The Irish government has reaffirmed its commitment towards the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Malawi specifically in Ntcheu and Balaka districts.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish Embassy Kate Brady disclosed this on Tuesday when she made a courtesy call at Ntcheu District Commissioner’s office.
Irish Ambassador to Malawi Seamus O’Grady
Brady said the Irish government has set aside 15.9 million Euros to support the Programme for the next four years.
“The funds to support the Social Cash Transfer Programme will come from the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTS) through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC),” said Brady.
Brady further stated on the need for more consumptive support to help cushion the households amidst crises like inflation and cyclones.
On his part, Ntcheu District Commissioner George Ngaiyaye said he was grateful with the Irish support towards the SCT Programme which has improved many livelihoods in the rural communities.
The Programme is being implemented in all the Traditional Authorities in the district, currently benefitting a total of 14,337 ultra poor house holds.
President of Muvi wa Chilungamo Revolutionary Party (MRP) Bantu Saunders Jumah, has urged all Revolutionaries that time is now to get deep and memorize the sacred pamphlet “MRP Manifesto” and become disciples to spread the same to all the people for them to see the need to be unchained and freed.
Jumah said MRP calendar now begins of registering members who want to join the Revolution, creating structures and satellites across the country so that this “Blanket of Revolution” covers the whole country reminding them the secretive Bible verse which says “Fear is a sin”.
He said Revolution and fear are sworn enemies believing that all comrades in MRP are Revolutionaries and their enemy number one is fear saying the journey has now begun, it is time for Exodus as they have just completed the first chapter of Genesis.
Jumah
In an internal memorandum to all Revolutionaries from bottom to top, Jumah has advised them that this is the time to dust themselves up, rise from the ashes, pick up the strength and go out to meet 20 million citizens and Revolutionize their minds to move out from the comfort of poverty manufactured for them by political thieves to now say “Enough is Enough”.
Jumah said he is aware that some of them may be scared, be under pressure, feel less strong to combat and win this battle, assuring them that by joining the Revolution and choose not to follow the Elite politics of corruption, tribalism, regionalism, nepotism, favoritism, and self-centred enrichment, they are true Revolutionaries.
He said all must know and be aware that political thieves are living in comfort zone because they know that their people are chained towards their Elite-composed by corruption which is the people’s money (taxes).
The MRP President said the laws of Malawi have now opened the door for them, the registration of MRP does not mean enjoyment, laxity, and comfort, saying the registration has permitted them to get into Genesis of true and total liberation of the nation.
“It is the beginning of a tough journey, a rough struggle to unchain not only politicians and their allies but to unchain their people that have been addicted to believe that poverty is a creation by God,” reads part of an internal memo.
He said the task of unchaining the Mindset of the people to believing and depending on political thieves for their survival and livelihoods is very huge until the people come to understand that they are chained, they will not succeed with this Revolution.
Jumah said this job of unchaining the 20 million plus people to be unchaining the Elites who are political thieves won’t be won easily or simple saying it requires true Revolutionary Mindset Change which is MRP’s cornerstone number two in their set up.
He said Malawians can no longer be puppets of thieves in political suits, this is the time for them to unchain themselves and freed themselves and demand their taxes to good and better use that reflects on them
The concerned Migoza family members say they are disappointed with the conduct being demonstrated by Area 3 Lilongwe Police Station through its Officer-in-Charge over mysterious death of Mr. Emmerson Migoza who died on 7th January, 2024 following police officers’ assault that took place on 25th December, 2023.
The family says the conduct of police officers at Area 3 Police Station is very suspicious and likely to create public distrust to the Malawi Police Service (MPS) by the general public claiming that police officers are playing Daley Tactic Game on the matter.
They say the Daley Tactic Game will not only delay the timely burial of late Emmerson Migoza’s body but also intends to prevent justice on this matter demanding to see justice being prevailed in this matter for the truth to prevail.
Writing in a statement, the Migoza family say Mr. Emmerson Migoza who used to work as a Security Guard at Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) Secretariat in Lilongwe was confirmed dead by Doctors at Kamuzu Central Hospital in the early hours of Sunday, 7th January, 2024 following his release from the police cell of Area 3 police station on 26th December, 2023.
The family say on 25th December, 2023 in the afternoon, Mr. Migoza (late) was cycling to work passing through the newly constructed Lilongwe Bridge when he was confronted by civilian police officers from Area 3 police station who were in their official vehicle-Land Cruiser.
