Monday, March 10, 2025
الرئيسية بلوق الصفحة 143

Malawi asked not to take Rwanda’s “free” police training offer

Malawi Observer
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Malawi asked not to take Rwanda’s “free” police training offer

By Iommie Chiwalo

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has learnt with surprise and shock from media reports indicating that the Republic of Rwanda has offered to train officers from Malawi Police Service (MPs) for free of charge.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, Malawi government has been asked not to take the offer.

The offer, has come through the Rwandan Inspector General of Police Dan Munyuza, who is in the country on a five day official visit. 

In a statement made available to this publication, CDEDI is surprised with the offer because, Malawi Government has not publicly declared any area that requires capacity building.

“Secondly, the Republic of Rwanda has also not indicated, which area in the MPS it wants to help in building capacity and that Rwanda’s human rights record is a concern,” Namiwa says.

He says CDEDI does not think that the Republic of Rwanda is any nearer a model where countries that are striving to embrace genuine democracy such as Malawi, can tap skills, especially for an important institution like the police office which is key in fostering democratic principles. 

Namiwa pointed out that besides infrastructural development that Rwanda is undertaking, it is not a hidden secret that there are massive reports of human rights violations bordering on excessive use of force by law enforcing agencies; unlawful and arbitrary detentions; internet restrictions by the State; lack of freedom of expression; human rights activists and opposition political party leaders being silenced through arbitrary arrests and imprisonment based on trumped-up charges; etc.

“Obviously, Rwandan police are take centre-stage in this gloomy picture. The proposed offer for training our police service by the Rwandan police confirms our fear that the recent Malawi Government directive to relocate all refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka is politically motivated,” he says.

Another source of worry, as expressed by Namiwa, is that the offer is coming at a time the Republic of Rwanda is busy hunting down some of its nationals who have sought political asylum in various countries, including Malawi.

“We would like to challenge the Malawi Government to tread carefully with these newly-found good Samaritans. Ironically, this offer is also coming at a time when dust has not yet settled on accusations that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, and his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are pushing through Parliament laws have traits of dictatorship,” he says in a statement.

However,Namiwa says, remarks by Malawi’s Inspector General of Police Dr. George Kainja, who has assured all refugees and asylum seekers in the country that they are free to either return to their home countries, or continue living in Malawi for as long as they want are a sigh of relief.

But, according to Namiwa, while CDEDI would like to commend Dr. Kainja for his assurance that the police will continue to protect the lives and property of the Rwandan refugees and asylum seekers, it is important to point out that a larger percentage of the refugees that fled and continue fleeing Rwanda are victims of political persecution and infringements of basic human rights. 

“That said, much as we respect Inspector Munyuza’s sentiments that he sees no reason for his countrymen and women to continue coming to Malawi as refugees and asylum seekers, reports from the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Department of State of the United States of America, show things to the contrary,” he says.

It is against this background that CDEDI has since reiterated its earlier commitment that it will continue lobbying for the integration of well-meaning refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi who are significantly contributing to the country’s social and economic development.

Namiwa warns the Malawi government, to desist from receiving offers that may end up compromising the country’s human rights record and democracy, and the hard-won democracy.

But National Police spokesman James Kadadzela says the offer was based on goodwill looking at common security challenges facing the African continent continent.

Why President Chakwera appointed daughter a diplomat

Malawi Observer
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Why President Chakwera appointed daughter a diplomat

President Lazarus Chakwera is not ashamed of nepotism by appointing his second born daughter, Violet Lille Chakwera to be a diplomat in Brussels, Belgium because he is trying to get rid of her from Malawi due to her marital issues, we can exclusively reveal.

Violet Chakwera is now Mrs. Violet Leany, yes, you heard us right, Mrs. Violet Leany not Mrs. Violet Mwasinga as she has always been known until a few days after her father ascended to the presidency in June 2020.

Now it has been established that Violet terminated her marriage with Ron Mwasinga and quickly got married to a self-acclaimed ‘Man of God,’ Pastor Jordan Leany, a Malawian with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) roots who was running a church in London, the United Kingdom.

Now it’s not like the name Pastor Jordan Leany is his real name. Modern day Pastors! His real name, we have established is Nelson Kalamba Msowoya.

Well, we also stumbled upon some information that Pastor Jordan Leany, oops, Nelson Kalamba Msowoya, whatever you want to call him, attempted to sit for Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) at Liwaladzi Private Secondary School in Nkhotakota but miserably failed! “Anagwa nawo a Form Form”!

