Centre For Social Concern Kanengo Malawi/ revue de Presse

In the month under review stakeholders participated in another National Constitutional Review in Liwonde in Machinga district. Press reports in the month announced of the constitutional review meeting where stakeholders suggested some of the things that people feel should be included in the constitution. One of the things that took centre stage was the presidential age limit. Some quarters still felt 75 should be the age limit for one to stand as a presidential candidate in any general election. Although this did not go down well with some members present at the conference, others still believe there is need to have an age limit.

Member of Parliament for Thyolo Central who is also Treasurer General of the United Democratic Front UDF Bob Khamisa surprised his colleagues when he announced that he would be supporting government. But to some this did not come as a surprise because the writing was on the wall because of Khamisa's conduct in recent times. Earlier reports had shown that the Thyolo Central MP uttered some statements to the press that were not in favour of his party. Khamisa is reported to have praised the Mutharika administration in the August House to the astonishment of his friends.

The dismissal of Attorney General AG Ralph Kasambara left some quarters of the society with more questions than answers. Kasambara's appointment was praised by sections of the society as one done on merit considering the level of his performance in the law industry. Kasambara, a seasoned lawyer met the Public Appointments Committee of parliament's approval following his track record as one of the few top lawyers in the country. However despite the fact that the State House did not give any reason for firing the AG some have speculated that it is because of his indiscipline. Kasambara's name has been mentioned every now and then in the press over issues of indiscipline that have brought shame to the State House. The former AG however reacted by saying he is still a DPP member and will always support Mutharika.

Political parties this month described the last sitting of parliament as the best since 2004. This observation came following the way the Members of Parliament conducted themselves in their deliberations. Among other things the house passed the controversial domestic Violence Bill. Although there were some disagreements here and there, all in all the sitting has been described as the best ever since Mutharika came to power. Such kind of maturity in tackling serious business in the house is what the constituents want to hear.

The opposition UDF described Mutharika as a desperate man who would do anything possible to get rid of his deputy Cassimu Chilumpha. This observation comes amid the alleged treason case that Chilumpha is currently facing. President Mutharika is finding it difficult to work with the Veep who is the acting chairperson of the opposition UDF because Mutharika has his own party the DPP. Against this background the UDF feels Mutharika is bitter because Chilumpha does things his own way. With such a scenario the UDF thinks Mutharika would do anything possible to do away with Chilumpha.

Some quarters of the society have expressed concern over the continued use of state resources to fund party functions. Press reports have indicated that there seems to be an increase in the trend where the use of state resources is concerned. Despite stressing the need to separate state and party in his inaugural speech, president Mutharika has been seen to be in the forefront in using state vehicles to ferry party members to party functions. Political analysts therefore warned that it is going to be very difficult to put the economy back on track with such practices.

President Mutharika early in the month opened the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda's mausoleum, 9 years after his death. Although some people have praised Mutharika's government for a job well done, others have chosen to differ. It remains unclear why at the launch the president had to despise the UDF. Mutharika spoilt the occasion by attacking the UDF and at the same time politicising the whole exercise. Analysts have said that it was Mutharika's opportunity to say things that would have united Malawians instead of attacking the UDF, hence splitting the nation further.

There have been contradicting comments in the press over the performance of president Mutharika's two years in office. Much as Mutharika himself and the government are full of self praise, the opposition political parties think the two years have not been so successful. Among other things the opposition have labelled the fight against corruption as one sided as only the UDF is targeted while some government officials are left scot-free. They have also noted some failures in the Mutharika's administration as regards the economy. Although his mentor former president Bakili Muluzi had nicknamed him the economic engineer, the opposition has noted that Malawi's currency has gone from bad to worse in recent months.

