The Bishops' word is good food for thought
BY The Daily Times
16:31:44 - 29 June 2007

The concerns of the Catholic Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi emanating from the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling on Section 65 are genuine and need to be seriously weighed against the other good which the country would gain if the Speaker implements the ruling.

The Bishops concerns are that there have been mixed reactions from the ruling which have created uncertainty, fear of the future and tension in the country. This fear and tension are mostly coming from calls for mass by-elections, for the impeachment of the State President, for the President and his vice to resign and for the Speaker to be impeached.

The Bishops are acknowledging the fact that the Supreme Court's interpretation of Section will promote and consolidate the respect for the rule of law and spirit of constitutionalism in the country which are among the key pillars of good governance.

However, they say if things such as impeachment of the President, by-elections etc., are implemented, they will wipe out all the gains that have been realized through the country's maturing democracy and debt cancellation.

The question the Bishops are posing is: would we as a nation be promoting the common good by obsessing ourselves with the need to be seen to be respecting the rule of law when by doing so we plunge Malawians into untold suffering?

This is a big moral dilemma for the nation, but unfortunately, one from which we must extricate ourselves.

We concur with the suggestion by the Bishops that in deciding the way forward for this country, the majority of the citizens must not be left out; that they too should be given the chance to speak for themselves at the right time and in the right way.

Beyond that we are saying whichever route the citizens take, the country now knows the position of the law. What is most important is to ask ourselves if we have learned any lessons from the development.

We cannot also agree more with the Bishops on the need for dialogue which has sustained the country's young democracy to prevail as the politicians, religious and traditional leaders and all people of goodwill engage in this dialogue.

So far we would like to say well spoken our Bishops. But the challenge now is who takes the lead to get this dialogue started?

We think the Bishops as Shepherds of the Lord's flock, guided by the Lord's wisdom are better placed to set the ball-rolling on dialogue

I no longer fear death—Bingu
BY DICKSON KASHOTI
15:50:25 - 29 June 2007

President Bingu wa Mutharika took time out yesterday to thank all Malawians for the support they gave him during the funeral of First Lady Madam Ethel Mutharika, saying the death of his wife had taught him not to fear death and face the world with courage.

In a statement issued Thursday to mark the end of the official mourning period for the late First Lady, Mutharika recollected that thousands of Malawians and non-Malawians from all walks of life, rich and poor, in Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre dropped all what they were doing to pay their last respects to the First Lady.

“I am told that many even walked on foot and braved the rain and cold and bid farewell to the mother of this nation. There were over two hundred choirs from all faiths and denominations in Malawi and Zimbabwe, including the Quadria Muslim Associations of Malawi, that sang hymns and songs of praise day and night, for thirteen days, from the day the First Lady passed away up to the day she was laid to rest on June 9.

“I want you to know that the songs you sang were the best mourning that anyone can get. I was truly comforted because while some of your songs made me weep, others comforted me and wiped away my tears,” said Mutharika.

He said he is truly overwhelmed by the support and sympathies people gave him and for the love they had for the First Lady.

“I never imagined for a moment that you had so much love for us. I want you all to know that I am deeply grateful and pray that God the Almighty will reward you abundantly…we received large amounts of food such as maize, flour, sugar, rice, fish, meat, bread, cakes, buns and scones. These helped us feed over three thousand people each day throughout the mourning period,” he said.

He also said the family received generous condolences in the form of money which he said would be deposited in the Ethel Mutharika Memorial Fund account and would be used to construct a mausoleum for the First Lady at Ndata Farm in Thyolo where she was laid to rest.

He said the death of the First Lady has taught him a number of lessons which include that his God is a loving and kind God, saying God’s calendar and plans are different from people’s plans and that the death had shown that God is always there to comfort and strengthen.

The second lesson, he said, is that when a tragedy such as the death of his wife occurred, one knows true friends, saying the value of friendship surpasses all the gold, diamonds and silver in the world.

The third lesson learnt during the sad period, he said, was that he no longer feared death.

“This is because death will come when it will come. The death of my wife gave me new courage to face the world. Therefore, death has no venom and no power over me,” he said.

41 MPs get stop order on Sec 65
By DICKSON KASHOTI - 29 June 2007 - 16:49:13

Over 40 legislators Thursday obtained a High Court injunction in Lilongwe restraining Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango from declaring their seats vacant for crossing the floor.

The development came barely hours before the speaker was scheduled to resume the national budget sitting where Chimango was expected rule on Section 65.

UDF Zomba MP Yunus Mussa applied to the court for an exparte injuction—one that is obtained without the other party in the case being present—against the state and the speaker of the National Assembly as respondents and himself as an applicant.

Yunus was represented by three legal firms, Knights and Knights, Raymond and Hughes and Lloyds and Associates.

The injunction was granted by the court.

This means Chimango would not be able to declare the seats of the 41 members of Parliament vacant until the court hears the matter or the injunction is vacated by the same court.

But lawyer Fahad Assani for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) , the party that petitioned the speaker to declare 38 of the seats vacant, said late last night that his team was working overnight to have the injunction lifted by Thursday.

“The Speaker should be given his freedom to exercise his duties. This injunction is unreasonable and vexatious, it has been obtained to annoy some people, it has no substance at all,” Assani said.

Titus Mvalo, lawyer for the largest party in parliament, Malawi Congress Party
(MCP) said he could not answer any questions on the issue because he was locked up in a meeting.