We can also confirm that Leany, well, Msowoya trekked to the United Kingdom where he stays with his dad and started a ‘church’ and does not have any other job apart from the ‘Facebook Church.’

A family member, speaking on strict condition of anonymity, said Chakwera was fond of Mwasinga who was running his errands even before he became President, but was deeply disappointed when Violet ended her marriage with Ron (Mwasinga) on a ‘godly’ advice from the self-acclaimed Pastor Leany.

Violet and Pastor Jordan Leany or Nelson Kalamba Msowoya during their wedding which President Chakwera shunned

“What happened was that Violet met this Pastor Leany (Nelson Kalamba Msowoya) on one of her trips to the UK and he advised her that her husband (Ron Mwasinga) was going to destroy her father’s Presidency because he was possessed with ‘evil spirits’ (Dziwanda) and that she should leave him immediately saying ‘God’ had shown him the signs.”

“Violet indeed ended her marriage with Ron without any valid reasons and this broke President Chakwera’s heart because out of all his son’s in-laws it was Ron who he was fond of. President Chakwera sponsored Ron Mwasinga’s trip to Canada to start a new life, that is how he valued Ron,” said the family member.

Church poster says it all…Mama Violet Leany

Before long and as expected of self-acclaimed Men of God, Pastor Leany had another vision for Violet Chakwera.

“This Pastor now told Violet that God had shown him a vision that she should be the Pastor’s wife! And Violet agreed to marry Pastor Leany,” said the family member.

Pastor Leany, who was running the Christian Brethren Centre under the Jordan Leany Ministries in the UK then moved to Malawi to get married to Violet.

President Chakwera and the First lady Madame Monica Chakwera shunned the wedding but Violet went ahead with the wedding to her Man of God new husband.

Meanwhile Pastor Leany moved in with five of his kids from his previous marriages and settled with Violet with her four children from her previous marriage with Ron Mwasinga. They now live comfortably at one of the houses in B2 section at Kamuzu Palace State Residence, where the President’s grown children and close relatives are accommodated.

“Now the President’s decision to appoint Violet to the embassy is in some way to get rid of her and the ‘large’ family she has created in just under six months. It is a household of 9 children and the President with advice from some of his advisers decided to appoint her as a diplomat in Brussels so that she should not bring disrepute to the presidency when these issues start coming out,” said the family member.

“But we also do not know the intentions of this Pastor Jordan (Nelson Kalamba Msowoya) because clearly he has some intentions if you look at the speed of how things have happened and how he quickly relocated to Malawi when he married Violet even when it was clear that Violet’s family did not approve of the marriage,” added the family member.

Pastor Jordan Leany has also convinced Violet to be part and parcel of his ministries and she even appears on posters of the Jordan Leany Ministries as ‘Mama Violet Leany.’ (See the picture)

Malawians are livid with anger after it was announced that Chakwera had appointed his daughter as a diplomat and the State House communications team even defended her appointment saying she is ‘qualified for the job.’

“The president has so far appointed over 2,000 people since he came to power and you are complaining about only one person just because she is the president’s daughter? We at State House found that to be wanting. 

“Like, seriously she cannot get a job because she is the president’s daughter? Is that a crime? She is qualified,” President Chakwera’s said 

We have, however, discovered that Violet’s highest qualification is a certificate in International Air Transport Association (IATA). 

Violet used to be an outbound ticket Sales Agent for Kenya Airways and before that she used to work for Air Malawi as a ticket sales assistant.

She completed her secondary school education at Mchinji Secondary School where she obtained her Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) but she never proceeded to a college or university.

Pastor Leany (right) has also travelled with President Chakwera to Education summit in London

Mutharika rejects ACB’s witch hunting drive

Malawi Observer
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Mutharika rejects ACB’s witch hunting drive

Former President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has told ACB to go to hell with their persecution drive.

In absence of any charge in your so called interview, the whole exercise is regarded as political gossips because I already gave the Fiscal Police the necessary tools on this TPIN issue last year in October, ” fumes Mutharika in his two page letter to Martha Chizuma’s ACB.

Mutharika has challenged the ACB that if the body continues to force him to grant them interview he will exercise his “rights to silent”.

Mutharika has for the first time lauded the Courts for throwing out the seizure application that ACB wanted to get to freeze again his bank accounts.

Chikhosi pocketed K238 million for Independence celebrations

Malawi Observer
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Chikhosi pocketed K238 million for Independence celebrations

Some things will never change! While Malawians were being told lies that the budget for this years’ 57 years independence anniversary celebrations had been slashed from K244 million to a paltry K50 million, Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Zangazanga Chikhosi was busy pocketing K238 million for the same celebrations, we can reveal.

