Not to be left out, legendary musician Lucius Banda has been forced to reposition his music to keep in tune with the changing trends.
The artist said to ensure his survival in the game, he has had to adapt to the new forces and tastes on the market, a shift which has been reflected in his new single UkhaleWanga released last night on Malawimusic.com.
Soldier Lucius Banda
The song, produced by urban music artist and producer Janta, is a combination of traditional beat with a bit of urban elements.
“We cannot afford to ignore the effect that urban music has made on the local music landscape. To ensure my survival in music, it will require me to adapt to the changing trends. I have to lift my act too to stay in tune with the times,” Banda said in an interview.
But the Balaka-based artist was quick to point out that the refining of his brand will not translate to a change in his music philosophy. He said his fans will still enjoy his core style that has won him adoration throughout the years.
“There is just too much that Malawians are going through already so I had to be cautious with the content in my message. The energy in the song, I believe, will be a good distraction to everything that has been going on,” he said.
Janta said the gesture by Lucius is a recognition and endorsement that urban music is making huge strides in the country.
“For someone as big as him to make a decision to work with me is a big plus. On a personal level, I had the chance to learn from him owing to his huge experience in the industry,” he said.
There was a heated debate among members of Parliament (MPs) from Blantyre District on Friday on where to construct seven community day secondary schools.
Blantyre District Council secretariat, through the office of the district education manager, identified areas where to construct the schools.
However, tempers rose during a full council meeting when some MPs questioned why some constituencies were allocated two or three schools while others had none.
Mikaya
Blantyre City West MP Steven Mikaya said it was unfair to allocate more than one school to one constituency.
“We need to rework this; otherwise, we will not accept that one MP should have more schools when some of us have none,” he said.
Blantyre Rural East MP Fidson Chisesele and Blantyre South West legislator Keneddy Kachingwe agreed with Mikaya.
“This is a national cake and let everyone benefit from it. We need to share projects because we all represent people of the same district,” said Chisesele.
But this did not please Blantyre North legislator Francis Phiso, a cabinet minister, who said the schools were not meant for MPs to show that they were implementing development projects in their respective areas.
“Let us run away from politics here. I have been allocated two secondary schools but if it pleases members to take away the schools, so much the better because we all belong to Blantyre,” he said.
Meanwhile, the MPs have agreed to propose areas where the schools will be constructed. Blantyre Rural has eight constituencies.
Britain’s Prince Harry exchanged gifts with Malawi’s president during his first official visit to the country on Sunday, where he also visited a college and was joined by his wife Meghan via video call.
The Duke of Sussex had left the duchess and their four-month-old son Archie in Cape Town, where on Saturday Meghan met with a group of female activists, to visit Botswana, Angola and Malawi.
Prince Harry and Mutharika
Though Harry has visited Malawi several times privately, this trip is his first visit in an official capacity, marking the final leg of his solo tour across southern Africa before rejoining his family in Johannesburg
On Sunday in the capital Lilongwe he met with President Peter Mutharika, who presented Harry with a large gift wrapped in green paper and received one from the duke in return.
He later attended a reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence, where he delivered an address in front of a union jack backdrop.
Earlier in the day, the duke visited a college to meet young women whose education is partially supported by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT), of which Harry and Meghan are president and vice president respectively.
Harry was greeted by a line of students waving British and Malawi flags before entering the college, where Meghan joined proceedings via Skype while, she said, Archie took a nap.
A post on the couple’s official Instagram said the project was changing the lives of many young women.
“As president and vice president of the QCT, the Duke and Duchess both believe in the power of education to empower young girls, and change society as a whole,” the post said.
The Malawi Inspectorate of Prisons (MIP) has urged government to decongest the country’s prisons by providing makeshift cells while awaiting construction of a prison in each district.
According to a report on the inspection of prisons and police cells conducted by MIP in March 2018, whose results were disseminated on Friday in Lilongwe, the current status of prisoners population is bad whereas the structures are dilapidated; hence, pose a danger to the inmates.
