Images from the Campaign Trail: Interesting flyer from our reader showing Malawi President Mutharika

Good governance earns Malawi funding from Obama Administration

President Barak Obama has called for increased financial support for agricultural development in poor countries as a way of mitigating food insecurity and promoting trade with the developed world.

Mr Obama called upon the US Congress on April 17, to double US financial support in developing countries to more than $1bn (Shs2,050bn) in 2010, according to a press release by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

“A permanent solution to food insecurity requires restoration of rapid and sustained economic growth that directly engages the world’s poorest populations, many of whom depend on agricultural labour for most or all of their household income and food consumption,” the release reads in part.

“We can directly improve the lives of poor populations by growing rural economies through broad-based agriculture growth. Doing so will help the world achieve the goal of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by and decrease the price of food in the local market, making food affordable for and dramatically cutting hunger.”

The focus areas for agricultural development assistance include among others, increasing productivity and rural incomes by modernising the developing country’s agriculture through expanding development and use of modern technology.

The programme that will be managed through Usaid, will work in collaboration with American land-grant universities to strengthen the chosen countries’ research institutions.

According to the agricultural research organisation, CGIAR, the assistance will also boost access to quality seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, and rural credit while small producers are expected to be linked to markets, and agricultural value chains.

The funding will also strengthen national and regional trade, transport corridors and encourage private investment in agriculture.
The US aims at reducing dependency on international food aid and will seek to draw the poor countries into the growth process through social safety nets for example, by creating opportunities for jobs, improved education and healthcare services.

The Obama administration wants to see well established multilateral partnerships to leverage the strength of the developing countries’ private sector, NGOs, and universities.

The funding will cover 25 countries and eight regional-based programmes and the beneficiaries in Africa include; Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi.

South and East Asian countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia will benefit from the fund, while Guatemala and Honduras in the Western Hemisphere are some of the countries selected for support in their agricultural research.

ON MULUZI'S 'DIRECTIVE'

By MANKHOKWE NAMUSANYA

      Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities,

      to obey, to be ready for every good work.

      (The Holy Bible, the epistle of Saint Paul the apostle to Titus, chapter 3:1)

THE small book, I mean the one given for free by the Gedions international and is found in most public places like some hotels, some hospitals, some prisons, some schools (especially boarding ones) etcetera, has an introduction. Nobody claims to have authored that introduction, nobody has claimed and nobody shall make me believe that he/she is the one who authored the introduction, but . . . someone somewhere somehow thought and scribbled the lines that compose the introduction. It is a good - a very good - introduction suitable for such a book that many a soul call Bible. One of the lines says and I quote: 'Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.' End of quote.

      It is from that book, the small one that contains the New Testament and Psalms together with Proverbs, that the opening lines (the ones in italics) were taken. The lines, I strongly believe, are clear, loud and self-explanatory--no need to elaborate further or one might find himself saying what was not meant by the author. The lines simply tell us to be subject to our rulers, obey them and be ready for every good work (you can repeat good work if you want); that is to say, as citizens of a country we have to be subject to our law makers, members of parliament, cabinet ministers, presidents etcetera. We have to obey what (not whatever) they say to us, thus according to the pocket-sized Bible that was given to me sometime back when I was in my third class at secondary school.

      You see,

      During the period prior to the 2004 elections, the then president of Malawi who also happens to be the only legal chairman of the UDF (as in United Democratic Front and not Ukafuna Dilu Fatsa), Dr. Elson Bakili Muluzi, shocked some part of the Malawi nation when he announced that he was to stand again for the third time - something that the Malawi constitution is totally against. He tried all his best to change the constitution so that it accommodates his desires but it was all in vain, the common people and the politicians rejected such a rape of democracy. He tried by embroidering the third term bid in all ways he could such as 'third term' or 'open term' but it just hit a blank wall, the bids failed just as the man himself failed secondary education, thus according to one Thyolo man, Bingu Mutharika.

      Seeing that his efforts to further rule the country had failed but the desire to cling on to power were there unambiguously, Muluzi then handpicked a person whom he felt was going to be his puppet - one who was to just respond to the title 'president' but leave the duty with him, Elson, so that he could continue selling companies and deposit the money into his personal accounts, and terrorize the innocent Malawians with his roughnecks who responded to the name 'young democrats' apart from indirectly supporting the cutting and selling of body parts by his boys, Bokhobokho and company.