Although there has been talk of Malawi's economy being on the right track some observers have noted that the gap between the poor and rich is too huge. Press reports in the month noted that it is obvious that the majority of Malawians are living in dire poverty. The Norwegian ambassador to Malawi Gunner Foreland noted that most of the aid that Malawi gets from donors does not reach those it is intended for. With so much poverty the country risks a higher rate of crime and unrest.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi this month announced that it was going to put in place a new law that would check quoting in dollars. There have been cries from stakeholders over the issue of quoting prices in foreign currency mainly the United States dollar. For some time consumers have complained about this trend and now that RBM has promised to put rules it might give a sigh of relief to the consumers. However some economic experts have noted that there is something wrong with Malawi's monetary policy and its exchange rate and that is why people are quoting in foreign currency.

There have been contradicting reports in the press as regards poverty levels. A survey conducted some months ago revealed that the poverty levels are now at 50% of the population living above the poverty line and the other 50% living below the poverty line i.e. living on less that a dollar per day. Note that a Kwacha is now at K140.00. However a recent survey by a professor at Bunda College of Agriculture in Lilongwe has revealed that some Malawians who are in extreme poverty live on K15 a day. This means that poverty is getting worse. With such a trend it remains very doubtful if Malawi will ever have its poverty alleviated.

Economic experts have observed that the recent fuel increase will have some effects on the economy as a whole. To begin with the recent announcement of fuel adjustment has put some services at risk of raising their costs as they generally rely on fuel. The transport sector feels the increase is reason enough for them to raise their fee. Following this situation there will be price hikes of goods and services in the country. Although people have expressed concern over the just announced fuel hikes, the Petroleum Pricing Committee has warned that the hikes may continue.

The intermittent closure of tobacco markets in the country has raised some fears among farmers in particular and Malawi as a nation. This year's tobacco selling season commenced with a lot of controversies. After so many complaints from the farmers about the prices the buyers offered buying the leaf, government was forced to close down the sales. And some economic experts have warned that disruption in the sales of tobacco might threaten forex inflows.

Press reports disclosed that an International Monetary Fund team was in the country in the month under review. Among other things the IMF personnel assessed Malawi's economic performance. Economic experts have observed that the coming of the team is an indication that Malawi is still in good books with the body. Among other things the team also wanted to check if Malawi is qualifying to have a 100 percent debt cancellation. Observers have noted that Malawi's economy might change for the better if its debt is cancelled.

After the experience of having food shortages recently, some agricultural experts have advised farmers in the country to plant drought resistant varieties. This advice is given every time after a food crisis like the one that Malawians faced in recent months. According to experts Malawi has a food shortage because of failed rains in some areas the previous year. Against this background there is feeling that if people finally followed this advice there should have been less cases of food shortages. Reports have shown that with such practices in place food insecurity is going to be a story of the past. It needs people's change of attitude towards farming and eating habits in Malawi. If they follow such advice the country may become a state of plenty because of various types of crops and varieties that would withstand drought.

Some consumer rights groups have condemned government about the recent announcement of maize prices. The price adjustment that saw a kilogram of maize being sold at K20.00 and K1000 for a 50-kilogram bag has met criticism from some quarters. The Consumer rights body Consumers Association of Malawi CAMA noted with great concern that the new prices are too much for the majority of Malawians who are poor. The new prices did not look at the fact some villagers might fail to cough up K1000 for a bag of maize.

Although the country has had high yields of maize this year not every farmer is happy about it. As the press have indicated some commercial farmers are not pleased with the fact that government has banned the sale of maize outside Malawi. This declaration has met the wrath of commercial farmers who feel they are being dictated as to where they should go and sell their merchandise. On the other hand government feels it should put in place such measures to control the tendency that some farmers have of selling all their harvest at low price only to buy it at later stage at high costs. Because it is clear that the same people during the lean period end up buying the same grain at exorbitant prices. Against this background

This month the press disclosed that Malawi signed an agreement on agriculture with the government of Zimbabwe. The arrival of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe and his entourage early in the month saw the signing of an agreement on agriculture between the two countries. Among other things the two countries will share expertise in the agriculture field. Malawi is bound to benefit greatly from the agreement, as Zimbabwe is a country, which has a track record of good farming methods like irrigation. This will also boost Malawi's economy according to experts.