Chimango refused to make any comment on the matter, saying he has not seen the injunction and referred the matter to Parliament’s legal advisor Jane Ansah who is also the Attorney General but she could not be reached on her mobile phone number.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Henry Phoya, who is also legal advisor of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), could not say what the MPs
would do should the court lift the injunction today as said by Assani.

Says the injunction in part: “It is ordered that the respondent whether by themselves and or through their servants and or agents or howsoever be and are hereby restrained from proceeding to carry into effect his decision of petitioning the applicant (and the 40 others listed in the schedule) in relation to allegations of crossing the floor and requiring of the applicants to make response thereto until the determination of this matter and all matters on the subject which are still in the court or until a further order of court.

Yunus Mussa, the applicant could not be reached for comment as his mobile phones went unswered but the second applicant is Uladi Mussa, former minister of agriculture who is no w struggling to register his own party after he was booted out of the DPP.

Jaffalie Mussa, former minister of youth, sports and culture does not appear on the list although the UDF has decided to maintain him on the list of MPs petitioned to have their seats vacant despite the fact that he returned to the party after losing his cabinet post a month ago.

The UDF, in the petition argues that Mussa was elected on UDF ticket in 2004, appointed cabinet minister, refused to come out of government when
President Bingu wa Mutharika resigned from the UDF, stopped attending UDF functions and caucuses,
distributed DPP materials in his constituency and chucked out UDF functionaries and wore DPP colours at the launch of DPP in Lilongwe’s Area 12 at the DPP headquarters.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe is this afternoon at 2pm scheduled to present the national budget to the 193-strong House despite petitions to have some 90 seats declared vacant on account of crossing the floor and the court injunction restraining
the Speaker from declaring the seats vacant.

The current budget ends on July 31. MPs failed to approve the budget for the new financial year because of the death of First Lady Ethel Mutharika on
May 28 and the subsequent declaration of a month of national mourning by the state.

Bishops warn on Sec 65
BY DANIEL NYIRENDA
14:39:33 - 29 June 2007

Catholic bishops have released a statement expressing fear that the aftermath of Section 65 could wipe out the gains that have been achieved by a maturing democracy in Malawi.

But opposition political parties have disagreed with the bishops, asking them not to interfere in legal matters, urging them instead to concentrate on their work on the pulpit.

The Catholic bishops ask for a suspension of the implementation of Section 65 and sobriety in its handling in order to avoid jeopardizing the development agenda of this country, a statement signed by Archbishop Tarcizio Ziyaye, Chairman of Episcopal Conference of Malawi, said Thursday.

“We are concerned with the mixed reactions and debate that are taking place in political and media circles. Uncertainty, fear of the future and tension, as a result, have engulfed our Mother Malawi.

“Issues like calling for by-elections, the resignation of the State President, the impeachment of the President and his vice, the impeachment of the Speaker of Parliament, if implemented, will wipe out the gains that have been realized through our maturing democracy,” Ziyaye said.

Recent reports have said that opposition parties United Democratic Front (UDF) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP are planning to, among other things, impeach President Bingu wa Mutharika, his deputy Cassim Chilumpha and Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango following the ruling on Section 65 that it is valid.

But the bishops appeal for dialogue on the matter and call upon Malawians to exercise responsibility.

They say they fear that the Section 65 aftermath would derail all arms of government from their development agenda and adversely affect the gains achieved by the debt cancellation.

“The legislature and the executive will shift their focus from economic and developmental policies to matters of politicking and survival to the detriment of the poor masses,” the bishops say.

“Should we not wait to allow sobriety to rule in our hearts rather than jeorpadise the development agenda that wants to promote sustainable livelihoods of the poor?”

However, UDF and MCP, both of whom have petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats of ‘their MPs’ who are in government vacant, appealed to the clergy to stay clear from politics and allow the Supreme Court ruling to prevail in Parliament.

“Any court ruling benefits one side or the other. To say the implementation of the ruling should wait is to deny one side justice. And justice delayed is justice denied,” UDF Leader in the House George Mtafu said yesterday.

He said the UDF was unhappy with the bishops’ action, saying the clergy in the country tend only to criticize the opposition especially UDF and not government or the President when the latter are wrong.

He said the UDF and MCP have been very lenient on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), arguing they have passed the national budget since 2004 with their majority numbers in the house.

On its part, MCP accused the bishops of taking sides on political matters, saying the party was disappointed with their conduct.

“When government is breaching the law in this country, the Catholic Bishops never say anything. This smacks of hypocrisy on the part of the church in this country and their ideas are jaundiced.

“When MPs were crossing the floor, their constituents were terribly disappointed and the Catholic Bishops were quiet. They chose to bury their heads in the sand when it suited them,” MCP spokesperson for parliamentary affairs Ishmael Chafukira said Thursday.

Muslims Association of Malawi (MAM) Secretary General Sheikh Imran Shareef Mahomed said the feared consequences of Section 65 would be temporary.

“If we are not to implement Section 65, we’re going to kill the democracy that we fought for. We as Muslims don’t see any danger in Section 65. If those people who crossed the floor are popular, they will come back,” Mahomed said.

Chairperson of Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), an umbrella for human rights NGOs, said much as they were still carrying out consultations with their members on the issue, they “generally” shared the concerns of the bishops.

But Dzonzi said HRRC was mindful that politicians who quit their political parties and joined others in Parliament were the ones responsible for the political tension that has gripped the country.