Our impeccable source at the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) revealed that Malawians were hoodwinked to think that the budget was slashed as stated by Minister of Home Affairs Richard Chimwendo Banda who was Chairperson of the organizing Committee of the celebrations.

The source who shared with us part of the bank statement from an FDH Bank account showing some transactions by Chikhosi, said the government ‘silently’ withdrew almost the same amount that was initially budgeted for the celebrations through Chikhosi.

The bank statement shows that on 2July 2021, there was an inward telex payment with reference details; RFB/57 Independence//090TRF006290//OPC amount K238,286,196.00. The account number is 1970000056939 Account name Chief Secretary to the Government.

Insiders said Chikhosi is the only one who can explain where the money went to and there are calls for some law enforcers to grill Chikhosi on the transaction.

About MK244 million had been set aside to cater for costs in commemorating 57 years of independence under the theme ‘Building an inclusive wealthy and self-reliant nation through mindset-change and servant leadership’, but Chimwendo Banda later backtracked and said the figure has since been reduced to MK 50 million.

Chilima In Lowershire: Laments Slow Progress of Projects

Malawi Observer
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Chilima In Lowershire: Laments Slow Progress of Projects

The country’s Vice President Saulosi Chilima is in the east bank inspecting progress of some projects and has lamented slow progress in completing some of the projects he visited.

Speaking on Wednesday after visiting the construction of Makhanga ,Mtayamoyo to Bangura bridge construction, Chilima said there is a need to expedite the project.

Chilima said people around areas have been suffering for a long time and that delays in finishing the project is denying the people the right to enjoy the country’s development.

Before inspecting the Mtayamoyo bridge project, Chilima visited Nsanje railway station which has been used as a training center for artisans and engineers.

According to engineers on the site ,the station will be upgraded to fit the modem standard of rail and that once completed the rail will reach up to Nsanje inland port which according to them will help boost the country’s economy because products will be easily transported from Mozambique.

During the visit, Chilima expressed dissatisfaction over delays in construction of Nsanje-Marka road saying that the contractor carrying out the job is not doing what the Tonse led administration is advocating.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Malemia and TA Chimombo of Nsanje have pleaded with the Vice president to push for the swift completion of the railway project saying it will help reduce transportation costs.

The chiefs also asked the vice president to intervene in the completion of their house projects that have halted for 2 years

Later, Chilima inspected Manja road where lamented the state of the road and urged Blantyre City Council (BCC) to take their job seriously and ensure that the road is properly graded and tarred.

A concerned Chilima, who had paid a visit to the area three months ago, said he wants to see some improvements as not much has been done since his last visit.

He has implored city officials to keep politics and drama out of their operations and ensure the job is well done and on time.

“Are you playing politics? Should I be coming here every two months to inspect the road. Have you turned the council into another political party Mr CEO? queried Chilima.

But BCC’s Director of Town Planning and Estate Services, Costly Chanza, claimed after the Vice President’s last visit, they started operations to grade the road to reduce the bumps, and as a council they are working on the asphalt designs for the road and are currently waiting for their engineers to finalise the plans.

He said after this process, they will outsource services to upgrade the road.

Chanza added that they have been facing problems with procurement, funding and logistics, hindering them from carrying out their duties successfully in the process.

Chilima is visiting some development projects in the South to have hands-on experience and appreciate progress made so far.

Airtel Malawi in money laundering deals

Malawi Observer
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Airtel Malawi in money laundering deals

There are fears that Airtel Malawi Limited may be involved in money laundering deals after eyebrows were raised when the company declared a K23 billion dividend, more than the actual profit of K22 billion for the year ending December 2020.

Airtel Malawi announced that it had made a profit after tax of K22.091 billion for the year 2020, up from K15.908 billion the previous year. The mobile company also announced through its Company Secretary Hlupekire Chalamba that it was going to pay its shareholders a total of K23.1 billion, more than the profit it made in the year.

A financial analyst feared that Airtel Malawi could be involved in money laundering looking at the transactions that have happened.

“In normal circumstances, the dividend that goes to the shareholder of the company is less than the profit that the company has made because there has to be some money investment for the sustainability of the company. The case of Airtel Malawi is suspicious, they have declared a dividend more than the profit they have made,” he said.

