MALAWI PRESS REVIEW November 2005
From Centre For Social Concern (see our house)

PREVIEW

The press have commented a great deal on the never-ending wrangles involving the opposition political parties and the government. A lot of time is being wasted on point accusing fingers at one another other than finding solutions to the enmities between them. Again there was a lot of talk on the arrests of some Members of Parliament with the president casually saying it was a matter of tit for tat games.

The economy news in the month brought some good news on the International Monetary Fund IMF pledge to give Malawi budgetary support next year. Malawians have welcomed this exciting news, which shows that the IMF is impressed with the current government's fiscal discipline. This announcement comes a year after the IMF had resumed aid to Malawi.

The hunger situation in Malawi has worsened according to food security reports. It raises a question as to whether Malawi will ever be a food secure nation. The food shortage situation has now become an annual occurrence, with people starving in areas like Salima.

On social and cultural life the practice of property grabbing seems to have increased. The sad thing is that some people in authority are now misusing their powers by taking away what does not legally belong to them.

The education sector seems to have found a something promising in solving one of its major problems. Having been haunted by dwindling standards of education the Ministry responsible feels the introduction of mother tongue language in teaching primary school pupils will make lessons more interesting and easy to understand. In the end pupils will have a good foundation as they face some new languages introduced to them at a later stage.

Unlike the education area that seems to light some light at the end of the tunnel, the health ministry appears to have found no means of stopping the brain drain that has caused serious shortages of personnel.

Environmentalists have advised government to look more seriously on deforestation. Evidence has shown that not much effort has been done to reduce charcoal vending a business that has caused some mountains to look bare.

On gender there appointment although some gender activists have advocated for 16 days of Activism cases of gender based violence are still on the increase with more and more women suffering silently.

POLITICS

Political analysts have strongly advised for a cease fire on the verbal wars between the Vice President Dr Cassim Chilumpha and his boss Dr Bingu wa Mutharika. However some have questioned the timing of the wrangle at time Malawi needs to find solutions to its persisting food shortage. Chilumpha who is in government has recently shamed his own government by making bad remarks about it to the media. Some experts have recommended that the sooner better two top most citizens resolve their misunderstandings the better. With this background it seems Mutharika is dealing with two wars one with the opposition and the Vice President.

In the first part of the month under review Chilumpha made bad remarks about the government that he is working for at Eid Mubarak celebrations in Zomba. Such remarks and his persistent absence from cabinet meetings have caused a stir among other ministers who feel Chilumpha should not be paid his salary. To add to this recently government trimmed his security personnel. This all proves that there is indeed sour taste in his relationship with government. His sour relationship with government has also seen his corruption scandals resurfacing. Reports have disclosed that Chilumpha now faces 3 counts of corruption and others have criticised government for victimising the VP because of his alignment with the United Democratic Front UDF.

Some political commentators have condemned government's continued arrests of opposition members of parliament. Among the observers the civil society have questioned the arresting of only opposition members when other people in the president's party and in government have cases to answer. Just as the president promised zero tolerance to corruption, people's expectations are still high on his utterances. But if people see that the opposite is what is happening they lose hope. Again people can easily lose trust in a person who promises to do one thing but does the opposite.

Bingu's recent trips to the Northern Region have given hope to the president's party the Democratic Progressive Party DPP. It seems with the defections of some opposition Members of Parliament to the DPP has boosted the party's numbers in parliament. Mutharika who faced tough opposition in the last sitting of parliament is now fighting back the impeachment saga by the recent addition of MPs to his party. The trip has also given hope to the man who has been haunted by the impeachment threats. Former president Dr Kamuzu Banda faced the same situation in 1964 against the then so called ex ministers and came back from near defeat and managed to gain popularity once more just as Bingu at the moment. The fact that some MPs have joined the party has at least strengthening his numbers in parliament.

