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Malawi-China ties grow ever stronger

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BLANTYRE, Malawi, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) — Walking or driving in the main cities of Malawi, one would notice how these cities have changed significantly in terms of infrastructure and other aspects of development.

For the past 12 years, Malawians have witnessed the emergence of world-class infrastructure such as high-quality roads, public stadiums, five-star hotels, mentioning but a few.

These achievements, on the one hand, can be attributed to the hard efforts of Malawians. On the other, they are also due to the good relationships between Malawi and its development partners, particularly China.

The relationship between Malawi and China, forged 12 years ago, has contributed to the visionary dream of Malawi’s leaders to transform the nation into a prosperous one.

Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Liu Hongyang (R) presents a video camera to a Times Group official at their head office in Blantyre, Malawi

China, which established diplomatic relations with Malawi on Dec. 28, 2007, has for the past 12 years dedicated itself to improving the development of Malawi, and other African countries in general.

During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit held in 2018, China pledged a commitment to Africa’s development cooperation over the next three years and beyond, covering fields such as industrialization, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, and green development.

Projects in the bilateral agreement of Malawi and China have included those in energy, road infrastructure, and governance, among others.

For instance, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Malawi economic and trade cooperation has developed rapidly and yielded fruitful results. The Malawi Parliament Building, the Malawi University of Science and Technology, and the Karonga-Chitipa road, which were aided by China, have been completed in succession.

Furthermore, the Malawi International Conference Center and Business Hotel, and the Bingu National Stadium, were also financed and built by the Chinese. These projects have become the landmark buildings that the people of Malawi take pride in.

According to the Chinese embassy in Malawi, the two countries have also witnessed rapidly growing cooperation in other sectors including culture, education, sports, health, and youth, among others.

It’s hoped that Malawi’s journey to gain prosperity will be facilitated by the ever-stronger bilateral ties

Minister Navicha criticise Human Rights commission over Nsudwe report

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The Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha has expressed criticism and concern over the manner in which the Malawi Human Rights Commission has handled the release of the outcome of their investigations on the Nsundwe incidents. The minister accuses the human rights commission of leaking the report to social media and other media houses before it was officially presented to her.

In a press statement made available to 247Malawi media , Navicha said “
As a Ministry mandated on the Welfare of Malawians, we are committed to ensure that the rights of every Malawian is safeguarded and protected. As such, on 17th October, 2019, the Ministry released the Press Statement titled “Condemnation of Alleged defilement, Rape and Torture of Women and Girls at Nsundwe” following the Nsundwe incident.

As a Ministry, we are aware that the Malawi Human Rights Commission has been investigating three issues relating to Nsundwe incidents as follows: “the death of the Police Officer”, “the general commotion at Nsundwe” and “the allegations on the sexual abuse on women and girls.”

Minister : Mary Navicha

The statement went on to say , The Ministry has noted with grave concern that the report we have been waiting for has not been released officially nor presented to the Ministry and other stakeholders, instead, it is circulating on social media and being discussed with the international media houses. This to us, is a sad development.

The Ministry would therefore like to condemn such behavior by Malawi Human Rights Commission and request the organization to immediately share the official report with the relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare. This will enable the Ministry address the issues raised and work on the recommendations made.

In conclusion, the Ministry reiterates its commitment to work with the public and private institutions willing to find lasting solutions to all forms of Gender based violence in line with standing national laws.

Malawi Human rights commission is yet to respond to the critisism.

Malawi Great man unfortunately not recognized-off the wall of Afreeman

By Afreeman Umhlangana

Professor Landson Mhango whose credentials and CV is too long to mention for this purpose.
Suffice it to say that the planes you see flying today, whether manufactured by BOEING, AIR BUS or British Aerospace or even China, all have his patented part.

The Space shuttle and the American Army tanks also have that patented part. It is a high-speed motor, a tiny gadget which goes at 11 500 revolutions per minute. Professor Landson Mhango invented this in 1980 just before he became the Director of Engineering at British Aerospace where he remained for over twenty years.

The late Proff Landson Mhango with the then British High commissioner

In the same year he also invented a small gadget that detects tumors in the human body. He was accorded the Galileo Award in 1980 as The World Engineer of the Year (1980) at a ceremony held in Canada. He also invented a nuclear powered generator for the Japanese; an invention which he said cannot break down in a 100 years.