After the dust over president Robert Mugabe's visit has settled down some quarters of society questioned some Non Governmental Organisations' conduct before and during the visit. Surprisingly the NGOs that made a lot of noise before the visit surprised many by keeping mum when Mugabe was in the country. It remains unclear what exactly convinced the NGOs that were involved to have a sudden change of attitude. Although reports mentioned that there was going to be a meeting between them and the Zimbabwean leader, it never took place to the astonishment of many. Now with such a scenario it still remains unclear as to what their interest was all about. Against this background the Forum for the Defence of Democracy advised donors to be careful in sending funding to some of these NGOs.

Mugabe's visit had an aftermath as shown in press reports recently. It remains clear that there are still some people who are not happy with Mugabe's name on the road. Press reports disclosed that some 'thieves' vandalised the plaque of the road. This was done in the presence of policemen who were guarding the road. The scenario now gives us a picture that not all are happy with the naming of the road and will do anything to change things.

After the various city and town assemblies have removed vendors from the streets there have been concerns in some quarters over the way the whole exercise was conducted. While many in society applauded the move, others have condemned the use of force that saw some vendors losing their merchandise. Against this background Malawi Human Rights Commission announced that it is going to write president Mutharika to tell him about the real situation on the ground. Some lost their goods due to demolition of their trading places especially in Lilongwe. Some people's human rights were abused.

In the month under review the Consumers Association of Malawi CAMA queried government on the persistent drug shortage. The consumer rights body has noted with great concern the increase in drug shortages in our hospitals. It has been some time since our hospitals had enough medical supplies. Against this background the body fears that with such shortages patients are forced to source drugs from the black market. Reports have shown that such drugs are substandard. At the same time it is very difficult for the vendors to know the right dosage. In the end consumers might buy the wrong drugs from such unqualified traders.

There is no doubt that a good number of people are in dire poverty as evidenced by the number of people who are failing to make ends meet. The outcry on the streets over the recent fuel increase came at a time people were just recovering from yet another blow because of the food crisis. Now although most people have farm produce in abundance, the problem of defilement is has propped up again. Press reports have disclosed that because of poverty some people have resorted to magic. In the process of trying to get rich through magic, they submit their own offspring to defilement. In the end innocent children and women suffer silently as they are faced with no options but to give in to such demeaning and disgusting behaviour. There is no doubt that some are desperate to get riches through dubious actions but then defiling one's own children is a thing that cannot be tolerated.

With just some weeks after the domestic violence bill was passed the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Mrs Anna Kachikho advised women not to use the bill to break their marriages. This advice came amid fears from some sectors of society that although a lot has been said to make sure that the bill is passed some people still feel it will threaten their marriages. Such a scenario calls for civic education so that people know exactly what the bill is all about and that it is not there to reduce their relationships to shambles but rather to strengthen them.

The search for greener pastures among Malawi's work force has not only caused shortage of personnel in the country but affected marriages as well. Press reports have disclosed that the tendency has resulted in marriages breaking down as families live apart. The fact that a husband lives far away from his wife increases the risk of having extra marital affairs. It becomes a very difficult situation when a spouse who has gone to work for the good of the family sees their family crumble as one of them was involved in risky behaviours.

With cases of HIV/AIDS increasing in some districts, Mzimba has not been spared. Mzimba, which is one of the districts with high population density, has also registered a high number of Aids cases. However press reports have shown that immigrants who stay in South Africa have also contributed to the spread of the disease in the district. Reports have revealed that the people who leave their families behind, come back to settle down and at the same town infect their spouses who remained behind. It all calls for behaviour change among spouses who live far away from their families.