Political analysts have condemned president Bingu's comment on the arrests of UDF MPs Maxwell Milanzi and Lucius Banda. Mutharika who said the arrests were tit for tat games has been criticised .The analysts have noted that such talk will only make the arrests lose credibility, as some people will think they are politically motivated. Others have noted that the arrests are in one way as a punishment to the two who were in the forefront in the impeachment motion. Others have said that it is wrong for the president to target just these two just because they want to impeach him.

ECONOMY

Early in the month of November the press highlighted some shocking news on the amount of money that parliament spent in its last sitting. The revelation that parliament blew K 56 million met a lot of mixed reactions from the public. Some experts questioned why such a huge amount could be spent on allowances and accommodation for MPs while many people are facing acute food shortages in villages. Indeed spending such an amount is contrary to people's expectations at a time when Malawi needs to improve its fiscal discipline. As more than 5 million people are expected to face a food shortage people would have expected parliament to be serious in their conduct and save money at the same time.

Economic experts have noted that the coming in of some Foreign Direct Investments FDIs is not benefiting the growth of our economy. Others have argued that while the new FDIs are creating employment to the locals, almost all foreign shops have created a stiffer competition to the local investors and their products. It has been noted that almost all the foreign investors have specialised in dealing with imported goods as opposed to locally produced merchandise. While some consumers have welcomed the South African retail shop "Game Store" to Malawi, the local business community have indicated that this new development will put their business at risk. This will be a result of lower prices the shop will be offering compared to the higher prices charged

Some economic watchdogs have advised government to suspend trade liberalisation policy as it has led to free trade but unfair trade. The Malawi Economic Justice Network MEJN has noted that trade liberalisation policy has only benefited the north than the south. For instance MEJN has revealed that trade liberalisation has increased prices of farm inputs in many developing countries that depend on agricultural products as their exports to the North. It has therefore been observed that with the high agricultural input prices, the income levels for the poor farmers in most developing countries have been significantly reduced. As some farmers cannot afford to buy such expensive agricultural inputs, the agricultural output has been persistently low leading to frequent food insecurities and poverty. On macro level, trade liberalisation has exposed the local markets and industries to stiff competition leading to unfair global trading system between the north and south. It has also been observed that trade liberalisation led to the collapse and closure of many local companies in developing countries due competition. In the final analysis civil societies are advocating for fair trade between the rich and poor countries through reintroduction of restrictions on some selected imports.

During the month under review the body that regulates the prices of fuel, Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) announced yet another adjustment in the price of fuel. The prices that were hiked in the month August were again raised upwards once more this month. Such fuel price hikes spell doom for a poor villager who has to add a few more tambalas when buying paraffin. On the other hand people in urban areas should brace themselves with some changes in commodities prices. Because of the fuel price increases transporters will also be affected and as such we should expect maize price hikes. Already reports have shown that people living in urban areas are now parting ways with a lot of money when buying their basic food items. According to a study by the Centre for Social Concern CFSC, people living in urban areas are spending a lot of their money on food items. Due to the shortage of maize a few that have the grain are selling it at very higher prices. The findings by the Centre's Basic Needs basket clearly show that a good number of people who are earning less than K16000.00 could not meet their basic needs in the month of October.

Despite the above economic hardships that many Malawians are experiencing, one of the well known international financial institution, International Monetary Fund (IMF) is quite impressed with Malawi's economic performance since the resumption of the new Poverty Reduction Growth Facility PRGF. The commendable achievement has come at the right time when the country is striving to regain its economic glory by attracting more donor support from such similar institutions and other bilateral donors. The IMF has promised Malawi budgetary support next year to the tune of $7 million. It is pleasing to note that the institution that only resumed aid to Malawi last year has given the country hope of donor confidence with its latest announcement. However some economic experts have advised government to maintain its fiscal discipline through reduction of presidential trips outside the country. This advice comes amid reports that some international organisations had warned the Mutharika administration to avoid unnecessary foreign trips.