“It would be naive to pretend that this mess has not been created by the politicians,” Dzonzi said

Electric board begins installing fibre

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has said the installation of a MWK2.1 billion (USD15 million) fibre-optic cable is underway. The cable, between Lilongwe and Blantyre is intended to ‘improve interconnectivity nationally, regionally and globally in a more secure and safe environment,’ said an Escom spokeswoman, adding that the company had already completed installation of a Salima-Kanengo fibre link and was leasing it to telecoms firms in accordance with a commercial operating licence issued by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). She also said that a Salima – Mzuzu – Karonga fibre link was expected to be installed in 2009.

Old computers find new life in Malawi

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The Taipei City Government has found a unique, if faraway, place to donate its old computers -- the southern African country of Malawi.

The computers were originally used in the city government's department of labor. Now 162 of them are on their way to Malawi, where they will be reserved for use by underprivileged children.

The donation of the computers was organized by a private Buddhist foundation. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and Malawi's ambassador to Taiwan, Thengo Maloya, were both on hand for the donation ceremony on Tuesday morning.

Mayor Hau said that while the second hand computers are not worth much, they are priceless to those who need them.

The selection of Malawi as the recipient for the computers is not a random choice. Malawi is one of Taiwan's remaining 24 allies. Its capital, Lilongwe, is also a sister city of Taipei.

Malawians enjoy record harvest

Malawi?s summer crop harvest is almost complete, and the rainy season is essentially over. Household food security has improved; household stocks are high, and market demand and consumer prices are low. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has conducted the third round agricultural production estimate survey; the results will be released mid-June. Malawi expects its second consecutive bumper harvest this season. Farmers began planting winter crops in March and April, and will continue planting until July and August. The first winter harvests begin in August and continue through December. The winter crop improves household food security at the onset of the lean months (January and February).

Food aid distributions in response to the needs identified by the 2006/07 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) are now complete as households have food from their own production. The food aid program was extended by one month into April 2007 to prevent the need for households to consume their food crops prematurely. The food aid program was generally a success, meeting all of the identified needs. The MVAC has just finished their 2007/08 food security assessment to determine areas that may need food aid assistance this season. The results will be released soon.

ADMARC has not yet started buying maize as the private traders are now doing. However, market activity in maize has generally been low; traders fear a weak market for their produce due to the favorable household food security following the recent harvest. However, as the moisture content drops further, trade in maize is expected to increase as traders stock up to fulfill contractual obligations to the national Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) for exports to Zimbabwe and other future export contracts. This increase in maize trade activity is expected to strengthen the market, pushing up local market prices.

Likoma to get fresh water
BY FRANCIS TAYANJAH-PHIRI
08:56:15 - 25 June 2007

LIKOMA Island, which has had no access to clean and portable water, will shortly have the facility, courtesy of Northern Region Water Board (NRWB).

NRWB board chair Wyson Mkochi said this in an exclusive interview Friday, adding feasibility studies on provision of safe portable water has been concluded.

“We did the feasibility studies using our own resources and I am glad to disclose that shortly works on the water facility would start. After completion of the project, both Likoma and Chizumulu would have safe and portable water,” said Mkochi.

Early this year, President Bingu wa Mutharika tasked Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development to ensure that people on the islands have clean and safe water provision, just like all other Malawians.

The President, speaking at Katoto grounds in Mzuzu, expressed shock that Likoma and Chizumulu islands did not have piped water yet they were surrounded by waters.

According to Mkochi, top NRWB officials would on tomorrow travel to the two islands to brief Minister of Irrigation and Water Development Sidik Mia and other senior government officials on the concluded plans and feasibility study.

“We want the minister to appreciate what we, as a board, have done on our own. We are optimistic that this coming budget would set aside funds to make the project a reality,” said Mkochi.

Meanwhile, a team of officials from Bloem Water, a South African water board twinned to NRWB, has applauded their Malawian counterparts for providing people with “enviable quality of water”.

“We are very impressed with the way NRWB is providing such quality water despite limited resources. We have learnt a lot during our tour and we are pleased that our twinning is yielding results in our prospective water boards,” said Mampiti Matsabu, chair for Bloem Water.

Bingu not tensed up
BY Gedion Munthali
09:52:20 - 25 June 2007

President Bingu wa Mutharika is “too strong” to be tensed up with the eventualities of the Supreme Court ruling on Section 65 of the Constitution.

Justice Minister Henry Phoya was asked to comment on how the President was feeling in the wake of the court’s ruling and the threat that his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) might lose seats in the House.

“The President is fine and good. We have a very strong President,” said Phoya during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Friday.

Is he not tensed up?

“Why should he be tensed up? He is not losing sleep over it. He is a very strong character. After all, he still continues to enjoy the position of authority,” said
Phoya.

“The government has not collapsed and will not collapse. The two arms of government, the executive and the judiciary are intact. This madness only concerns one arm of government, the legislature.”

Since the appeals court ruling, different political parties in the House have petitioned Speaker of the National Assembly Louis Chimango to declare vacant seats of MPs deemed to have crossed the floor.

MCP wants Ted Kalebe, Binton Kutsaira and Kate Kainja-Kaluluma evicted from the House.

The crime the three committed, according to the party, is that they joined Mutharika’s cabinet without the MCP’s consent.

Since then, the party claims, they stopped performing the party’s functions and attending its meetings.

Incidentally, Kainja-Kaluluma provided the party with more ammunition when she announced last month that she had joined DPP.

MCP and DPP are both represented in the National Assembly.

UDF wants 37 MPs who left the party and joined the DPP to lose their seats.

The DPP wants 47 MPs including Speaker Louis Chimango and his deputy Esther Nkhoma to be evicted for either joining associations whose objectives are political in nature or moving from the government side to the opposition side.