      So, Muluzi appointed Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika as his successor at the expense of party heavy weights such as Brown Mpinganjira, Harry Thomson, Sam Mpasu, Moses Dossi etcetera. He even did not consider his own vice president, the father of Qabaniso - Justin Malewezi. He went on a national wide tour selling his candidate and calling the other party members 'madeya' (literally meaning useless things only useful in times of GREAT famine as was the period he was president of the country).

      And came the elections, people obeyed the leader then, Muluzi, and voted for his handpicked candidate at the expense of the other four contenders namely John Tembo, Gwandanguluwe Chakuamba, Brown Mpinganjira and Justin Malewezi. Of course, not many listened to Muluzi for Mutharika did not win with many votes but still he became the president of this great nation though he did not really start ruling for Muluzi seemed to have strongly wished to ring the bell while on the carrier and not the drivers' seat. He seemed to be still ruling behind the stage and those of us with eyes as of a cat and nose as of a dog saw and smelled trouble being brewed in the UDF camp.

      Just some months down the line, the trouble started emerging and that was when the press became awash with stories of Muluzi disagreeing with Mutharika or the two in conflict. At first they were just mere rumors and you know how the rumors were quickly refuted. Then came the big issue, at a meeting that was to be held at Sanjika palace to reconcile the two, some members of the UDF were found with weapons, deadly weapons. The use of the weapons was not really known but Mutharika eventually cancelled the meeting and those found with weapons were charged with treason. Of course, the meeting was not held again and the only good thing that Mutharika did to Muluzi was dumping the UDF and taking the robes of power from him (Muluzi). Mutharika then formed his own Democratic Progressive party (DPP).

      An infuriated Elson then started campaigning to come back to power as if he had not done it before through the third term and open term bids which were clearly rejected. He made noise about his comeback and some poor souls believed that he was really coming back before they were told by the electoral commission on March 20, 2009 AD that the man was not standing again for he had already served his 'maximum' ten years. Not believing this, the poor souls asked him if it was really true that he was a man who was just greedy for power but he denied and responded further by taking the matter to the courts under the guidance of an army of lawyers that could make a judge shiver but again he was told the same message: 'you are not supposed to stand again and destroy the country that has now improved!'

      Bitterly, he told his supporters to go and vote for John Tembo as president for his party and MCP are in an alliance. It sounded very strange for Muluzi himself told the same supporters that Tembo is a big crook. In his own words he said,

      “Tembo is a murderer; he wanted all the Catholic bishops to be killed when they were challenging Dr Banda's dictatorship. John Tembo is the one responsible for the Mwanza murders. His hands are stained with blood. He does things craftily that when he does something bad, you just cannot recognize him. Amayi ndi Abambo (ladies and gentlemen), I can't recommend Tembo for you.”

      And Muluzi said all this when he was the leader, a ruler to be obeyed. I obeyed him then for the Bible commanded me to do so not for the love of it, I did not vote for Tembo. Now, he is directing me to the same Tembo. I doubt his sanity and intelligence. My small book which was given to me by the Gedions international tells me that I should not listen to him for he is a liar and all liars have one father-the devil- and if his father is the devil he also has to be a . . . (withheld, but please don't suggest devil).

      I shall only be subject to rulers as the Holy Bible says and I shall obey them thoroughly and not obey some former president who failed to do nothing during his tenure but is still greedy for power and is directing me to his 'relatives' (be they in-laws or what) who are not even better than him as he himself already said.

     

WELCOME US BACK

The recent events in the political circles have prompted me to draft a letter to the Malawi Congress Party leadership on behalf of the United Democratic Front leadership on the possible alliance with them.

We have been away for too long now its time to come back. We were once a big party when the Late Ngwazi was still in control. Yes we remember how things were before we rebelled to form the pressure group and later a party UDF.

Hope you will forgive and forget some of the things that have happened along the way. A lot has been said and done about the once mighty party, MCP to which most of us belonged. We remember our Chairman saying in one of the rallies that Honourable Tembo's hands are full of blood. Now that we will be working together, forgive it was just a slip of the tongue. Sorry for the arrests we made a few years back. We had no choice but to let justice follow its course. We are happy that you won the case and came out clean.