At the end of the month Afrodad with the cooperation of the Malawi Economic Justice Network published a report showing the impact the International Monetary Fund has in countries like Malawi. The report exposes some of the conditionalities which come with Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) and its accompanying Poverty Reduction Growth Facilities(PRGFs). This is seen as a continuity of the old Structural Adjustment Programmes which have been evaluated as weakening rather than strengthening our economy. On this issue government parted ways with civil society critique and sided with the IMF.

FOOD SECURITY

Press reports have revealed that although some people, who made pledges to the Feed the Nation Fund, have not paid what they promised to give. Reports have indicated that some of the pledges that were in a form of foodstuffs have not been paid yet. The FNF that was launched with an aim of raising funds for buying food to the starving masses met a lot of resistance from the opposition political parties. . The press have disclosed that nearly K29 million pledged has not been honoured. Treasure for FNF Margaret Kubwalo announced that many people responded to the launch of FNF but their pledges have not been fulfilled. Government initiated FNF so that Malawians help one another in this time of hunger

Early this year reports on food security had shown that about 4.2 million are in dire need of food. But of late the situation has gone worse with more than 5 million people facing starvation. The situation has forced some international organisation like the European Union EU to give Malawi more food aid.

Reports that Malawi's truckloads of fertilizer is stuck in Beira in Mozambique are quite disturbing especially coming at this time when the commodity should have been around for farmers to buy in good time. The press revealed that government has no forex to pay the transporters and as such the truckloads cannot be released to come into the country. From last year's experience some farmers failed to access the commodity at the time they needed it most. Coupled with shortage of rains and fertilizers most farmers early this year did not have bumper yield a situation that has resulted to food shortage in many families.

The press have highlighted a continued shortage of maize in some ADMARC depots in the Country. Minister of Agriculture Uladi Mussa who toured some depots in the Northern and Central regions confirmed that indeed some grain markets that had no maize. On the other hand the National Food Reserve Agency NFRA announced that the maize shortage has not reached critical levels as the organisation had maize to last There have been contradicting reports on the maize situation in Malawi some reports have shown that there is still some maize in ADMARC depots that Malawians can access easily. On several occasion government has assured people that it has acquired a lot of maize that was on its way to Malawi for people to buy. On the contrary other press reports have disclosed that some ADMARC depots do not have maize supplies. Such depots include Zingwangwa and Lirangwe in Blantyre. Observers have noted that the maize shortage in the grain markets has come about because of the delay in the importation of the grain.

CIVIL SOCIETY AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS

The month under review saw some civil society organisations attacking the electoral body over the choice of a foreign organisation to conduct civic and voter education in the December bye-elections. The local Non Governmental Organisations felt they are capable of doing the exercise and as such see no reason why the Malawi Electoral Commission MEC should choose National Initiative for Civic Education NICE to do the job. The grieved parties believe MEC should have empowered them by giving them the job.

The press have disclosed that some more religious leaders have aired their views on the impeachment of the president. Bishop Matoga, who is president of Charismatic and Pentecostal Association of Malawi (Chapel), has chosen to differ with Reverend Daniel Gunya of the Blantyre Synod of the C.C.A.P church who had said he was for the impeachment of president Mutharika. On the contrary reverend Matoga has advised the country against impeaching a God given leader. Matoga feels because Malawians were praying to God for a leader before the elections and Mutharika was the answer God gave. Mutharika being the sitting president is the answer to people's prayers and as such should not be impeached.

In the month the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) spoke strongly against mob justice. This came amid concerns that some residents in Area 36 in Lilongwe had taken the law in their hands by avenging the death of a form three boy who had been killed. The residents burnt houses of the family that had killed the young man for being in love with their daughter. Against this background the human rights organisation noted that it is not justifiable for the residents to act in such a way but at the same time condemned the murder of the boy. While it was understood that the people were aggrieved but the action they took should be discouraged at all times to avoid more blood shed.