The officers accused Migoza of drunkenness which provoked him as he does not drink alcohol, the intense argument erupted between him and a group of police officers who beat him severely and throw him into their vehicle together with his Bicycle, arrested and was released on police bail conditions the following day, Tuesday, 26th December, 2023.
Since then, Mr. Migoza had been complaining of severely head pains as a result of the assault he suffered while in police custody, saying on 3rd January, 2024 Head scanning was done at Kamuzu central hospital and was given a 3- day bed rest.
On Friday,5th January, 2024 while at his home at Kauma-in Area 12, Migoza’s condition severely deteriorated and was rushed to KCH where he was admitted and the same day, he was discharged on 6th January, 2024.
“In the early hours of Sunday, 7th January, 2024 he was rushed again to KCH where Doctors pronounced him DEAD on arrival,” reads the statement in part.
The family say surprisingly, upon receiving the death news, Lilongwe Police Station through its Officer-in-Charge proposed the name of a Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Dzamalala to carry out the postmortem and offered to pay all related costs, but the family and TUM Secretariat have opted for another certified Pathologist of their own choice.
Lilongwe Police Station is still insisting the involvement of Pathologist Dr. Dzamalala, the Migoza family has claimed that it is disheartening to learn that till now, police officers involved in the death of late Emmerson Migoza have not been arrested despite the strong suspicion that they played a role in his death.
Kasungu Civil Society Network has condemned the brutal killing of a police officer in the district, describing it as backward and cowardly conduct which has no room in a democracy.
On 30 December, a mob at Mpasazi Scheme in Traditional Authority Mnyanja in Kasungu brutally murdered Sub-Inspector Cosmas Beseni of Chatoloma Police Unit with a Panga knife and other objects, leaving him in a pool of blood.
Beseni was on duty, assigned to ensure that peace and order prevail at the scheme where there were conflicts related to land matters.
Braxton Banda
Speaking Wednesday in an interview , the network’s chairperson Braxton Banda said what happened at Mpasazi is high grade barbarism and lawlessness which should not be happening in an era of human rights.
Banda said: “We condemn the killing of Sub-Inspector Beseni in strongest terms. It is a shameful and unfortunate incident that we cannot condone.
“We call upon the law enforcers to be on top of their job and see to it that investigations are speedy and that all suspects are brought to face the law in court.”
According to Banda, Kasungu district is entrapped in many land wrangles which he said can best be handled through dialogue.
“The best approach to deal with the many land issues in the district is to encourage dialogue and engagement. Anything outside the laid procedures for handling complaints is utter lawlessness which we also condemn.
“By taking the law in our own hands, we are not solving any problem. By doing that, we are creating more trouble for ourselves. Let the aggrieved parties seek court redress if there are misunderstandings or still, they can report to community policing structures available in their community,” he said.
Asked if there have been any arrests made so far, Public Relations Officer for Central East Police Region, Esther Mkwanda, said the police will make a statement once the investigations are completed.
National Police publicist Peter Kalaya said the law will take its course on the people involved in the incident.
Finance and Economic Planning Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda says the President Chakwera led government is focusing on expanding economic activities in order to help recover, develop and protect the economy.
Speaking at a pre – budget meeting in Lilongwe on Wednesday 10th January 2024, Chithyola Banda explained that to develop Malawi’s economy that is currently reeling from the effects of Covid 19, Russia – Ukraine war, adverse weather shocks and rising costs of living, government has embarked fully on supporting the private sector to venture into mega farms through the Malawi Agricultural, Industrial Investment Cooperation to produce for both local and export markets.
Chithyola Banda
The minister added that government is also focused to diversify the economy through carbon markets trading, diaspora engagement and Golden Visa Programme as well as quantifying our natural minerals for investment.
Commenting on inflation, Chithyola said government anticipate the development to slowly decline in 2024 with the end period and annual average inflation rates projected at 17.4 percent and 27.1 percent respectively.
“I want to assure you that we will do our best to fully recover from the shocks the Country experienced in 2022 and 2023,” he emphasized.
Chithyola said the country’s economy performed better in 2023 with an estimated GDP growth of 1.5 percent as compared to a growth of 0.9 percent registered in 2022.
“Moving forward, we expect a gradual economic recovery with a growth of 3.2 percent in 2024 on account of the improvements in the availability of foreign exchange and investments made in the agriculture sector,” he said.