I also believe that you are well acquainted with the circumstances that have forced us to come back. With a few days to vote in the most important General Election, we as a party don't have a Presidential candidate. Our project to let the former President bounce back has been dealt a heavy blow. We still maintain that he is the only person capable of leading this country to prosperity.

We took Malawians for granted when we started this project seven years ago. They rejected the third term bid, open term bill and now our efforts to utilise the loop hole in the Constitution has failed to convince the Electoral Commission. we still hope that the Constitutional Court will interpret the Constitution in our favour but time is not on our side. We cannot let down millions and millions of Malawians who are eager to bring down this Government we have.

There is no better time to return to our roots than now. We have also managed to convince your longtime nemesis, Gwanda Chakuamba to support your candidancy. We know that we are coming back when you already made progress with your campaign but please consider us when giving positions. With us are several Presidents you should also consider in your next government. There is President Gwanda Chakuamba, President Amunandife Mkumba, President Kamlepo Kalua, President Uladi Mussa, and our leader, he prefers to be called Chairman (tcheya).

Forget about consulting the grassroots, they will follow whatever we tell them to do. We need to be united and use every way possible to bring down this government. Its just a matter of timing and strategy. Hope you remember how timing and strategy helped us to steal the Presidency from the Late Chakufwa Chihana in 1994. We were just at the right place and at the right time the rest is history. You also remember how we robbed you of the Presidency in 2004. The late Dumbo Lemani made sure that you all knew what happened.

Please welcome us back! We wish we had come earlier like our friends Brown Mpinganjira and President Ralph Kasambara but our faith in the democratic system has let us down. Now that fate has brought us together let us work hard to make the Late Ngwazi smile wherever he is. We believe that he will be very happy to learn that his party's former Secretary General, some of his exiled members and a crop of new blood from UDF have come back to the mighty Congress.

All the best.

Why I will not be voting for John Tembo

So John Tembo has allowed the once mighty MCP to be used as a porn in BAkili Muluzi and his son Atupele Muluzi's game. As I write Atupele Muluzi is planning way ahead to secure power in a MCP/UDF administration before thinking about how he can improve your life and mines. He plans of a portfolio which he seeks to occupy which will yield considerable powers of the office of the President of Malawi, a Prime Minister portfolio almost and yet will not be identified as such effectively to blind the country to allow the Muluzis to rule from the back door yet again. What is strange is that these folks are quickly sharing cabinet positions way before the race is over and before they have considered the country's problems and the correct people to fill these important jobs. This clearly demonstrates to me how these two parties are more of the same, the same politics Malawians are moving away from since the Muluzi era. This makes me wonder whether I can really trust John Tembo as my President come May 14th, can he really objectively run a government with the Muluzis running their own parrallel government?

As for Atupele Muluzi, well, he has nothing to show to qualify him to run any important office let alone a government department. Already his qualifications are constantly in question, his attempts to run businesses has proven unsuccesful before when a couple of his father's businesses went bust under his watch, thats how he found himself in politics in the first place. Despite his enormous influence in the UDF party, this individual has failed to prove to the country he can lead on matters of national interest . His time in parliament has not benefitted Malawians, no pieces of legislation of national interest have been sponsered by this individual in the five years he has been in the house and now he wants to head government. I ask where will he get the competence, motivation and vision to run such a portfolio with such a record.

I will not be voting for John Tembo because to me one thing is for certain, the UDF and the Muluzis at the helm of things will never change Malawi because of the same old greed, corruption and relentless pursuit of power the Muluzis continue to display. As it stand John Tembo is my last option for the office of President come May 14th.

Philip

Let me also advise some of these 'political scientists' to be more objective when doing their analyses, you do not have to be so obvious Mr Rafiq Hajat.

Please Government and other blogs stop responding to this spent force Nyasatimes, like Muluzi it has nothing to offer, no news just a waste of time and energy. Lets all move forward in making Malawi better and ourselves better.

God Bless

Bakili Muluzi loses first round in come-back bid

The Constitutional Court in Malawi has ordered lawyers for former president Bakili Muluzi to go back to the drawing board in their bid to overturn the Malawi Electoral Commission's decision to reject Muluzi's plans to contest the scheduled 19 May election.