Some civil society organisations have accused the Anti Corruption Bureau ACB of being bias. The organisations have noted with great concern that ACB is only pursuing matters that involve the opposition. ACB a body that fights against corruption is accused of turning a blind eye on corrupt practices involving the some people who are close to government. According to the organisations the body should be impartial and should act with the same speed when people from all walks of life are involved in corruption scandals.

The Roman Catholic Church in Malawi in the month buried Right Reverend Mathews Chimole at Likuni Parish cemetery in Lilongwe. Bishop Chimole, who died at the age of 89, was ordained a priest in 1948 and has been a bishop for 35 years. He will be remembered as a co-author of the 1992 pastoral letter that brought change from one party state to multiparty politics. President Bingu wa Mutharika who attended the burial ceremony described late Chimole as a role model.

 

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

Reports on social and cultural life have shown that a good number of citizens in Malawi have no knowledge on their rights as human beings. The press have noted that this is the case because of high illiteracy levels among people. Therefore although some human rights organisations are fighting for such rights it has become difficult to make the masses understand the concept. While the work of the organisations is commendable, but a lot more work needs to be done to make sure such people are fully aware of their rights.

Issues of child labour in the month under review enjoyed wide press coverage unlike the previous months. Media reports highlighted that despite warnings from different quarters, people are still employing very young children as domestic workers. The ages of school going children are the ones that are badly hit by the child labour. The trend shows that there are a lot of children who are orphans and resort to work at such tender ages. Against this background some people have taken advantage of this situation, as they would want to spend less in paying their workers. However reports have shown that the practice is gaining because people do not get stiffer penalties when they are involved in child labour. Government has recently commended the private sector for taking an upper hand in campaigning against child labour.

Just like last month when people we treat as leaders and role models were involved in property grabbing, this month's reports have revealed yet another case. This time around it's a member of parliament who is reported to have been involved in property grabbing of his late brother's deceased estate. While one would expect such high profile people to lead by example, the opposite has been proved to be true. This behaviour amongst some leaders, who misuse their powers, is becoming a daily occurrence because there seems to be no laws that put such people to task. Isn't it time government acted on the untouchables to save the poor from such actions?

After the issue of legalising homosexuality came out in the press some months ago, the saga has resurfaced. This time around it is not a human rights organisation that is asking government to legalise same sex relationships but the people involved themselves. The people claim to be homosexuals based in South Africa. Media reports have disclosed that a group called Lesbians and Gay movement of Malawi LGMM has lobbied parliament to amend Section 153 and 156 of the penal code. The section according to the group members discriminates against homosexuals. With this background the members are asking parliament through the Legal Affairs Committee to table a Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill to amend the bill.

The hunger situation has affected almost each and every aspect of life in Malawi. To begin with the economy has suffered greatly with the imports of extra food resulting in shortages of forex. In the Health sector it is feared, cholera cases are going to be on the increase because of starvation. On people's social and cultural life the food shortage has forced some women to go into prostitution. Not only do such women lack food but are also hit by poverty. With this in mind some people take advantage of females in this situation by involving them in sex trafficking. Reports have shown that more and more women are falling into women trafficking because of poverty.

 

EDUCATION

Reports on social and cultural life have shown that a good number of citizens in Malawi have no knowledge on their rights as human beings. The press have noted that this is the case because of high illiteracy levels among people. Therefore although some human rights organisations are fighting for such rights it has become difficult to make the masses understand the concept. While the work of the organisations is commendable, but a lot more work needs to be done to make sure such people are fully aware of their rights.

Issues of child labour in the month under review enjoyed wide press coverage unlike the previous months. Media reports highlighted that despite warnings from different quarters, people are still employing very young children as domestic workers. The ages of school going children are the ones that are badly hit by the child labour. The trend shows that there are a lot of children who are orphans and resort to work at such tender ages. Against this background some people have taken advantage of this situation, as they would want to spend less in paying their workers. However reports have shown that the practice is gaining because people do not get stiffer penalties when they are involved in child labour. Government has recently commended the private sector for taking an upper hand in campaigning against child labour.

