have commended the Police efforts in the minibus touts issue. There have been a series of reports of touts harassing passengers and now that they are removed from the streets, people a happy. On a similar note some town dwellers await with hope the removal of vendors from the streets. City Assembly officials in all the cities have asked the vendors to leave the streets and go to their specially constructed Flea markets.

Media reports have revealed very disturbing news over the allegation that the Malawi Nations Examinations Board lowered the passing mark for the just released form 4 examinations. The Malawi School Certificate of Education results that are said to be the best since 1999 have left people wondering why there was an Awards meeting, which made the decision without consulting all stakeholders. It is more questionable that the passing mark is alleged to have been lowered to a 16%. If the passing mark had to be lowered it hides the fact that education standards have not improved much at all.

The month also saw the reintroduction of scholarships awarded to deserving students for the Kamuzu Academy in Kasungu. Reports indicated that the Mutharika government promised to start giving out the scholarships to deserving students at the prestigious school. Although some people have questioned the criteria for choosing 50 students, others have commended the selection of students to go to Kamuzu Academy. Those criticising have said the Ministry of education has not been transparent enough in the exercise.

University of Malawi lectures and support staff in the month under review planned to go on strike. The lecturers felt their salaries are very pathetic and demanded a 500% salary increment. However government reacted by telling the lecturers that the strike has come at a time the country is facing major problems financially. Instead government promised a raise in their salaries by 60% leaving out the support staff. This has prompted the support staff to stage their own strike.

The education ministry has noted that there is indeed need to overhaul the whole education sector. According to a meeting that the Minister of Education Kate Kainja attended it was noted that the recent changes that have been made in the secondary and primary school syllabus have contributed greatly to deteriorating standards of education. For instance the fact that English literature in secondary schools is not a compulsory subject has also affected education standards. Headmasters have noted that there is need to completely change things in the education sector for it to regain its lost glory. Shortages of teaching and learning materials coupled with lack of structures have also contributed greatly to the dwindling of education standards. It is against this background that the minister responsible announced that it would take two years to improve the quality of education in Malawi.

This month Government announced plans to build the Lilongwe University of Science Technology and promised this would in the next fiscal budget. President Mutharika promised to build a purely Science and Technology University in the Capital City. The opening of the new university will increase the number of Universities to three and the new university will strictly dwell on Science and technology and will lift Malawi's technology further up.

The rainy season brings water borne diseases such as Diarrhoea and Cholera. This month the press took some time to report on cases in the city of Blantyre. Media reports reported that 7 people in Ndirande Township died of a Cholera outbreak. The deceased who were all members of the Seventh Day Apostolic Church refused to go to hospital to get medication. The church members believe it is only prayer that can heal them. However the deaths of the 7 came as a shock to the township because they could have done something to save the sick that were at the time refusing to go to the hospital.

The health sector seems to have found solutions to some of its problems especially brain drain. A few government hospitals have been running with inadequate personnel because of the brain drain. Reports have shown that Malawi is losing some of its qualified medical personnel who leave the government sector to work in the private sector or abroad because the remuneration package in government hospitals is too little. However some initiatives government announced in the month under review have managed to reduce the number of nurses who leave their jobs in government hospitals from 6 every month to almost none. This is good news because poor Malawians who go to government hospitals will at least get some attention.

On a similar note the Ministry of Health announced its intention to re-engage retired nurses to beef up staff levels in public hospitals. The press released a tracer study by the Ministry where it is re-engaging retired nurses who are still fit to do the work. Reports have shown that the Ministry of Health is running short of 2178 nurses. The media also disclosed that one nurse in Malawi looks after 5,000 people. This is 1,000 more than the recommended ratio by the World Health Organisation. If the ministry succeeds in this exercise, it will ease the workload that other nurses face.

In the month under review reports disclosed that patients in some government hospitals were being given a rejected malaria drug. The papers revealed that a number of batches of Novidar failed a laboratory test and were not fit to be given to patients. The National Drug Quality Control in the United States found out that the drugs had low percentages of dissolution that cures the patient. Despite all this the Ministry still used the drug to treat patients because it had no alternative. The Ministry felt it was better to save lives than lose people to Malaria.