Republican Party (RP) wants its former MPs to lose their seats for joining the DPP.

Let us sober up when dealing with Section 65
By The Daily Times - 25 June 2007 - 09:23:38

It is without denying that the recent ruling on the validity Section 65 by the Supreme Court has thrown the National Assembly into turmoil with almost every member looking at ways of getting even with another.

Initially, it was the opposition parties that celebrated the ruling, thinking and believing they were exclusive beneficiaries of the landmark ruling but a press briefing on Friday by the Democratic Progressive Party has shown that probably the opposition celebrated too soon. The DPP, which everybody thought would be the greatest victim of the court ruling, seems to see some gains, although difficult to appreciate by those outside the party.

In the middle of all this, the House is expected to resume the budget sitting after it went on recess following the death of First Lady Ethel Mutharika. And Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe is expected to present his budget statement on the same Friday. But this is the same Friday some opposition parties are pushing Speaker Louis Chimango to declare vacant seats of those affected by the Section 65 ruling. How the two will go side by side is the million-dollar question that calls for sobriety and patience coupled with high degree of national interest in the mind.

And true to this, there have been calls that it would be better if the Speaker took his time before petitioning the affected MPs but again, it seems, it is too late as the Speaker has already dispatched the petitions to those targeted like Leader of the House Henry Chimunthu Banda. We hear all three speakers have also been targeted by some parties as possible victims of Section 65. There is real trouble ahead if we do not tread carefully.

Although all this apparent madness involves only one arm of government, the legislature, the chaos there has all the effect of spreading across the three arms of government, especially the executive. In fact, if we do not handle the matter with mature and sober minds, the matter has the potential of bringing government business to a complete halt. And when that happens, we will all be losers. We will go down the annals of history as people who let emotions to prevail over reason and lost all.

For the record, we just want to give to a slice of the loss the country is set to suffer if we mishandle emotions in Parliament starting this Friday. Firstly, we will have no budget because the moment seats are declared vacant, the whole House would be in turmoil with those affected battling for survival in courts and their parties playing revenge. The House will literally come to a stand still yet we are all looking up to it for the nation’s direction, economically and otherwise.

By now, all parties in the National Assembly should know that it is not automatic that they would claim exclusive gains from the ruling and the best they can do under such circumstances is to take their time and read their every move carefully, all this time considering what impact it may have on the nation as a whole.

Although the Supreme Court said crossing the floor gives a raw deal to sponsoring parties and constituents, apparently, it is the parties that are crying the loudest and it is tempting to think every move in line with the ruling party is politically motivated. Nobody, so far, has championed the interests of constituents yet these are the people that will suffer the most of Parliament creates a national crisis. This is why we are praying for sobriety, maturity and patriotism when handling the issue. We have to consider that we are firstly Malawians and the rest come secondary.

MTL launches PAYG internet

Malawi incumbent telco Malawi Telecommunications Ltd (MTL) has launched MTL FreeNET, a dial-up internet service for its fixed line customers in the capital Blantyre, via the company’s own ISP MTL Online. ‘FreeNET is a dial-up service, which will enable MTL customers to have access to the internet with no monthly subscription or registration, and the service connects to your computer via a modem and your MTL line,’ said one company official, adding that MTL was targetting a potential 70,000 internet users. Internet penetration remains extremely low in Malawi, with the latest ITU estimate in September 2006 putting the number of users at 52,500 (0.4% of the population).

All you need to know about Malawi this month
20 June 2007
Tucked away on the shore of Lake Malawi, with its own private cove backed by natural forest, is Safari Beach Lodge. In the last few years it has seen many changes, including ownership. Now it is just finishing a complete overhaul, expansion and range of improvements.

Firstly, the restaurant has been extended to provide both indoor and veranda dining together with a new bar. All the accommodation has been renovated. There are now three rooms in the main lodge, all air-conditioned and newly furnished while a programme of replacement of the lake-view tents is underway. As the tents come down, up go stone-built gazebos built on platforms with panoramic lake views. All are en-suite and feature cottage pane sliding doors and windows.

An innovative new feature of this Senga Bay Lodge is the construction of several very private spots in the garden where guests can really feel they’re owners of all they survey. Some have been given intriguing names such as The Scandal and the Eve’s Drop and all give wonderful views of the lake as well as providing a comfortable ‘hide’ to watch the many small mammals which regularly come into the garden.

The ‘inner’ man (or woman) has not been forgotten. Chef Jensen, formerly with Protea Hotels, produces freshly baked croissants for breakfast and is intent on producing imaginative and mouth-watering menus for all meals. Safari Beach Lodge really has come of age.

For more information, email info@safaribeachlodge.net.

MORE FROM MANDA

Nkwichi Lodge and Manda Wilderness, on the eastern shore of Lake Malawi, are pleased to announce the opening in August of two new houses available to rent. Songea House (6 beds) and Makolo House (4 beds) both have stunning views across Lake Malawi and access to their own private beaches on the lakeshore.

Another piece of good news from Nkwichi Lodge concerns visas. Located in Mozambique territory, visas are required. After many months of uncertainty and difficulty, the arrangements have been made plainer. Simply arrive on Likoma Island by plane or boat, take to connecting boat to Cobue and it’s a three minute walk to the customs post. Take a quick look around Cobue Cathedral and its back to customs to collect your stamped passport.

For more information, email info@mandawilderness.org.