In a brief hearing, the three-judge panel observed that Muluzi's lawyers had app roached the wrong body because all cases dealing with elections must be through a judicial review in the High Court.

"Our role is to interprete the laws, not to try cases," said judge Anaclet Chipe ta on behalf of the two other judges, Silverster Kalembera and Healy Potani.

Chipeta gave Muluzi's lawyers two weeks to approach the courts with a fresh chal lenge.

The Malawi Electoral Commission a fortnight ago ruled that Muluzi was ineligible to contest the elections after having already served as president for two consecutive five-year terms.

Muluzi is, however, challenging the rejection, saying - after taking a breather after the two terms - one becomes eligible.

Tuesday's ruling is a set-back for Muluzi, 66, since he is fast loosing time.

While his would-be main challengers - incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika and veteran opposition leader John Tembo - have hit the trail full throttle, Muluzi is having to go in and out of courts to fight his eligibility.
 
Blantyre - 07/04/2009

Pana

Bakili Muluzi a failure

Opposition UDF Sunday went on a campaign tour of Blantyre, with their rejected presidential candidate Bakili Muluzi criticising the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) for not telling him in advance that he was not an eligible presidential candidate.

At the same time, ruling DPP launched their campaign in Mzuzu, where President Bingu wa Mutharika condemned Muluzi as a failed leader.

DPP launched its campaign in Mangochi last week just seven days after UDF launched its own in the lakeshore district.

Political scientist Mustapha Hussein said this was a strategy to outdo each other.

“There is nothing wrong with that as long as they relay their messages to the electorate,” he reasoned.

As Muluzi, whose candidature remains at the mercy of the courts, was making his campaign promises in the commercial city, President Bingu Mutharika was emphasising why he should remain in power in Mzuzu.
At his Mzuzu stadium campaign launch, Mutharika dubbed his mentor Muluzi a failure who did not go through secondary school, and ruined Malawi.
“Now, Bakili says he has never been a failure, but I will tell you that he is failure number one.
“He failed in education as he did not even go through secondary school. He failed as MCP Secretary General, also failed to run the government of Malawi during his term,” Mutharika said.

Prior to the rally, the president’s campaign convoy went around some townships of Mzuzu that included Chibavi and Chibanja, where people lined up along the roads to cheer him.
After the rally, he also went around places like Zorozoro, Mzuzu Technical College, Chimaliro and Old Town .
In his speech, Mutharika also condemned the just dissolved Parliament, describing it as irresponsible.
“You have seen how the opposition (parliamentarians) behaved in the last five years. They did not go to Parliament to represent you. When they were in Parliament, they started representing the interests of John Tembo (MCP president) and Bakili Muluzi,” he said.
He also faulted Rainbow Coalition President Loveness Gondwe for joining the bandwagon of people accusing him of not doing much in developing the north.


He said he felt pity for those who were still following Muluzi or sympathising with him, asking Malawians to compare what happened before he (Mutharika) came into power and what has happened in his five-year reign.
“I want you to judge me by the works of my hands, let what I have done speak for me.
“If the works of my hands have not impressed you, then don’t vote for me,” Bingu stated.

In Blantyre, former president Muluzi attacked a decision by the Malawi Electoral Commission to bar him from joining the May 19 presidential race.

Muluzi, who was commenting on a court case for the second time, wondered why Mec failed to make a decision at a time he showed interest to join the race.

“Mec knew my interest to join the race some time back in 2006. Where were they all this time?” he queried.

“But despite that ladies and gentlemen, come May 19 Bingu wa Mutharika will not be the president of this country,” Muluzi told his supporters at Namiyango, one of the places where he stopped.

Muluzi said Mec’s decision of rejecting him was made because Mutharika was afraid of him.

However, in his reference to the case in Mangochi, Mutharika said Mec was only reminding Muluzi that he was one of the people fighting the spirit of life presidency.

“It’s not me, but the Constitution bars him from standing, he served his two terms,” Mutharika said.

Mec, however, stated that it was the Republican Constitution that barred the former President from bouncing back.