Professor Landson Mhango also designed the British Harrier Jet Fighter which needs no airport as it takes
off and lands vertically. The Harrier jets first saw combat in Belize in the early 1980s and also saw action during the Falkland Islands War later that decade. The crucial point at issue about Professor Landson Mhango is that, following the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, a lot of nuclear energy reactor plants were shutting
down in Europe. After extensive research about what caused the blast at Chernobyl in Russia, he came up with a solution. The inlet chambers of nuclear reactors were rectangular cuboids, so could not-withstand excessive pressures. So he designed a spherical one.

He designed the nuclear reactor in Britain which is powering Britain. Nuclear reactors in Europe are now facing the dawn of a new era and are being resuscitated. At this point in time Professor Landson Mhango is busy constructing a nuclear reactor for South Africa, which he himself designed.

Mhango who has recently retired from a long and distinguished service at British Aerospace and was back home serving as the *Vice Chancellor of Mzuzu University* in Northern Malawi, close to his original home in *Rumphi District* of Malawi.

* Professor Mhango died in 2011 in Coventry, United
Kingdom where he was receiving treatment.

Airtel to list on Malawi Stock Exchange

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Airtel Malawi has confirmed its intention to list on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE), but has not stipulated a deadline.

The latest development has evolved after the company and Regulator resolved an outstanding issue.

In October this year, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) fined Airtel Malawi K820-million (about US$1.1-million) for failing to comply with the 20% local minimum shareholding requirement in accordance with Malawi’s 2016 Communications Act.

The localisation of shareholding was to be done within two years from the date Airtel’s new licence became operational in February 2014.

MACRA director general Godfrey Itaye said this was in breach of the country’s communications law.

The regulator further ordered that the operator should pay K20-million for every 14 days that the company remained in breach of the shareholding requirement.

However, Airtel Malawi has since paid the fine and the regulator has decided to rescind the additional order.

Charles Kamoto, Airtel Malawi managing director, said the decision to list marked a significant milestone in the company’s evolution adding that the operator has invested heavily in its network.

“Listing on the Malawi Stock Exchange, Airtel Malawi now allows Malawians across the breadth and length of the country to be part of a shared journey and a story of success,” Kamoto said.

Scottish teacher spending festive period teaching kids in Malawi

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By Cheryl Peebles

Most teachers are enjoying a well-earned break from the classroom over the Christmas holidays. But not Kenneth Munnoch, of Dunfermline, who is continuing to educate children in Malawi over the festive period.

Kenneth, 56, is on a placement with Voluntary Services Overseas.

Instead of sitting down to a turkey dinner on Christmas Day, he was helping to bring lessons to schools across Mangochi District.

Kenneth and wife Camilla have had a long love affair with Africa, and met while doing VSO placements in Nigeria in 1989.

Now their twin sons have grown up they have rekindled their wanderlust, this time with a focus on Malawi, a country which has strong links with Scotland.

Kenneth, a former design and technology teacher at Dunfermline High School, is using his skills to help teachers in Malawi deliver lessons using iPads.

The Unlocking Talent project uses tablets to help children in rural communities get back into school and flourish.

His role is to ensure teachers can use the technology to its best advantage.

Every day Kenneth climbs onto his motorbike and travels to schools near scenic Lake Malawi to work in solar powered learning centres where the tablets are kept.

Kenneth Munnoch in Malawi

He said: “All the schools I visit are up in the mountains so getting there means leaving the Rift Valley and driving up a winding road with stunning views over the plains, the lake and the Shire river.”

In Malawi there are 74 pupils for every teacher and only 35% of children complete primary school.

Many youngsters have never seen a tablet, let one used one, but Kenneth said they were quick learners.

He said: “Children are so similar in lots of ways.

“The class sizes here are enormous but the children learn to use the masamu [maths] and Chichewa [the local language] apps so quickly.

“It’s not a case of having to encourage them – just get them started and they are off.”

The Unlocked Talent project has reached 150,000 learners in Malawi.

In May it won  £12million Global Learning XPrize funded by Elon Musk.

Original post : The Courier