TIME FOR TEA

More visitors to southern Malawi are discovering the delights of staying in one of the colonial ‘managers’ bungalows on the Satemwa Tea Estate with its views of Mount Mulanje in one direction and the Lower Shire Valley in the other. Now, the UK national newspaper, The Independent has ranked Satemwa among the world’s top five ‘tea hotels’. And there’s more good news. Satemwa is now a certified Fair Trade producer – the only one in Southern Africa.

It’s possible for guests to sample a selection of black, green and white (yes, white) teas as they look across the neat tea gardens and try to identify the birds from the hundreds of species that are resident or passing through the area. You prefer coffee? No problem, coffee is also grown here.

The Satemwa Tea Estate is a wonderful place to stay if exploring in the Thyolo and Mount Mulanje area. They have a new and very informative website: Satemwa.com

GOOD NEWS FOR FLYERS

Ulendo Safaris have launched an exciting new on-line booking service for flights. Called Epower it’s a first for southern Africa. Go to Ulendo.net/epoweronline.htm for the booking engine which allows prospective flyers from anywhere in the world to book flights. At the moment there are special fares from British Airways and South African Airways on the system.

All fares include relevant taxes and, after making the booking, a Ulendo agent will contact the client to finalize arrangements and arrange delivery. This service complements the rest of Ulendo’s tourism products.

A FIRST

The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre and Nature Sanctuary is destined to become Africa’s first Born Free Foundation accredited ‘People and Wildlife’ centre.

In the heart of the capital city, yet comprising a unique haven of indigenous woodland, the Sanctuary is home to monkeys, baboons, a range of small antelope, hyena and crocodiles – as well as many species of birds. The development of a 60-bed tourist lodge and campsite is in the hands of Land & Lake Safaris, one longest established companies in Malawi’s tourist industry. While the lodge is still building, the Wildlife Centre will be open from 1st July this year.

Initially open just three days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), the Centre is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year when closure, for maintenance, will be Mondays only. When completed there will be a restaurant and gift shop, an educational camp for local children and an animal adoption scheme.

This ambitious project includes a international volunteer programme and fund raising schemes. Overall it is an important and most welcome initiative of which Malawi, the City of Lilongwe and The country’s tourism industry can be justly proud. For more information, email Sanctuary@landlake.net

TAKING A LOOK

This month has seen two groups of journalists travelling around the country gathering copy for their newspapers and magazines. A total of eight journalists, representing some of the top names in the print media were hosted by members of the Malawi Tourism Marketing Consortium whose UK office organised the trips.

Kenya Airways provided the International flights and the group were treated to the comfortable experience of the airline’s premier class. The London-Nairobi-Lilongwe route to Malawi is one of the most popular for those flying out to Malawi from Europe.

Visit Kenya-airways.com for more information.

THERE’S MORE

• Club Makokola (Club Mak to its many friends) is up-grading all its Standard rooms to Superior. There are now internet hotspots around the complex including the pool area and the Terrace Restaurant – so bring your laptops, if you must!
• Danforth Yachting & Lodge now have three additional catamarans spruced up and ready for sailing. At this time the Nmwerea winds have started to blow giving ideal sailing conditions. If you’re off the water, the Lodge is wonderfully sheltered.
• You may be aware of the controversy surrounding the Nyika and Vwaza tourism concessions. The latest welcome news is that the Nyika Safari Company’s concessions have been extended to 31 October. The long term arrangements should be known next month.
• Luwawa Forest Lodge has opened up an old road from Chikangwa to Kande Beach by rebuilding a bridge over the Luweya river. This is a wonderful 4WD adventure drive with untouched wilderness and stunning views as you descend the rift valley escarpment to the Lake. Luwawa recently held its 42km Mountain Bike International race with this year’s winner, Jonathon Kaiy achieving a record time.
• Malawi’s only extreme sport event, the annual ‘Porters’ Race up Mount Mulanje takes place on 14 July. The race is now in its eleventh year and attracts an international field of hundreds. There’s still time to enter, email: hastings@mountmulanje.org.mw

To find out more about visiting Malawi, go to Malawitourism.com

Aviva boss to tackle Malawi challenge

14 June 2007

The boss of Norwich Union's parent company this week revealed he will swap the boardroom for the villages of Kenya and Malawi when he quits his job next month.

Richard Harvey had already indicated he planned to do voluntary work when he stepped down as chief executive of Aviva, but has now outlined how he will spend his year in Africa, working for the charity Concern Universal.

He and his wife, Kay, will work with the charity to raise awareness of Aids and HIV among rural communities in Kenya and Malawi, as well as working on water sanitation schemes.

The Harveys have paid for their trip with a “generous” donation to Concern Universal, a spokesman for the Hereford-based charity said.

Mr Harvey, who became chief executive of Norwich Union in 1998, said: “In the financial services industry we worry about people living longer and outliving their savings. In Malawi, life expectancy is estimated to be about 37 years and decreasing.”

Mrs Harvey also has experience as a volunteer for community organisations in the UK and New Zealand and has just qualified to teach English as a foreign language.

Dr Ian Williams, executive director of Concern Universal, which has around 500 staff, said: “We're delighted that Richard and Kay have chosen us in a field where there are other more high-profile charities that they could have chosen.”

Aviva finance director Andrew Moss will succeed 56-year-old Mr Harvey as chief executive on July 11.

Bingu without his better half
BY CHARLES MPAKA
13:44:25 - 15 June 2007

For everything, there is an appointed time. So it was designed that our president would one day become an incomplete man again.