The Malawi Human Rights Commission this month condemned a practice called Phuma Uhambe, which is common in Mzimba and Rumphi districts. Phuma Uhambe is a practice in which people who are suspected to be involved in witchcraft are chased from their villages and have their properties burnt. Against this background the MHRC is in the process of civic educating the masses so that the practice is stopped. Commissioner Ollen Mwalubunju of human rights commission body noted that such a practice is a violation of human rights. Much as witchcraft is always abhorred in many villages, chasing people for merely suspecting them of being witches and wizards is a violation of their rights.

Colleges in the country have always been rocked with all sorts of problems ranging from indiscipline to lack of finance. The two given problems have at times affected the running of university institutions to the extent they have been forced to close in the middle of a semester. Due to the problem of transport president Mutharika promised to donate buses to some colleges. However the press this month disclosed that what seemed to have been a donation is not a donation at all. Reports have revealed that the colleges are the ones paying for the buses and not government. There have been contradicting reports over the payment for the buses. The press has revealed that the Polytechnic has had its monthly funding trimmed from K80 million to K45 because of the donation. The college's administration has attributed the cut in the budget to the buses as they are claiming it is a normal procedure.

The education sector has of late faced accusations from various sections of the society due to the problems it has been facing. It seems the sector never is far from controversy as observed by the many scandals it is surrounded with. Against this background the press disclosed that education minister Kate Kainja announced that it was a shame that the ministry is among the top ministries associated with corruption. There is no doubt that this is indeed the situation on the ground as some people who were involved have cases in court. Some experts have noted that with so much corruption it becomes a hindrance in improving education standards.

Some communities involve volunteer teachers as one way of reducing the problem of shortage of teachers. Some of these teachers are posted to the rural areas to help the few teachers that are already there. Recent press reports have disclosed that the ministry responsible admitted to have ignored these teachers. The ministry revealed that such teachers could contribute handsomely to the problems of low standards of education. The ministry disclosed that it is not in their policy to have such teacher. On the other hand they state that it was better to have teachers who are not skilled than having no teachers at all. It all calls for immediate action so that the teachers gain more knowledge and are enabled to serve better.

It seems the ministry of education is never short of problems as observed by this month's press reports. Students at the Mzuzu University had a strike over shortage of learning equipment. Among other things the Information and Communication Technology department could not go on with their classes because of shortage of computers. Despite having ample time to sort out the problem the university has not yet acquired enough computers. This has wasted time to the students who could have covered some of the required syllabuses.

Having suffered criticism from almost all quarters of the society, the ministry of health in the month under review came up with new strategies to save its image. The press disclosed that the ministry of health has given the responsibility of looking after the Central Medical stores to a foreign company. A United States of America consultant firm called Glocom has been chosen to look after the affairs of the medical stores. The company will among other things computerise the system and drug importation. This comes after a series of accusation from all sectors of the society over the mismanagement of medical supplies. Some months ago the ministry was caught off guard when a businessman called Hassan Goba was caught with drugs worth over K50 million. The coming in of such a foreign company is a commendable move that will at least rest people's minds over the increasing

The health sector in the country is feeling the pinch of shortages of staff especially midwives. Press reports have disclosed that among other medical personnel the midwives are the ones who are overworked. Statistics show that there are only 4000 midwives in the country who have to look after a population of 2.7 million childbearing women. With such figures the workload for midwives becomes too much as some face very difficult situations. Against this background the ministry of health announced that it has plans to train every nurse as a midwife.

Still on the same issue of nurses press reports mention that some nurses fail to do their work efficiently because they stay very far away from hospitals. It becomes very difficult to attend to the sick anytime of the day, as most of them cannot reach the hospitals in good time. Bearing this problem in mind the ministry disclosed that it has sourced funding for building houses for the nurses. The houses are going to be built close to the hospitals so that the nurses live within easy reach.

Press reports have shown that although Malawians are dying in large numbers, some of the diseases they are suffering are curable. One reason is that there is no care in some hospitals and this has led to numerous deaths that could have been avoided. Lack of equipment in our hospitals has also contributed to poor care given to patients. In addition the shortage of drugs that the health sector is currently facing has also contributed greatly to luck of care in hospitals.