Delivering the report to various stakeholders, including Members of Parliament (MPs), the Attorney General, Malawi Police and Prison services, chairperson for Malawi Inspectorate of Prisons Justice Kennan Manda said the country’s prisons are not fit for human occupancy.
Malawi Prisons
Currently, the prisons are said to be holding 14 778 inmates, against an occupancy of 5 000, a situation the inspectorate has described as demeaning to prisoners, as human beings who suffer violation of the right against prohibition of torture, cruelty and inhuman treatment.
“The population is more than 14 000 right now, this is a rise from 2016’s 8 000 in the 30 prisons the country has. Besides, the prisons are old and there is no room for privacy, except for Mzimba Prison.
“The general observation is that most of the prison structures were built during colonial time, they are very old and dilapidated, not fit for humans, I could wish to say they need to be demolished, but because we don’t have facilities, there is need to decongest them,” said Manda.
According to the report, most prison cells have no windowpanes, nor built-in toilets and bathrooms. Those which appeared modern were mostly built between the 1950s and 1970s, save for Domasi, Chikwawa and Mzimba prisons, 1980 and 2006.which were constructed between
The report indicates that prisons with highest occupancy rates are Lilongwe (Maula), at 630 percent of its capacity; Ntchisi at 467 percent; Nkhotakota at 456 percent; Ntcheu at 404 percent and Kachere at 376 percent.
The report further reveals recurrent general problems, including poor sanitation, poor diet, overcrowding, abuse of prisoners, poor ventilation, low staffing, abuse of pre-trial custody time limit and inadequate uniforms and rehabilitation.
Attorney General Kalekani Kaphale, who was among the stakeholders, expressed dismay at the revelations, saying the prisons needed to be given attention; hence, promising to follow up the issue with Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, on some factors that lead to congestion, so that they can speed up some cases to decongest the prisons.
“This report is really sad. I don’t think a sane person can clap hands over the report, we need to reflect well on the findings, it’s really bad and pathetic,” he said.
Chairperson of Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee Kezzie Msukwa described the report as a wake-up call and promised to ensure that it receives the attention it deserves in Parliament.
“It’s a moving report. We really need to do something about it. You do not expect prisons to be the same as it was during colonial times, it is a pathetic situation,” he said.
Malawi Human Rights Commission once underscored the need for government to decongest prisons by releasing inmates who have been on remand for too long, and to consider introducing community service for petty cases
Members of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in UK and the whole diaspora have been urged to never give up but continue to work hard for the party until Malawi is liberated from Corrupt, Nepotistic and illegitimate leaders..
The call was made by MCP National executive Committee member and Deputy director of International relations Edgar Chipalanjira when he addressed MCP members at an event in UK city of Manchester on Saturday.
Chipalanjira and Mandindi
Chipalanjira said MCP as a party fully recognises the crucial role Malawians in diaspora play in influencing policy and political decisions as well as development of the country. “You guys are not only beneficial economically, but, as the last elections have shown, the diaspora has the capability to influence different aspects in the whole political spectrum”
On the meeting it was agreed that the future of Malawi is facing immerse challenges notably the increasing levels of corruption, lack of rule of law and the ever growing levels of nepotism at the heart of the government.
Chipalanjira highlighted that the only hope to save Malawi is MCP leader Dr Lazarus Chakwera. “While we cannot comment much on the ongoing election court case, but its not a secret to say the only leader who can deliver Malawi from the painful times we are passing through at the moment is Dr Chakwera”
The election case is due to resume in a few days and if the opposition MCP and UTM can be successful in their court challenges, then Malawi can face a presidential election rerun.
Also speaking at the event, the deputy leader of MCP Diaspora Wing Allan Mandindi, assured everyone in Malawi that those in diaspora will not just sit down and watch while the country is being run down by political crooks. He promised that MCP members in diaspora are ready to stand with Dr Chakwera until Malawi is liberated from the failed DPP regime.
Some of MCP members who attended the event Chipalanjira: Making a point