“The dividends will go to the shareholders and in this case, we know that Airtel Malawi majority shareholders with 80% are based out of the country which means this money (the dividend) will be externalized. One can suspect that this is money laundering, especially that the dividends are more than the profit made by the company.”

“You mean they are not re-investing the profits in Airtel Malawi? How is the company going to survive? Where are they getting the extra K1 billion to pay dividend to the shareholders? We know that the 20% shareholders are local and the amount they are going to get is not that substantial but the majority shareholders are going to get 80% of the K23.1 billion, something is not adding up here,” added the financial analyst.

Some quarters of society have questioned why multinational companies like Airtel Malawi are allowed to hold a huge stake at the expense of locals.

Some have called on the government to revisit the law on shareholding with others calling for a 51-49% so that huge sums of money should not be externalized in the name of dividends to majority shareholders.  

Limbe Leaf hands over school blocks, desks to Kanjoka School in rural Kasungu

Malawi Observer
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Limbe Leaf hands over school blocks, desks to Kanjoka School in rural Kasungu

By Mc Donald Chapalapata, a Contributor

Chikungwa (right) explains to NyaLonje about the new classroom blocks

Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company Limited (Limbe Leaf) last week handed over two new school blocks and 120 desks worth K81 million to Kanjoka Primary School in rural Kasungu district.

The school, located in Lisasadzi area in Kasungu has a current enrollment of 1,112 pupils of which 589 are boys and 523 are girls.

Limbe Leaf has been investing in the school since 2017 to facelift the rural primary school to be one of the model schools in Kasungu district.

Among others, a Library was built in the 2017 season worth K27.5million and stocked with curricular and literal books in 2018 for use by the school and the surrounding community. In 2019 renovation works were done to the headmaster’s office worth K26.7 million. In 2020 a 2-classroom block worth K68.8 million has been refurbished and furnished with 120 desks worth K13 million.

Handing over the 2-classroom block and the 120 desks, Limbe Leaf Director of Corporate Affairs Febbie Chikungwa said through the Company’s Agricultural Labor Practices (ALP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, Kanjoka was one of the schools identified to benefit from projects that address issues of child labour.

“By providing a conducive learning environment, it is a proven fact that more children enroll and remain in school instead of the fields where they could be exposed to child labour working in fields. As a company we strongly oppose children working in tobacco fields,” said Chikungwa.

NyaLonje (left) thanks Chikungwa after receiving the two new classroom blocks

She noted that the solar installation to the library in 2019/20 has had a profound effect on the school and the community at large saying since Kanjoka Primary School is located in an area with limited and minimal access to electricity, students from the community have been able to come and study after hours leading to some students from the surrounding community day secondary school who were using the library at night to qualify for university education.

“All Limbe Leaf CSR projects currently focus on promotion of livelihoods through multiple sources of income and strict adherence to labour practices.  Some of the company’s projects to complement the ALP program include: provision of safe water, support for women groups, support of grassroot sports, primary education infrastructure and learning materials and sponsorship for university students. Through the Company’s ALP program, projects that promote primary education are central as evidenced by what we have done for Kanjoka Primary School,” said Chikungwa.  

Asked about the future of tobacco in Malawi, Chikungwa said, as long as Malawi produces a compliant and traceable crop, in a sustainable manner, there is a great future for Malawi tobacco. She said that is why, to ensure compliance, among other initiatives, adherence to labour practices on tobacco farms is one of Limbe Leaf’s priority.

Speaking when she received the donation on behalf of the government, Minister of Education Agness NyaLonje thanked Limbe Leaf for transforming Kanjoka primary school to a model school in Kasungu District.

“We are grateful to Limbe Leaf for supporting governments efforts in providing quality education to its citizens and what you have done here by transforming this primary school is very commendable. As a Ministry, we are looking at a permanent pupil-classroom ratio. We need to get it to 60 pupils per classroom. For this school, Limbe Leaf has greatly contributed to the attainment of that ratio. We would like other companies to emulate what you have done,” said NyaLonje.

Kanjoka Before
Kanjoka now

CDEDI disowns “fake letter” addressed to Minister Chimwendo-Banda

Malawi Observer
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CDEDI disowns “fake letter” addressed to Minister Chimwendo-Banda

By Iommie Chiwalo

NAMIWA: The general public to kindly ignore this misguided communication.

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), has disassociated itself from a fake letter, which is making rounds on social media platforms, purportedly issued by CDEDI, and addressed to the Homeland Security Minister, Hon. Richard Chimwendo-Banda.

The “fake letter” in question is tackling issues to do with refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi.

