Senior Chief Kachindamoto of Dedza District has fired 16 chiefs under her jurisdiction for treating early marriages with kid’s gloves.
In an interview on Wednesday, Kachindamoto said some chiefs in the area are allowing young girls to enter early marriages instead of remaining in school; a development which is against bylaws the area put in place.
Kachindamoto has further called upon lawmakers to consider reviewing marriage age for girls from 18 to 21.
According to the chief, through Go Back to School Initiative which was established in the community, a number of girls have returned to school. She also said she managed to put to sleep other cultural practices which are dangerous to girls.
Meanwhile, District Coordinator for Malawi Girl Guide Association in Dedza, Mr. James Chisale, has said the association has trained some girls in the community to work as role models in a bid to impress upon young girls to remain in school.
In recent years, Senior Chief Kachindamoto has gained international recognisation for being a champion of anti early marriages for girls.
The historic elections petition case at the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe took a dramatic turn yesterday with the immediate past vice-president Saulos Chilima withdrawing all his 34 remaining witnesses.
The decision, coming after only four out of 38 witnesses have been paraded for Chilima, who is the first petitioner in the case, has attracted different views, with one legal pundit Justin Dzonzi describing it as a double-edged sword which may have advantages or disadvantages.
But one of lawyers representing Chilima, Chikosa Silungwe, who made the announcement about the withdrawal of the witnesses, said in an interview later that their case was premised on two pillars; irregularities and fraud.
He said having assessed their case, they were convinced that they have proved that correction fluid Tippex was used, fake documents and duplicates were used and presiding officers, in some instances, did not sign result sheets and log books, which was contrary to the law.
“It was the wish of the court to have an expedited trial, and we did not see why we should continue parading witnesses who will come to court and repeat same things other witnesses have said.
“It will be up to the second respondent, [Malawi Electoral Commission-MEC], to show that they managed the elections according to the law,” Silungwe said, adding there is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera, the second petitioner, to come to court and tell his story.
Tamando Chokotho, hired by MEC as lead lawyer, dismissed demands by lawyers for the first petitioner that it would be up to the electoral body to prove that it conducted the elections according to the law, arguing the burden of proof lies in them.
He said: “For us, we will show that they did not manage to prove allegations they raised. From the witnesses we cross-examined, no witness proved allegations of bribery, intimidation, [among others].
“From our cross-examination, and for those that have followed the case, they would agree with us we managed to discredit their evidence. Let’s see what happens, our position is we don’t comment on ongoing court issues in the media, but this was to answer their claim that they have proved their case.”
But Dzonzi in an interview said there are many reasons a petitioner may withdraw witnesses, including case assessment that the value of the expected testimony was going to be minimal.
He said: “As lawyers, they may have a strategy, and if they believe the story told so far, and evidence tendered, is enough to prove their case, they may decide so and hope for the best.
“They may also realise that the respondents were taking time with witnesses, and as they wanted an expedited hearing, they may decide to sacrifice part of their evidence for quick results.
“Or they may have realised that based on evidence available, the witnesses may face cross-examination that may damage their case. So as I said, there are advantages and disadvantages in every decision we make.”
The withdrawal of the witnesses compelled lawyers representing President Peter Mutharika, the first respondent, and MEC to demand costs from Chilima, arguing they invested in research and prepared for the case based on sworn statements the withdrawn witnesses filed.
Parties involved, Frank Mbeta for Mutharika and Chokotho for MEC, on one side, and Silungwe on the other, submitted to the court on why their clients should be paid costs or why they should not be ordered to pay costs.
Chokotho, during the court session that lasted a few minutes, said the respondents spent money travelling across all regions, conducting interviews with the withdrawn witnesses and prepared their cross-examination based on their sworn statements.
He further said the issue of the expedited trial was on both petitioners, arguing lawyers for the first petitioner would have considered [much earlier] that the number of witnesses [they decided to have] would delay the case.
“Counsel for first respondent are not disputing that the respondents have spent, and further considering that the second petitioner [MEC] is a State entity, taxpayers may be made to foot [this bill], it is not right that [MEC] should bear the costs on this,” Chokotho argued.
But Silungwe, in court, argued that since the withdrawal of the witness was made in the interest of saving time, which is also backed by Civil Procedures, costs be in the cause, meaning the issue of costs be decided at a later stage, be it along the way or at end of the case.
But Mbeta argued that since the sworn statements are being withdrawn, everything ended there and it was only appropriate at that stage for the court to order that the first petitioner be made to foot the costs.
