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‘Not well balanced’ Ken Zikhale critics Mid term budget

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The Director of Strategy for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) who is also the legislator for Nkhatabay South has torn to shreds the Mid budget that was delivered by the Minister of Finance in Parliament.

Taking his turn to review the budget, Zikhale gave thanks to the first Deputy Speaker before opening his account which argued that the budget delivered by the Minister was not well balanced.

“Basing on the current prevailing economic environment, the people of Nkhatabay South are of the opinion that the Minister of Finance has brought this time around a budget that is not well balanced” Zikhale argued.

Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma.

He went on to say the proposed budget deducted is a bit higher than the normal, basing on the international standards which demand that the physical deficit should be 1.5 and we are at 3.9, which is as double as much.

The Chief Strategist, also went on argue that Malawi debt levels are already too high and it was not a sensible thing as a nation to be busy planning for a higher no budget deficit.

Zikhale gave an example of the expenditure allocation for Police.”If indeed Police is failing to utilize 50 billion in the six to eight months, being an allocation for the first half, how do you expect the same Police to consume an additional 13 billion Malawi Kwacha in only 85 days remaining?” questioned Zikhale.

He went on to accuse the DPP-led government of failure to collect revenues as projected in the first half of the year due to rampant political interferences and directives. He did not miss words but acknowledge that the Minsters could have done a good job but because of the rotten government system the DPP-led government adopted, it is positioning the Minister at an awkward position, making him incompetent.

Zikhale finished his review on a positive note by acknowledging that this Mid Year Budget Review has included very crucial matters of importance in this country which among them include ;The provision of fresh elections and The provision in support of Northern Region Water Board Projects in Nkhatabay South and other parts in the North; and the Two Secondary Schools in Nkhatabay South.

Mutharika announces alliance with Atupele’s UDF

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Malawian president Peter Mutharika, who leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), on Tuesday announced an alliance with the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) party, led by Atupele Muluzi, as the country gears up for what are expected to be tightly contested fresh elections. 

 Mutharika and Muluzi exchanged party regalia – symbolising their pact – with supporters chanting in the background. 

“The alliance comes at the time when some politicians are threatening the peace and stability which this country has enjoyed for many years. Both DPP and UDF share a common belief that peace, stability and unity are a prerequisite for Malawi’s development. We do not believe in violence,” reads part of the  joint communiqué published by Nyasa Times.

“We cannot claim to be working in the interest of the people of Malawi if we cannot dialogue, unite and agree on matters of national interests. Our political union is born out of a spirit of unity and our caring to unite on matters that affect Malawians. Malawi cannot develop if we do not exercise this spirit of unity.”

Atupele and Mutharika announcing their alliance

On Monday, Malawi parliament had passed the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Amendment Bill which sets May 19 as the date for the fresh 2020 presidential elections and provides for the holding a run-off election 30 days later if no candidate gets 50% plus one of the votes cast.

The bills follow the constitutional court order for the house to make provisions for the holding of run-off elections since the 50 % plus one electoral system will be used in the elections.

Earlier this month, the constitutional court dismissed a bid by the Malawi Electoral Commission and Mutharika to suspend the ruling that overturned the 2019 election results until an appeal filed by the president was heard by the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA). 

The court also rejected the electoral commission’s argument that another election would be costly for the impoverished country, as well as Mutharika’s argument that there would be chaos if a fresh vote produced a different victor and his appeal at the SCA then succeeded, meaning Malawi would have two presidents. 

The constitutional court said it was highly unlikely that the new vote would take place before the SCA made its determination.   

Commonwealth associations urge Malawi to respect judiciary

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THE Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA), Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA), the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) say courts are the guardians of justice, and the cornerstone of a democratic system based on the rule of law.

The associations have urged all parties in Malawi to respect the authority of the judiciary and ensure that due process is followed in line with the Malawi constitution and its international obligations.

This is according to a joint statement issued in the wake of threats by the Malawian ruling party against judges of that country’s Constitutional Court that nullified the election for irregularities.

Constitutional-Court-Judges

The three Commonwealth associations stated that they were extremely concerned that in recent days supporters of the ruling party had attacked the Judiciary of Malawi and in particular five judges on the Constitutional Court for the decisions made in the Presidential Election Case and promoted unsubstantiated allegations of bribery which were misleading the public.

“The Courts are the guardians of justice, the cornerstone of a democratic system based on the rule of law. Democracy will be gravely undermined if judgments of the courts are not respected and if there are uncorroborated and unfounded accusations against the Judiciary,” the joint statement reads.

They stated that any allegations of corruption must be investigated thoroughly by the correct authorities and accurate information must be reported to members of the public.

They stated that democratic governance required that the public and all parties await the outcome of the legal and constitutional processes which were currently underway and refrain from trying to unduly influence the outcome of court deliberations.

“By virtue of its membership of the Commonwealth, Malawi is committed to the shared fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, at the core of which are the beliefs in, and adherence to, democratic principles including respect for the authority of an independent and impartial judiciary,” the statement reads. “Any measure on the part of the supporters of the ruling party which is seen as eroding the authority, independence and integrity of the judiciary, is a matter of deep concern.”

According to the statement, the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Accountability of and the Relationship between the Three Branches of Government (2003) state that ‘Judges are accountable to the Constitution and to the law which they must apply honestly, independently and with integrity”.

“Best democratic principles require that the actions of governments are open to scrutiny by the courts, to ensure that decisions taken comply with the Constitution.’

Chimulirenji downgrades to mere cabinet minister

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The effects of the constitutional court ruling have become visible today when former Vice President was sworn in as Cabinet Minister for the newly created Ministry responsive for disaster management affairs and publi events.

Chimulirenji has taken the oath of office today, days after President Peter Mutharika created the ministry.

Chimulirenji being sworn in as minister today

Chimulirenji was President Mutharika running mate in the last elections which automatically made him vice president of Malawi following the May 21 presidential elections.

Howeer, the Constitutional Court nullified the presidential elections and ordered that the status in the presidency revert to the period before the elections when Mutharika was president and Saulos Chilima vice president.

Social media has been awash with comments ridiculing the whole creation of a new ministry and Chimulirenjis misfortunes

Mother and her two sons drown in Lilongwe River

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A mother and her two sons have drowned in Lilongwe river behind Jafali Mosque at Kawale 2 on saturday

Linda Longwe aged 40 drowned in the river as she was trying to rescue her son Vinjeru Nyirenda 20 years of age.

According to Sub inspector Joseph Njikho, police public relations officer for Lilongwe Police, Upon realizing that his mother and elder brother have drowned , Taonga (14) also jumped into the water in an attempt to save the two. Unfortunately, he drowned as well.

The search of the three is still in progress.

The three hail from Mthakapoli Village, Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba district.