Just like last month when people we treat as leaders and role models were involved in property grabbing, this month's reports have revealed yet another case. This time around it's a member of parliament who is reported to have been involved in property grabbing of his late brother's deceased estate. While one would expect such high profile people to lead by example, the opposite has been proved to be true. This behaviour amongst some leaders, who misuse their powers, is becoming a daily occurrence because there seems to be no laws that put such people to task. Isn't it time government acted on the untouchables to save the poor from such actions?

After the issue of legalising homosexuality came out in the press some months ago, the saga has resurfaced. This time around it is not a human rights organisation that is asking government to legalise same sex relationships but the people involved themselves. The people claim to be homosexuals based in South Africa. Media reports have disclosed that a group called Lesbians and Gay movement of Malawi LGMM has lobbied parliament to amend Section 153 and 156 of the penal code. The section according to the group members discriminates against homosexuals. With this background the members are asking parliament through the Legal Affairs Committee to table a Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill to amend the bill.

The hunger situation has affected almost each and every aspect of life in Malawi. To begin with the economy has suffered greatly with the imports of extra food resulting in shortages of forex. In the Health sector it is feared, cholera cases are going to be on the increase because of starvation. On people's social and cultural life the food shortage has forced some women to go into prostitution. Not only do such women lack food but are also hit by poverty. With this in mind some people take advantage of females in this situation by involving them in sex trafficking. Reports have shown that more and more women are falling into women trafficking because of poverty.

 

HEALTH

With many news cases of Tuberculosis TB detected the press in the month under review have indicated that there are more TB cases than detected. This statement comes amid reports that vendors who sell drugs receive people. The media disclosed that on several occasions people visit illegal drug dealers where they purchase TB drugs. This only shows that more people are suffering from the disease than the health sector knows. The press have also warned that a continued sell of illegal TB drugs is not only hazardous to health but it may also enhance resistance. There is fear that if people use these illegal TB drugs for quite along time there bodies will be resistant to the drug. Such a scenario calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to do away with illegal vending of the drugs.

In the month under review the press disclosed that students at the Malawi College of Health Sciences had the shock of their lives when a condom was found in their food. Reports had shown that one of the students swallowed a plastic thing and upon looking in his plate there were other pieces of condoms in the food. The situation annoyed the students who at first demanded that all the 13 cooks at the college be sacked. Recent reports have disclosed that the college was forced to close because of the college because of the same issue.

Press reports have revealed that as the health sector continues to face the brain drain the Psychiatrics department has also felt the pinch. The Ministry of Health in the month announced that there is a shortage of psychiatrics in its mental hospitals. With additional cases of mental problems the Ministry needs to have more Psychiatrics. On the same note the reports disclosed that talks on solving the brain drain ended with no consensus on solution to problem. As others felt Malawi's health personnel can still remain in government hospitals if the salaries are raised and working conditions improved. On the other hand some felt that Malawi health person el in other countries should be deported back here. However no solution was reached and the problem continues.

As the whole world is faced with the HIV/Aids problem press reports have revealed that Malawi is leading in HIV/AIDS deaths among 5 SADC member states. Statistics from the National Aids Council NAC have shown that since 1985 when cases of HIV/AIDS were first detected 720,768 people have died to of Aids related diseases however the situation in the other 4 African countries is not the same as the figures are on the lower side. For instance a UNAIDS report estimates that in Namibia its 16,000 and 370.000 for South Africans. The situation is also quiet different in Mozambique as UNAIDS estimates that 110,000. Although many messages about the pandemic are said it seems there is a lot that needs to be done in behavioural change. Perhaps a concerted effort in finding a new approach in disseminating the messages should be put in place.

ENVIRONMENT

Reports in on the environment have shown that the country's natural resources continue to degrade. In the middle of grave environmental degradation experts advised that it is everybody's responsibility. They have noted that if the job is only left to environmentalists it will take a lot of time to yield results. Therefore the inclusion of all stakeholders in the fight against environmental degradation will among other things teach people to be extra careful in dealing with things that involve the environment.