“Everything ends now, and it is not proper that costs be in the cause. These statements will not be there when this case ends. We had to travel all over the country to rebut allegations those statements withdrawn made,” he said.
Chair of the five-judge panel, Healey Potani, before he adjourned the case to Tuesday next week, announced the court would make its ruling on the issue of costs at a later stage.
The court was ready to start hearing the second petitioner’s testimony, Chakwera, but the parties, with endorsement of the court, collectively agreed that the case be adjourned to Tuesday to give them ample time to prepare.
As the case was set to begin yesterday morning, Silungwe said they were ready to proceed, but on further review of the sworn statements of witnesses, the first petitioner had taken a position not to call them.
This meant closure of Chilima’s case, having paraded only four witnesses, of whom his UTM Party deputy director of elections Bright Kawaga was the last witness to testify on Wednesday.
Silungwe made the formal announcement of the withdrawal in the open court after the issue was already discussed in chamber.
Potani said the sworn statements of the withdrawn witnesses would not be used in court and were no longer part of the court record.
The petitioners contend that Mutharika “won a fraudulent May 21 2019 Presidential Election” fraught with irregularities, including alleged tampering with election results sheets with Tippex and want the court to nullify the results and order a re-run.
Escalating maize prices coupled with low prices of liquid milk could threaten the resilience of the industry, players have said.
In Thyolo, for instance, prices of maize husks have gone up by 75 percent to K7 000 per 50 kilogramme (kg) bag from an average of K4 000 while milk processors are buying a litre of milk at K175.
“The challenge that we are having is that because this is past rainy season, grass, which acts as the main feed for the cows, is in limited supply. And because maize did not do well this year here, maize stocks are also limited. Hence, farmers are using maize husks as an alternative supplement.
“But with the rising demand, we are afraid that prices may escalate further. Already, we are seeing some supplies from Mozambique on the market,” said Tione Ngata, one of the veterinary assistants based in Thyolo.
Malawi Milk Producers Association national director Herbert Chagona, in an interview on Thursday, said farmers are likely to lose out on income due to rising prices of a by-product of the staple grain.
He said the K175 which processors are paying for a litre does not cover production costs, adding that K300 could have been ideal.
The development comes in the wake of temporary closure of Suncrest Creameries Limited by the Department of Environmental Affairs on Wednesday, which according to the association collects more than 23 000 litres daily, which could translate to a potential loss of K4.5 million daily.
“The Milk Act stipulates that farmers cannot sell milk to towns and cities. Only processors are allowed to sell pasteurised milk.
“As a country, we should avoid to compromise on important issues which affect Malawians,” he said.
Treasury has also snubbed the sector’s proposal to introduce 25 percent excise tax on all milk powders and milk products to tame imports.
“Tax on imported milk would have assisted to control the influx of milk from other countries. Malawi is used as dumping place.
“In turn, influx of liquid into the country is affecting milk sales of our liquid milk produced by our farmers in the country. As a country, we need to have protective laws as control valves to balance up imports of dairy products. It is good to promote Best Buy Malawian in practice and not only on paper.”
Milk consumption in Malawi is estimated at 51.8 million litres per annum of all dairy products, with an estimated 57 million litres market potential per annum and 35 million litres annual production by over 12 000 small-scale farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Principal Secretary GrayNyandulePhiri in a brief interview before asking for a questionnaire said while the ministry acknowledges the challenges in the sector, what is most important is negotiations on the prices as the ministry just provides guidelines.
Ntopwa coach Trevor Kajawa believes rejuvenated midfielder Raquib ‘Lulu’ Milanzi will play a pivotal role tomorrow as they face leaders Be Forward Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre in the TNM Super League.
The former Wanderers’ star, who was out of active football for five years, made an incredible return to elite football action on Sunday.
He scored a brace after being featured in the last 20 minutes of the game to help the Amaghetto Kids secure a 3-2 comeback triumph over Mighty Tigers.
Following this fifth victory in 18 games, Ntopwa moved a place up to 13th on the 16-team log-table to with 17 points and they might move to 10th if they beat the Nomads.
“Milanzi has brought stability to the team, making it easier for us to attack.l He is a great inspiration to up-and-coming players,” he said.
“We know we have a tough assignment against Wanderers this Saturday [tomorrow], but with experienced players such as Milanzi, who played in both domestic and foreign leagues before, we know we will be a force to reckon with.”
Milanzi, whose contract as Airtel Top 8 ambassador has just expired, had stints with clubs such as Wanderers, Nyasa Big Bullets, Civil Sporting Club, Zimbabwe’s Caps United and Kenya’s Tusker FC before quitting active football in 2014.