Press reports have disclosed that there is an increase in the flow of illegal medicines in the country. It is reported that illegal drugs are finding their way in Malawi through the borders and some areas that have always been clean now have been invaded by the drugs. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board have acknowledged the presence of the illegal drugs in the country. This has raised suspicions over who is behind the business in connection with the large amounts of drugs that have been entering the country.

Although a lot of things have been preached on the need to conserve Malawi's forests and natural trees, it seems very little has been done. Recent media reports have pointed fingers at charcoal sellers who are now in the trade mainly because of poverty and hunger. Some have argued that they are in the trade because of the current food shortage that has seen people sleeping on empty stomachs. Whatever is the case people still cut down trees so that they can find money to buy food. Recent reports have revealed the seriousness of the problem. Malawi loses 50,000 hectares of forest every year to charcoal sellers. Such figures are too much for a tiny country like Malawi. If such trends continue Malawi might face further environmental degradation, as more soils will have no ground covers resulting in soil erosion.

Reports have also shown that some indigenous trees are on the verge of extinction because of charcoal making. It is reported that the Masuku tree in Chiradzulu could be history; if measures are not taken to make sure that the wanton cutting down of trees is stopping. Families in Chiradzulu are now cutting down the Masuku trees for firewood and charcoal. Suppose this practice continues, Chiradzulu's future generations will not be able to taste the Masuku.

As many districts were in tree planting exercises Machinga district also took part. Reports have shown that despite many trees being planned in the district a lot more are cut down on a daily basis. It is against this background that authorities in the district attributed the wanton cutting down of trees to high population growth. The fact that families have a lot of grown up children makes it difficult for parents to give out portions of land to each of the many children. To solve this problem some cut down the trees to find some land for cultivation. In the end it is the whole country that suffers the long-term effects of deforestations

To find solutions to this, the search for alternatives to charcoal needs to be stepped up. Rural electrification and cheap electricity will also help to stem the tide.

Press reports in the month started on a positive news that president Mutharika has appointed Mrs Matilda Katopola to be the New Clerk of parliament. Mutharika's appointee replaced Roosevelt Gondwe who was appointed ambassador to Japan. Some gender organisations have applauded Mutharika's move as the right step towards women empowerment. The position of clerk of Parliament has always been a male dominated job. The appointment shows that Mutharika has faith in Malawian women and gives them any type of job he is confident that they will deliver.

The incidents that happened in the month under review have touched almost each and every sector of life. The gender sector has greatly felt the pinch as a result of the daily reports of domestic violence. Press reports on a daily basis revealed different forms of domestic violence that saw many more women being victimised than men. Such reports clearly show that women are greatly suffering. Early in the month a woman in Dowa had her hands chopped off and another woman was killed in Karonga for refusing sex. Such issues have caused unrest among Malawians who are not used to this.

In line with the accelerating rates of domestic violence government proposed a new bill that would help to stop gender based violence completely. Reports have shown that many cases happen because men are aware that there are no laws to curb domestic violence. Perhaps cases of domestic violence will come to an end when the bill will be passed. When that is done at least some perpetrators will think twice before they injure a women, child or husband.

The ever-increasing cases of domestic violence in the month under review have met mixed reactions. As many women activists are blaming men for their acts, some men on the other hand have pushed the blame on the women advocates themselves. They allege many women are now rude because they misunderstood the gender concept and what having their rights in the home is all about. They speculate that the gender activists have misinformed women about their rights and this has led to lack of respect towards their husbands. However the activists feel that even when a woman is rude she does not deserve to be abused.

Responding to a series of reports on domestic violence the ministry of gender has planned to establish shelters that will help victimised women and children. In the wake of increased reports of wife battering, the ministry feels the shelters would also act as rehabilitation centres for such women. The women will stay at the shelter up to the time when they feel it is safe to go back to their homes. The shelters are a welcome development as it is now not secret that some homes are turning into death rings.

Women lawyers in the Northern Region this month asked the magistrate courts to consider giving pregnant women non-custodial sentences. Chair of Women Lawyers (Mzuzu chapter) Agnes Nyirenda noted that there were a lot of pregnant women and babies in our jails. Nyirenda argues that the conditions in the jails, which are always congested, are not conducive for pregnant women and breastfeeding.

Center for Social Concern (CFSC)
Box 40049 Lilongwe 4
Area 25
Next to St. Francis Parish
Tel: 01 715 632
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