Weather experts have announced that we should expect good rains and will still come in good time. This announcement ahs come at a time some areas have not received any rainfall. Malawi, which is a farming nation, relies on the rainfall pattern. Such announcements were also made last year but the opposite proved to be true as many areas faced a dry spell. This could also be regarded as one of the reasons why Malawians are facing a food shortage. Although some areas received some rainfall it has of now stopped forcing some farmers to go ahead planting their maize.

The month saw an improvement in the coverage of environmental issues. Reports have shown that the conflict between human beings and wild life has recently gone up because of people increasing population density. With many people who are jobless and are rocking in poverty they resort to vandalising game reserve fence. The press have disclosed that such tendencies enable wild life to leave their premises and hurt human beings. Reports have clearly shown that at times animals damage people's crops and property. Perhaps there is need for more civic education to people living closer to the national parks.

The press have revealed that Malawians need to think seriously about the wanton cutting down of trees. The advice comes after evidence has shown that many mountains are bare because of deforestation. A group of concerned NGOs noted that the current government has not done much to stop the cutting down of trees recklessly and this trend has resulted in bare mountains. The group mentioned Soche Mountain as one of the affected places. They argue that because government and parliament have put in their efforts to stop charcoal sellers from the practice the result has been increased vendors of charcoal. With this background the group is asking government to declare Malawi a state of disaster on forest and environmental destruction. The meeting also noted that there is poor waste management among Malawians. This has resulted to highly polluted cities as people burn the things they dispose anyhow.

 

GENDER

Gender reports in the month of November have revealed that some women are prone to contract HIV/AIDS because of gender-based violence. It is reported that gender based violence has contributed to high cases of maternal deaths among some women and girls. Because some women do not have a chance to say no to a husband's demands, the result has always been infections on part of a woman. Another factor is that women and girls are culturally taught to be submissive to their husbands and as such cannot leave the homes if they are mistreated.

Just when people thought that a woman could only live a financially stable life with the help from a man, some women in Mangochi have proved them wrong. Women in the lakeshore district have shown that women can equally do the work that men do and earn a lot of money to support their families. Reports have shown that the women have finally decided to utilise the Lake Malawi waters by fishing on their own. Some women who were previously looked down upon have now taken fishing a job that has always been a male dominated. These women are role models to other women in the country who have resources but do not utilise them. The Mangochi women are now independent women as they sell their fish and earn themselves money.

Reports have shown that despite the efforts the Non Governmental Organisations NGOs are putting in fighting gender-based violence the battles between men and women continue. Although a good number of NGOs have involved themselves in this job, cases of wife battering, marital rape continue to dominate in some homes. As the NGO s are devoting their energies on the gender based violence, it seems another approach on the message perhaps needs to be taken. According to some traditional leaders. With other unreported cases of gender based violence there is need for more concerted efforts if the practice is to be stopped completely.

Press reports have disclosed that 4 Malawian women have been nominated for a Nobel peace prize for 1000 women. Having 4 women from this country is an indication that Malawian women' s works is realised in the world. The prize rewards women who have played a significant role in uplifting the livelihoods of fellow women. Perhaps the nomination of these women for the 1000 Peace Women Nobel Prize will inspire others to take extra strides in helping fellow women.

Malawi being one of the poorest countries in the world has resulted in businesses that have put women and girls at risk. Media reports have disclosed that Malawi is continues to feature highly on sex trafficking. Reports have highlighted poverty and illiteracy as some of the main causes of sex trafficking among women and girls. It is the same poverty that has also fuelled some cultures like kupimbira where a father marries off his daughter to older men to repay debts. All these have subjected a woman to all sorts of evils that come with such practices. With this background there is need for a quick solution to all these problems if Malawi is to save its future leaders.