However, the 33-year-old, who was top scorer in last weekend’s seven league games, said yesterday he is geared to make history as a player that still ticks in elite football after retiring from retirement.
“I would like to prove that experience matters most in the game of football. So as I enjoy the game, I would like to help my team get into the top-10 bracket and a win again Wanderers will be key to realising this dream,” he said.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira yesterday said they will be cautious in their approach to the game, knowing they are facing a tough side that bubbles with youthful energy and experience.
“Ntopwa is fighting to rise from the bottom of the table and is a team full of energy and experience. They will surprise us if we do not play our cards well.
“Therefore, we have left no stone unturned in our bid to win the game and remain at the summit of the log-table,” he said.
However, Mpinganjira said they have confidence in players such as leading scorer Babatunde Adepoju (14 goals), Francisco Madinga and Stanley Sanudi that they will ably overcome Ntopwa’s stubbornness. In other league games this afternoon, Civil Sporting Club hopes to move up to sixth as they host 10th placed Tigers at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe while ninth-positioned Karonga United wish to dislodge eighth-placed Moyale Barracks when they take on 12th placed Mzuni FC at home.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Dr William Susuwele Banda says Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a vital role in the success of important projects like the Malawi Education Sector Improvement Project (MESIP).
He made the remarks on Wednesday after he launched the MESIP website and the Civil Works Monitoring and Reporting system at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
Susuwele said the website will help in documentation purposes of the project, which is being implemented with a USD 44.9 Million funding from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) under supervision of the World Bank, to improve the equity and quality of primary education service delivery in the country.
Also he said it will help the project which is being implemented by MoEST in reaching out to more people in a go, including developmental partners.
“We need to document lessons and share them with relevant stakeholders including the general public for their sustainability and roll out to other schools.
“In addition, many development partners are also eager to learn from MESIP so that they can make informed decisions in terms of how they can help Malawi invest in the education of its citizens with a high level of efficiency,” said Susuwele.
The website is expected to carry information like what MESIP is all about, what it does, its interest areas, updates and activities and what the project can offer, and allow for social interactions between different stakeholders.
It is also expected to have a link to YouTube videos showcasing MESIP activities throughout the country. All these aim at bringing the project closer to the people by enhancing instant access to information about the project.
Susuwele on the other hand said the Civil Works Monitoring and Reporting System, which is a Smartphone-based system, will help in keeping close track of MESIP civil works especially those falling under MESIP Component 2.
The MESIP Component 2 is targeting the construction of 500 new classrooms, 300 latrine blocks, focusing mainly on girl’s sanitation needs and 150 water points in 8 most disadvantaged districts of Kasungu, Dedza, Lilongwe Rural West, Mzimba South, Thyolo, Mangochi, Machinga, and Chikwawa.
“The system will provide an effective mechanism that actively engages with contractors, service providers and public officials, thus; enabling them to rapidly respond to issues affecting project development and performance,” said Susuwele.
This reporting tool consists of two applications; a Mobile-based applications used by Clerk of Works to submit report data on civil work at school level and a Web-based Application for ministry officials and stakeholders to monitor and analyse the civil works at school level.
Dr Susuwele said the development of the two technologies hinges on the enabling policy environment that government has created through the existence of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy.
“It is therefore pleasing to note that as a Ministry, we are not lagging behind in the implementation of the ICT policy. “A full-fledged ICT Department is in place to support departments and sections in the Ministry to effectively employ Information Technology in the delivery of their services,” he said.
He subsequently commended the ICT team in the Department of E-Government under the Ministry of Information and communication Technologies for what he described as a job well done in terms of helping the development of the MESIP website.
In his remarks, secretary for MoEST Justin Saidi said he was delighted that the website is no longer a dream. He said this is part of a Communication Strategy developed by MESIP to help raise visibility of the project.
“The implementation of the strategy will involve a number of communication channels which include radio, television, newspapers, posters, leaflets and website, among others.
“On the other hand, the monitoring system will provide an effective mechanism that actively engages with contractors, service providers, and public officials enabling them to rapidly respond to issues affecting project performance,” said Saidi.
MESIP has four other components namely Component 1 which focuses on performance-based school improvement grants for improving promotion and retention, component 3 which focuses on improving learning outcomes, accountability, and cost effectiveness at school level.
Component 4 focuses on variable part/disbursement linked indicators and the fifth component focuses on project management, and sector program support and coordination.
MESIP also has an extension known as MESIP Extended after the Norwegian government pumped into the project an extra USD 5 million