On December 24, 1964 as the young hearts of Bingu wa Mutharika and Ethel Kwaiti married, some unseen hand had already sketched their future together. One of the details scripted in the scroll of their destiny was that they would become a First Family in some poor sub-Saharan nation called Malawi. On May 24, 2004, that came to pass in their advanced ages. It was the climax of their lives.

It had also been chronicled that Ethel Mutharika would be First Lady for three years, three days, fifteen hours and fifteen minutes only for her life would breathe its last.

That has happened. The other half of their common heart has been taken away.

It is that half, Madame Mutharika’s heart, which has thrown most to the depths of grief and sense of loss at her death. All and sundry agree she was the exemplary of modesty, so much that it is only now that we realise she was among us, actively touching lives.

She would have exploited her works of charity and status as mother of 13 million children to strut the world stage like a goddess. But she was wise enough to know it was vainglorious to fashion an acting celebrity out of her kindness and class. So she behaved like an out-of-town woman. She valued to be treated as such.

Joyce Kuthyola-Mwale, wife of Reverend Armstone Kuthyola-Mwale of Lingadzi CCAP where the late Mutharika was congregating interacted with this humility.

“She wanted to become a member (of the Women’s Guild) and we told her that one needed to go through a process, which takes three months to complete and we thought she would be discouraged being a busy woman but she accepted to do it,” Kuthyola-Mwale was quoted in The Daily Times.

“On the day she was to be made a member, we wanted to have her go through the oath taking separately but she refused and told us to include her in the group of other women and she memorised all the words we say when taking oath.”

This is very special. Madame Mutharika’s was profound lowliness such that her passing ironically tasks us to blow the trumpet of her staggeringly unassuming character. She was what she was because she never felt she was any special. She treasured others more than herself.

She was endowed with vision, passion and action for the less privileged of our society. She understood the obligations of her office and she met them without pomp. This is the kind of wife our president has lost

It is axiomatic that she was Bingu’s chief political advisor, his fountain of inspiration and the ink and brush with which Bingu painted in colour his dreams for the nation.

Now she’s gone. This is the roughest blow in Bingu’s life. He now stands in an empty blue expanse, alone, making others wonder how he’s to steer the ship without Ethel Mutharika, an elegant woman with whom he has walked together with a unified heart for over 40 years.

Bingu’s time as president has been turbulent. Dogged by a crass impeachment saga, seemingly eternal disfavour by certain opposite political voices and struggling to ensure that his government performs, this has been a great test of his mettle. Nevertheless, Bingu has driven into and through the storm like a careless man. His forthrightness has had many faint-hearted citizens open their mouths in trepidation. He knows where precisely this country has to go for the benefit of us all.

Besides, his wife had been battling with cancer for two of the three years he has been in power. But he has scarcely tottered as head of government. He instead strikes the picture of a man who expresses himself so well even in trouble.

Former official hostess Cecilia Kadzamira says it in one newspaper: “He knew she (Ethel) was sick and had to still keep in mind that he was the president of the Republic of Malawi. He worked and delivered what he had promised, carried out projects despite the pain he was going through. Attending meetings during trying times shows commitment, a commitment we must all acquire from this example.”

Commitment was the watchword of his wife. It is Bingu’s. This has been the bastion enabling them to forge ahead towards the ultimate prize, namely, the good of the nation. Their power of vision fell further beyond the intervening problems.

Reverend Kuthyola-Mwale speaks how the First Lady was never daunted by the prospect of death. She had made peace with God. She was looking forward to the trophies beyond death.

“This was very rare of a person who is sick because in my experience, when most Christians are sick they despair and do not want to talk or hear about death but Madam Mutharika said she was ready to die because she was at peace.”

Peace in the form of the betterment of Malawians inspires Bingu. It is his motivating force. That is why he does not personalise or own his political position. He says he “did not become president for politics but for development of the country”.

He has too huge goals, nerves of steel and ambition to be sidetracked by the death of his wife who also bore her illness with grace and bravery, assigning high premium on her responsibility to others.

Knowing what we know, Bingu will apply himself to his duties even more zealously now. He knows that he will have to further the legacy of his wife to transform lives. He has witnessed the songs, the flowers, love, dirges and tears his wife has been accorded in death. But he has to manage the present first. That he knows.

He is heart broken. But he has not lost his confidence. He still dreams in colour. He consults the remnant of that shared heart inside him and it confirms that his imaginations for the people of Malawi are realizable, against all odds including the departure of his co-captain.

Last Saturday was the most tearful of his days. He bid final farewell to the woman he loved, the lady who dignified his identity at the World Bank, Comesa and in his current office. But he knows he will have to pick up the pieces of his life afterwards and, without his better half, walk the remaining journey towards accomplishing his mission for the country.

It is a burdensome trip but he can be assured of the support of many Malawians who dream in colour too. This calamity has demonstrated that he will never walk alone if he continues in the direction suffering people want him to go.

Flags fly at half mass in honour of First Lady Mutharika

Flags at Half Mass

Kamuzu International Airport, Lilongwe,Malawi
May,2007

North asks for continuation of Ethel Mutharika Foundation
BY FRANCIS TAYANJAH-PHIRI
09:18:14 - 04 June 2007

Ordinary people in the northern region, touched by the death of the First Lady, have asked that the charitable good works she initiated should not be allowed to die with her.

Charity Nyangulu of Malema Village in Karonga said in an interview on Friday that she and many people in Karonga were shocked to Learn of Madame Ethel Mutharika’s death, especially as the charitable works she initiated were starting to bear fruit.

