Opposition Umodzi Party (UP) President John Chisi has urged Malawi government to borrow money for this year’s Independence Day celebrations arguing that it is an important day for the country.The development follows reports that Malawi will not have the celebrations on July 6 due to financial hiccups that the country is grappling with.

Reacting on the matter, Chisi blamed government for calling off the national event arguing that the decision does not make any sense.John ChisiChisi; Made the call.“First of all this is a national event and we do have it once in a year I don’t think putting aside it makes sense, if government has no money it should go and borrow for us to celebrate,” said Chisi.He added that if government fails to provide resources for the event it should not organise any political rally in the country.When making the announcement earlier this week, Chief Secretary to the Malawi Government George Mkondiwa said there will just be a national service of worship in commemoration for the day Malawians attained self-rule from its colonial master Britain.Last year, Malawi government used K300 million for its 51st Independence Day celebrations held in Blantyre.

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FIFA is planning to sponsor a football tournament for girls in secondary schools in Blantyre next month as part of its youth development programmes. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) vice president James Mwenda said FIFA has already made a commitment towards the sponsorship.

“What I know is that FIFA has agreed to sponsor girls football in secondary schools, as a pilot project will start with 12 schools around Blantyre,” he said. FIFA will also provide equipment such as balls, boots, and uniforms in this tournament will run for six to eight months.

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The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has commenced investigations on former President Joyce Banda in relation to US$1.2 million royalties Malawi earned from Nigerian crude oil deal and the proceeds from Presidential jet sale. Top ACB officials have confirmed to this publication that a docket has been opened on the oil deal and Presidential jet sale, and investigations are currently underway. Investigated- Banda Under iInvestigations- Banda The investigations,

are as a result of complaints by the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) to the authorities through its executive director John Kapito. Malawi in 2013, under Banda’s reign, earned US$1,256.081.70 as royalties from crude oil deal it signed with Nigerian government in May 2012. The oil deal was initiated by Banda’s predecessor late Bingu wa Mutharika. Banda’s administration also battered-off controversial Presidential jet to offset a $19 million debt owed to Paramount Group. According to information, the crude oil sale agreement spanned from May 1st, 2012 to April 30th, 2013, and the royalties were transferred into National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Foreign Currency Dominated account for crude (Afcda) maintained at National Bank of Malawi. Government was forced to contract Nocma to service the deal as an agent since it was unable to secure US$120 million required to purchase the crude oil. Under the government-to-government deal, Nigeria agreed to supply Malawi with crude oil through the NNPC and allowed Malawi to either process or sell the crude, thus-as a buyer-after paying upfront $2.5 million (then over K1 billion) before making first uplift of the oil.

raised the complaint- Kapito The contract gave Malawi approval to buy and sell 30 000 barrels per day of crude oil made up of several grades as specified in the lifting schedule for each month. This means that, effectively, the country was at liberty to buy and sell over half a million barrels a month. The crude oil deal was signed by President Banda who pushed for the contract, first initiated by late Mutharika in his attempts to solve chronic fuel shortages that rocked the country under his administration. In November 2012, Petroleos De Geneve SA Limited (PDG) managing director Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe told Malawi’s daily that Lilongwe was getting US0.4 cents in royalties per barrel, which he said totaled $760 000 (over K300 million) by then. He said Malawi had uplifted 903, 691 barrels in August 2012 and 997, 416 in the second phase in October last year, which is nearly two million barrels. The Dassault Falcon 900EX Presidential jet bought in 2009 cost Malawi almost $22 million, a move that angered western donors who claimed that the jet was partly bought using donor funds aimed at uplifting the impoverished citizenry.

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CHALAMANDA IN USA

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UMUSU GAVE 72HOURS ULTIMATUM TO THE MINISTRY

University of Malawi Students Union (Umsu) yesterday gave the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) a 72-hour ultimatum to address the recently announced students’ financial contribution or face undisclosed urgent action. Dressed in red and black, and with heavy police presence, the eight Umsu members representing thousands of University of Malawi (Unima) students carried placards and sang songs condemning Unima Council’s decision to raise fees for mature and generic students. They marched from Total Filling Station near Presidential Road to Lilongwe City Council (LCC) offices where they delivered their petition.The march follows an announcement by Unima Council that mature entry students will now be paying K900 000 at Chancellor College (Chanco), K1.4 million at College of Medicine (CoM), K1 million at Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) and K950 000 at the Polytechnic.Umsu president Tiwonge Sikwese said generic students will have to pay K500 000 at CoM, K380 000 at the Polytechnic, K320 000 at Chanco and K340 000 at KCN from the current K275 000 across the board. In the picture, the students hoist placards to stress their case

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NFR A PLAN TO PARCHASE 40000 METRIC TONE OF MAIzE

National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) plans to purchase 40 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize valued at K10 billion to feed millions of Malawians facing hunger this year.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigationj and Water Development George Chaponda said this when he inspected the maize buying exercise at NFRA maize silos complex in Lilongwe yesterday.
Chaponda: This is impressive
Chaponda: This is impressive

The buying started on Monday and loaded trucks were seen offloading the maize at the silos in Kanengo.

“I have been told that, in a day, they are offloading 45 trucks. This is very impressive. This maize will later be donated to citizens that are in dire need of food,” Chaponda said.

The minister also said they have struck a deal with Zambia and Tanzania to supply the country with maize.

“I travelled to Zambia recently where the Zambian Government has assured us that we can buy 200 000MT from them while Tanzania has committed to sell us 150 000MT. We are optimistic that we will have enough food,” the minister said.

NFRA chief executive officer Nasinuku Saukila has said currently they have 20 000MT in the silos.

About 6.5 million Malawians—nearly one third of the population—face food insecurity, according to recent government estimates.

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EGYPT DARES IMMIGRATION

Egyptian Ambassador Maher El-Adawy has urged Immigration Department to become independent and generate its own resources instead of depending on government and donors for its sustainability.

The Ambassador said this on Tuesday when he toured the Immigration Headquarters in Blantyre as part of his tour to cement his government’s relations with both private and public departments.

“I am impressed that with limited resources and overload, the department is efficient and has a faster passport process. However, it is time the department started to think of generating its own resources to efficiently run its activities.
El-Adawy (L) appreciates the passport process
El-Adawy (L) appreciates the passport process

“If we can come up with resource-generation measures and support them with perseverance and hard work, the department can be different,” said El-Adawy.

He advised the department to consider influencing government to allow it to raise the fees for the services it provides and pocket the additional sum to support its activities.

Chief immigration officer Masauko Medi said his office is already discussing with government to be disintegrated and be independent. He said they are optimistic that if they are independent like Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and Directorate of Road Traffic Safety Services (DRTSS), their operations can improve.

“We will be more efficient if we stop depending on the Treasury. Our dream is to run the department as a business because it does not speak well to be bankrupt when we are able to generate more revenue,” said Medi.

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