However CDEDI in a statement signed by its Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has advised the general public to kindly ignore this misguided communication.

Namiwa is of a strong belief that the fake letter is the work of some criminal minds, that have ulterior intentions of taking the law into their own hands, to inflict harm on innocent people, that are carrying out their businesses in some parts of the country.

“Let the members of the general public be informed that CDEDI, has lodged an official complaint with the Malawi Police Service (MPS), at the Lilongwe Police station, in Area 3, and we are happy to report even further, that investigations have already commenced to flush out these criminals,” he says.

Proving that the letter is coming from evil minds, CDEDI, has reminded the public that recently it embarked on a project to lobby the Malawi Government, through the National Assembly, to review the 1989 Refugees Act, which is very archaic, and consider drafting laws to allow the integration of the refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi, including the improvement of their welfare at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district.

“Thus far, CDEDI, delivered a petition to parliament on June 1, 2021, through the then Chairperson of the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, Hon. Yusuf Nthenda,” he narrates.

Adding that “since then, our position has not changed, and shortly we will embark on massive sensitization and lobby campaigns, to ensure that the outdated Refugees Act, should be reviewed,”

He said that it is also worth pointing out that the refugees and asylum seekers, came to Malawi in search of peace, which they could not find in their own native countries and elsewhere.

“Additionally, by virtue of being human beings, the refugees and asylum seekers, have basic rights, and that ought to be respected and promoted at all times,” he says.

Namiwa says members of the general public, are therefore, advised that as a law-abiding institution, CDEDI cannot be seen to be flouting the law, by commenting on issues that have been presented before the court, in as far as the issue of moving the refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka Refugee Camp, as directed by the Homeland Security Ministry a few months ago, is concerned.

He has simce challenged Malawians to desist from making pronouncements, and indeed displaying some conduct, that would incite hatred and anger towards some sectors of the society, including the refugees and asylum seekers, to start living in fear.

SKC in South, Pushes for Speedy Project Completion

Malawi Observer
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SKC in South, Pushes for Speedy Project Completion
SKC being briefed

Vice President Saulos Chilima has today been inspecting some projects in the Southern Region in his capacity as Minister of Economic Planning, Development, and Public Sector Reforms with a message to the contractors to speed up the works.

By 8 am Chilima was at Limbe Railway Station where he appreciated progress of various initiatives that CEAR is undertaking to revamp the railway transport in the country.

The Vice President later proceeded to inspect Nansadi Train Station in Thyolo District before trekking down to tour the Thyolo – Thekerani-Muona Road.

The Vice President completed with an inspection of the construction of Ruo Bridge where he briefed the media of the importance of the projects and that he was impressed with progress so far.

Dr. Chilima urged the construction companies that are implementing the projects to work with speed in order to create job opportunities for the citizens.

“We know that people are frustrated and we think we need to act with speed to make sure that projects are completed on time,” he said.

However, Chilima said is impressed with quality of rehabilitation works on the Limbe-Luchenza railway line, Thyolo-Thekerani-Muona road and the construction of Ruo bridge.

FDH Bank plc touts Ufulu money transfer platform

Malawi Observer
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FDH Bank plc touts Ufulu money transfer platform
Yamikani Mbawala: Customers on Ufulu525 can enjoy other benefits and services like access to Classic FDH Mastercard, bill payments and merchant payments

Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) listed FDH Bank plc has described the newly introduced Ufulu525 money transfer platform under FDH Mobile Banking as a progressive financial inclusion solution.

In an interview, FDH Bank Plc Digital Sales Senior Manager Yamikani Mbawala said that in the age of innovation and with the surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital solutions have become critical to progress at all levels.

“By dialing *525# or using FDH WhatsApp Banking to access Ufulu525, customers can instantly send money to any phone number ensuring ease of transactions, continuation of business and limiting the need for people to physically move to and queue in banking halls,” said Mbawala.

“On top of the ease of instant transfers and the ease of self-registration, customers on Ufulu525 can enjoy other benefits and services like access to Classic FDH Mastercard, bill payments and merchant payments,” he added

“As an inclusive homegrown bank that understands the financial needs of Malawians at all levels, FDH Bank plc has over 5000 Banki Pakhomo Agents across the county and 91 ATMs that allow customers on Ufulu525 to access funds at ease and from everywhere,” explained Mbawala.

FDH Bank plc is a leading financial institution with an array of digital solutions and a footprint of 51 service centres across the country and is a subsidiary of a leading financial group FDH Financial Holdings Limited.

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