“To consider that this lady, who dedicated her time to care for the less privileged and not politics is gone is a shock. In the three years she has been a First Lady, Madam Mutharika has shown she was a kind lady– we have gardens here in Karonga established sorely to care for orphans,” said Nyangulu.

While consoling President Mutharika, Nyangulu pleaded with him to ensure the Ethel Mutharika Foundation continues working with the vision of the fallen First Lady.

Other two Karonga women, Keteline Kamela and Queen Mhango, shared similar views.

“It is sad we have lost our First Lady whose works did not segregate against region, religion or status in society. She assisted orphans from all corners of Malawi without bias and was very exceptional in the way she conducted herself,” said Mhango.

Lyton Mangochi, a popular vendor in Karonga Market said he was touched by the First Lady’s death because of her vision for a better Malawi for orphans and the underprivileged.

“Those people in authority should emulate the example of our late mother. The Ethel Mutharika Foundation should not die because our relatives out there who we cannot help ourselves, have been relying on this foundation to made a difference in their lives,” said Mangochi.

Davie Mwale, a Mzuzu businessman popularly called D&M, said the death of Madam Mutharika was shocking because Malawi has lost a rare woman and First Lady who had proved to be exceptional in public conduct and her care for the disadvantaged.

“This is a lady who despite her position did not show partisan emotions. Even when the media or other politicians attacked her she did not react and to me she was a lady worth to be commended,” said Mwale.

He said it was important that female public figures emulate the behaviour of Madam Mutharika, who also demonstrated she was a real mother figure for the nation.

Ethno-musician Harold Mkanthama of the Photola wa ku Phokela fame, said the late Mutharika had left a mark in the history of Malawi.

“She was not politically biased and that was a special gift from God. Many people would want to respond to political negatives, but she never did that – she also accommodated diverse people in the conduct of her business as First Lady,” said Mkanthama.

Musicians mourn First Lady
By SELLINA NKOWANI - 05 June 2007 - 08:44:26

Perhaps realising the effectiveness of music in soothing the souls of many people, some of the country’s musicians have composed songs mourning the death of the First Lady Ethel Mutharika who died on May 28.

Since the death of the first lady was announced, musicians have been scrambling for the best studios in town to record songs in honour of the First Lady.

Balaka based Lucius Banda creatively transformed the press release from State House to come up with ‘Thambo Lagwa’.

In his song, Lucius chronicles the life of the First Lady and her undying efforts to better the lives of the less privileged people in the country.

Not wanting to be outdone, the ‘Kamandidutsadutsa’ star Mlaka Maliro released ‘Muwasunge’ last week.

Mlaka says as a musician, he has benefited a lot from the First Lady. He says there could not have been a better way to mourn the First Lady than dedicating the song to her.

The song which also talks about the humble life that Ethel used to lead, is also an encouragement to the President and his family to have trust in God although they have lost their loved one.

“Personally, I am one of the musicians who have benefited much from the First Lady. When I got married, she came to my wedding and she even advised us on how newly weds are supposed to behave. That is why I decided to come up with this song,” he said.

Mlaka cancelled the shows he lined up last week to respect the First Lady. He was supposed to perform alongside Skeffa Chimoto at the Warehouse on Sunday. Mlaka also said he would shoot the video of the song and he would like to include a footage of the funeral.

However, some of the musicians who have composed songs of the First Lady’s passing have parried away other people’s view that they are doing this for the love of money.

“It’s not that I will be selling the song to make more money. I have done that before but I didn’t sell the songs I did to honour Bright Nkhata and Tepu Ndiche,” said Patrick Simakweli who released ‘Uwuse ndi Mtendere’ on Sunday to honour the First Lady.

Gospel musicians have not ignored the First Lady. Sungunani Kundwe, who has featured well known gospel artist George Mkandawire, has done a Shona song to honour the First Lady.

“I am not trying to gain fame out of this trying moment but mine is an encouragement to the people the First Lady has left behind and I want to comfort them,” Kundwe said.

Billy who is the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture has also composed a tribute titled Tonthola which he says is an assurance to the bereaved family that death is the only way we can get to heaven and that Ethel is not dead but just sleeping.

He however said MBC is not playing it because they say it is a dance song.

First Lady’s character was a model--clergy
BY FRANCIS TAYANJAH-PHIRI
09:44:57 - 05 June 2007

MALAWI could move from its poverty levels and image if there were more people of the calibre of the late First Lady Ethel Mutharika in all sectors and echelons of power, Northern Region clergy have observed.

In a sermon at Livingstonia Synod CCAP’s St. James Church Monday in Mzuzu, the clergy from various churches stressed that the First Lady was a model not only to women but the nation as a whole.

Sunday’s ceremony was the last activity for people in the Northern Region to pay their last respects to the late First Lady, whose body arrived in the region on Friday.

“I can honestly say that Malawi can move out of its poverty if the little we have would be shared just like what our dead First Lady used to do. Here is a lady who did a lot for the poorest of the poor in this country, yet she did not beat her own drum, publicising each and everything she did as others do,” said Reverend Maurice Munthali in his Tumbuka sermon.

“The death of Madame Ethel has even taught us political togetherness and that is more so because of the nature of our departed mother. Who here can tell us that Ethel Mutharika akunditukako matutsi [showered insults or obscenities at me]? This lady was just doing her job and not partaking in the dirt of showering or responding to insults, even to those who talked bad of her,” said Munthali in his captivating sermon.

He said Malawi was poor due to greed, which “can only end if people at all levels emulate late Mutharika’s spirit of sharing”.