As the media in the month disclosed Malawi's under five mortality rates is still very high. Despite all the campaigns to reduce the mortality rate in the country, the rate is still very high. With such a background some stakeholders have advised government to draw plans to make sure that children survive the first five years of life. Press reports have shown that with government's goodwill there might be instant result in the fight against child mortality.

Environmentalists this month expressed concern over the state of the Lilongwe River. The recent Operation Dongosolo saw the relocation of vendors to their flea market near Lilongwe River. As the just relocated vendors are settling down reports show that there are problems of sanitation. Among other things there is a shortage of toilets and some people have resorted to dispose waste matters in the river. Some use the river for bathing and cleaning their clothes. Now there are fears of contaminating the river thereby degrading the environment.

The press disclosed that Malawians are reaping the fruit of the habit of over- fishing. It is reported that Malawi's fish stocks are decreasing as people continue to over-fish without minding the levels of fish as they search for economic gains. The levels of fish have fallen by 20% between 1988 and 1992. If this was the situation some years ago the situation is worse now considering the increase in population in recent years. Experts warn that if the trend continues Malawi might completely lose some rare species.

The month also brought some worries to the Ministry of Information of Tourism over the issue of poaching. Reports have shown that because of poverty some people have resorted to find means of getting some cash by killing game unnecessarily. Despite knowing the need to preserve animals people seem to ignore and kill game mercilessly. Against this background the ministry condemned these acts in strongest terms. If the trend does not stop Malawi is on the verge of losing some of its prestigious species of animals.

Despite the continued cases of deforestation reported in recent times, the press reports on a positive note that the country has managed to plant more trees this year. In recognition of wanton cutting down of trees and its consequences stakeholders have planted more trees than ever to replace the ones that have been cut down. Press reports have disclosed that the country planted 45 million trees. The figure is higher than last year. If all the 45 million trees are looked after, problems of deforestation could come to an end.

Malawi has of late experienced some floods in areas that have never had such a problem before. The situation is the same in some other African countries. Some environmental experts have noted that the recent floods could be linked to climate change. Recently countries have experienced longer wet seasons unlike in the past. On the other hand some countries have witnessed changes in the rainfall that have resulted in food shortages. According to the experts this could be a result of a change in climate that the countries are experiencing.

As women are fighting for recognition in all the sectors of the society, press reports have revealed that some are still being sidelined. Although some women have the same qualifications as men employers find it very hard to give such staff equal salaries. The revelation that despite the hard work that some female accountants do they receive far less as compared to their male counterparts. This is very disturbing. It is very unfair to note that some professions still do not recognise female staff efforts. It would be recommendable if such a trend of events is looked into and stopped.

Much as people would want to have more women in decision-making positions it seems some people are always ready to frustrate such efforts. Despite the fact that women who deserve such positions work hard when nominated, reports show that some men would want to see government's efforts collapse. Some women who deserve such positions have faced tough opposition from both sexes. A recent example is that of Matilda Katopola the Clerk of Parliament who has faced tough opposition for trying to reform some things at the National Assembly. Among other things some members of parliament have actually threatened to physically beat her up. In similar circumstances former Inspector General of Police Mrs Mary Damson Nangwale faced similar opposition. It would be wise to support such women who have worked very hard to attain their positions.

The press has revealed that although the Domestic Violence Bill was passed in the last sitting of parliament it alone cannot end domestic violence. Having the law is one thing and applying it is another altogether. It will depend on how the people responsible for enforcing the law discharge their duties. These sentiments have been expressed after observers noticed that despite having rights expressed in the constitution people still violate them. At the same time it is very difficult to believe that people will stop violating each other's rights by the mere existence of the constitution. There is need to have laws that can be enforced and people should be brought to book when they violate such laws. Malawi urgently needs a police force that is resistant to corruption and this is very much overdue when you realize the country has been a republic since 1966.

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