Judge Esimie Chombo and Mavuto bamusi just do not get it

I am very upset and saddened by today’s  ruling by Judge Esimie chombo  against the adoption of Mercy James. As a Malawian I am very disappointed, angry and outraged to say the least. Again Neo-Colonialism advocates in the name of Save the Children Fund UK has won.

Our honorouble Judge and others like Mavuto Bamusi  have bought into the idea from international organisations assisting orphans in Malawi that adopting Mercy James is a bad thing and will set a precedent for others to follow  but that could be farthest from the truth. In her judgement Judge Chombo warns against celebrity adoptions  which she feels will lead to child trafficking, the same reasons Save the Children Fund UK gave some days ago.  However I feel this decision was made with haste and without careful consideration. In  years to come, Judge Chombo will have to explain to poor Mercy James why she is still in abject poverty when she had the chance to live a better life with the world’s most successful female recording artist of all times. It will be a world of what ifs  for poor Mercy when 15 years from now she struggles with life wondering who will pay for her college tuition fees, provide her  with a descent home to live, clothes to wear, opportunities to earn money after college etc etc . This case in my opinion is a human rights issue, if only Mercy had a chance to voice her own opinion. At the same time, we all know once adopted Mercy James’ life would be transformed forever, something both Judge Chombo and some international NGOs keep forgetting. One would think Judges are more compassionate than what we have heard today. Did the honourable Judge even consider all those kids who would have loved to be in Mercy’s position right now. Put simply the honourable Judge has shown poor judgement in the ruling which warrants an appeal to a higher court where the interests of the child will be put first.

As far as these senseless NGOs go, what business do they have to dictate to Malawians what to do? As much as we appreciate the job they do, we also need powerful Malawian players on the world stage advocating for Malawi and African interests, these kids provide for that opportunity. Does Save the Children Fund UK and others have something against the continent? How come they never showed this kind of resistance before in the many adoptions by celebrities in other parts of the world? When Mr Brad Pitt and Miss Angelina Jolie adopted two boys from Asia there was no vocal protests from these quarter to suggest international laws were being broken. What is wrong with giving a Sub-Saharan African kid the opportunity of living a life everybody only dreams of? I think this gesture from Save the Children Fund UK is suspect and not welcome. Maybe  they are afraid of losing their day job as these new generation of Africans will indeed be in the fore front doing their job in years to come. Africa needs powerful spokes people in the world to look out for its interests, David Banda will be one of them. International NGOs need to understand we will not need their help forever, we also want to be self reliant and solve our own problems.

Judge Chombo and Mr Bamusi have chosen to play politics over this issue. The judgement lacks substance because no amount of care in Malawi can be better than the care she would have received with Madonna being her mother. Interms of setting a precedent for child trafficking, that also lacks substance, ofcourse Madonna is a superstar, her rules of adoption can not be the same as everybody elses.  Madonna is no stranger as she is always in the public glare and her every move is monitored. If she was a bad mother to David we would have known that by now. Look at how David Banda is thriving now, he is beyond belief thanks to Madonna. He attends one of the best schools in the world, and is well travelled already.

I hope the Court of Appeal brings soberness to this hearing and allow Mercy to join her new family in New York city as soon as possible.


Disgruntled Malawian

madonna david banda lourdes mercy james chombo bamusi savethechildrenfund

Malawi's economy registers three times more growth than rest of continent

Malawi’s economy expanded 9.7 percent last year on higher tobacco sales, an improved harvest and growth in the telecommunications industry, the International Monetary Fund said in the capital, Lilongwe.

Growth will be boosted this year by the start of uranium production at Paladin Energy Ltd.’s Kayelekera mine in the north of the country, IMF Malawi Country Manager Maitland MacFarlan told a news conference yesterday.

MacFarlan was speaking at the end of a two-week visit by an IMF delegation, the first review of a US$77.1 million loan accord with Malawi, part of the IMF’s Exogenous Shocks Facility. The delegation also discussed Malawi’s economic prospects and policies for 2009.

“This growth is by all means extraordinary,” said Malawi’s Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe. “Extraordinary because we registered three times more than the continent’s forecast of 3 percent. We expect to do better this year following a bumper tobacco harvest projected at 250 million kilograms (551 million pounds).”

Malawi has recorded average growth of 7 percent over the past three years after moving from a food importer to an exporter.