Just like Munthali, Livingstonia Synod’s General Secretary Reverend Howard Matiya Nkhoma, in his English sermon, also described the First Lady’s conduct as touching and in line with biblical teachings.

“When you do good works away from Christ, you do it in vain. Late Madam Mutharika did not leave out God and that is why we are not only talking of the success of her works, but how her life was a model,” said Matiya Nkhoma.

During the prayers, Catholic Bishop Joseph Zuza of Mzuzu Diocese, Vicar General of the Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi Father James Chifisi and other clergy from CCAP prayed to God for the spirit of the First Lady and and that He grant strength to President Bingu wa Mutharika.

The service, just like the send-off at Mzuzu Airport, saw politicians from different parties shaking hands and hugging in sorrow as they consoled each other.

Madame Ethel Mutharika departs for Glory

Madame Ethel Mutharika departs for Glory

I knew Madame Ethel Mutharika just like many ordinary Malawians did. She was wife to the then United Party President Bingu wa Mutharika. Though she never directly participated in politics. Later, we saw her in Area 18 at here relations and funerals and various church events. Just like her Husband Bingu, Malawi's First Lady was a dedicated Christian.
She was a woman of faith, strong one for that matter. In her pain and suffering, she smiled, reached out to her women empowerment projects, did her farming and everyday from my City Centre office could see her four vehicle motorcade passing.
Yet she smiled and her family opted to spare Malawians that pain and remained strong in discharging their duties.
President Bingu wa Mutharika has carried his own family burden and that of the State without affecting the other. In many cases he sacrificed the love of his life for the burderns of the State.
As I became privileged to cover the President, the more I realised how the President relied on the first lady.
One day at a public event, as a Master of Ceremony, I stood up to stop a particular group dancing, the President nodded in agreement, the First Lady disagreed as the crowds were cheering.
I stood looking at both the President and the First Lady, she gave a nod to allow the women finish their dance. I assumed she stood up to the Head of State, many of us shake and fear for so many reasons as an equal partner.
I later spoke to her breifly after she allowed Youth to visit her Mitundu farm, she personally supervised it and had special interest in diversfying crops.
She was simple, soft spoken and deliberately choose her words. She knew the root to success and shared with the young people that almost "all avenues of life one can succeed"
For some reasons, she never sought publicity in doing her Ethel Mutharika Foundation work, the Executive Director or Trustees were the ones always put in front.
I know today despite her visible projects in districts like Salima, the Voice of Ethel Mutharika is rare, not because she did not do good, but because she was humble and gave to the poor without seeking anything, including even press coverage.
Later as she fought her pain, the First Lady still smiled. As many found excuses to attack the quite woman, she never responded or showed anger at many that came across her, will speak of her simplicity and curiosity on a number of topics one would raise.
Billy Kaunda's Tiwapemphere onse akudwala, was among evidently one of her best choices during a difficult period of her life.
I saw her smile and gave a thoughtful look from the VIP when Billy sang during the launch of President Mutharika's ma Business aphindu.
Kaunda sings, "Infa simathero azonse, koma ndi chiyambi cha moyo wina."
Travelling back from Niagara Falls on Memorial day, I lost my mobile phone. But something was a miss, I rushed to computer but nothing was there. I called a close freind and he asked me if I had checked my messages. I said no, he broke the news.
I say, despite the pain that she had to endure, there is a great reason to celebrate the life of Ethel Mutharika, who despite being the strongest woman in land, she never ventured into politics nor sought recognition for her works. Very few will be able to understand the lives she transformed in her projects through the Ethel Mutharika Foundation.
She was a proud mother of her daughters and one could see how much she entrusted them with her work.
She loved to inspire the ordinary Malawian woman.
Her Foundation made a very strong statement at its launch, it was a fundraising event, showing the way, that people have to first seek means of supporting themselves before asking others to come.
The Foundation had a strong fundraising team, which is split into various regions.
She inspired the Youth to venture into Agriculture. One of the Youth groups that were part of the delagation today have harvested enough crop for sale, the first times since they launched the organisation.
Her simplicity and dignity as the Mother of the Nation, would make her the most "remarkable First Lady" for a number of years.
Hearing the news of her demise, far away from home here, sadness comes into every Malawian heart.
She lived a life to the full, inspired many and her work hopefully will continue.
I am left with an image of dancing Ethel Mutharika during the luncheon with the Lilongwe Girls 2005 MSCE class, she was happy among the children. She was touched by those in need and taught women and youth how to be independent than follow a path of begging and handouts.
I know from deep down my heart, that She looks at Malawi and smile for her contribution.
Through her faith, we celebrate a Life of a woman whose presence before God will be answered by her deeds.
As she looked touched by Billy Kaunda's composition, I am sure she would want a nation that loves one another, takes care of the poor and those in need and more importantly we remain strong in our faith or belief's as she did to the end.
As she starts a new and eternal life, we cry, mourn and lament of her departure, But God knows her work on earth is done. She showed the way, she fought pain with grace, love and charity.
Celebrating her life with good deeds, reconciliation, love and spirit of sharing, would be a befitting to the First Lady.
The woman I proudly called in Tumbuka, "Mama wa Nation ya Malawi" and she smiled "Doesn't Nation have a Tumbuka word?"
I say go well Madame, you have left many lessons for the generations to come.
We share your loss to the President and the whole Family.
More importantly we recognise your faith as the most important tool we can all use to fight pain and challenges affecting our nation.
We cry because we are only human!
We seek you become our guardian angel to do good to one another
REST IN PEACE MAMA ETHEL MUTHARIKA

By Kondwani Munthali