News In Central Region (1289)
Malawi Launches Teachers Council to Elevate Teaching Profession
The event, attended by dignitaries, educators, and government officials, marked a significant step in regulating and enhancing the teaching profession in the country.
Zodiak Women In Fundraising Drive For Mother’s Day
Zodiak Broadcasting Station female workers have ventured into a fundraising drive that will raise funds for a charitable cause to take place on Mothers’ Day this year.
USAid to Assist Malawi’s Economic Growth Through Agriculture
The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) has disclosed plans to partner with at least 25 private sector companies in Malawi “to help stimulate economic growth.”
Govt To Upgrade Water Schemes
Water and Sanitation Minister Abida Mia has reaffirmed government commitment towards the rehabilitation of water schemes in areas which were heavily hit by Cholera outbreak.
US Embassy Decries Rising Crime in Lilongwe
The American Embassy in Malawi has raised security concerns with increased crime in Lilongwe city this year warning its citizens to take extra caution.
A security alert from the embassy issued on 31 August indicates that the number of
crimes reported from January to August 2023, in area 10, 12 and 43, has nearly matched the total cases reported in the whole of 2022.
Reads part of the security alert: “This increase in crime is correlated with a heightened risk to foreign visitors and to the expatriate community.”
US Embassy Public Relations Officers, Namita Biggins, confirmed the development to Zodiak Online, adding the embassy has since issued the warning and recommendations for preventive actions to their citizens.
The security alert names home invasions, theft, car-jacking and break-ins as some of the crimes that frequently occur in the city.
It further says, other crimes such as kidnappings, though not frequent,also do occur in the city and other places in the country.
However, the police have dismissed this. Deputy national police spokesperson Alfred Chimthere told us crime in the city has actually declined this year in the said areas.
“The data that we have for car-jacking and others from January to June shows a 10 percent reduction from 41 cases in 2022 to 31 in 2023.”
He however said they will engage the American embassy to consolidate the figures and also ensure they provide maximum security in the city and other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, a security expert Master Mfune has dared the police to intensify patrols as one way of addressing the problem.
“The police should intensify their security, the normal patrols that they used to have are no longer there. In the past we could meet police officers on patrol, but now they have reduced,” said Mfune.
The American citizens in the country have since been advised to beware of their surroundings, be vigilant when visiting banks, Auto-teller Machines (ATMs) and should not display wealth by wearing expensive jewelry and watches. They have also been advised against resisting any robbery attempt, take caution when driving at night and desist from walking after dark.
Farmers Advised to Switch to Commercial Agriculture
Lilongwe District Council has asked farmers to commercialise their agricultural productivity by, among other things, adding value to their produce and making it stand competitively on the international market.
Analysts thrash DPP Chakwera Impeachment Calls
Political analysts have thrashed an idea by the Democratic Progressive Party DPP that president Lazarus Chakwera should step down or risk being impeached by parliament.
The analysts have told us that despite the Tonse led administration not delivering several of its campaign promises, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party DPP is not being realistic in its fresh demands.
One of the analysts, Wonderful Mkhutche says the approach DPP has taken will not bring the change Malawians want, as it lacks solutions to challenges facing people.
“The current government is not working according to its promises and our expectations, but for DPP to go ahead to call for the president to step down or even go for an impeachment, that’s overthinking or overstepping because even if the president was removed today, DPP is not an option for power,” he said.
He adds; “At the briefing they were not offering any alternatives. They were not presenting ideas, as to how they could have handled the issue. They were simply talking about how things were during their time.”
Another analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi is of the view that, the party missed an opportunity by not having leader of opposition in parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa at the presser.
“I would expect the leader of opposition in parliament, Dr Kondwani Nankhumwa to have been among the people that addressed the press conference. And to show that leadership as the leader of opposition for Malawians to see the seriousness the opposition has,” he said.
On Monday, DPP senior officials held a press briefing in Blantyre where they discussed challenges Malawians are facing.
On Monday, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) senior officials Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, Shadric Namalomba, Mary Navicha, Bright Msaka and Leonard Chimbanga held a press briefing dubbed “Enough is Enough; Chakwera Must Fall”.
At the briefing, the party made fresh calls for president Lazarus Chakwera to step down, or risk facing an impeachment from parliament. There were also allegations that, president Lazarus Chakwera and his Tonse led government are already working on rigging the 2025 general elections.
In response, the government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu laughed of the claims, saying that rigging is not part of their tactic.
MACRA Engages Telecommunication Stakeholders on Service Delivery
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has convened a week-long engagement meeting with stakeholders in the telecommunication sector in Lilongwe, where they are discussing challenges that have rocked the sector and compromised quality of service to their customers.
Speaking Tuesday August 29, 2023 MACRA’s director of telecommunication Edward Kauka said the authority is overwhelmed with concerns from consumers on how poor telecommunication services are affecting their daily living. They cited frequent dropped calls and high internet cost as examples.
Kauka said this is unfortunate as telecommunication is regarded as very important tool in any development process, hence calling for the meeting to appreciate challenges the operators are going through, and see how best they can help to improve service provision.
“You will appreciate that our operators have been doing business in the country for some years now, but we keep receiving complaints from people about poor quality services on telecommunication. So, we thought it wise that we bring together all the stakeholders in the sector, to discuss all the challenges and map the way forward," said Kauka.
He added; “We have engaged an expert from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) who is going to facilitate the process, having done bench-marking across the world and he will direct us on the way forward.”
By the end of the exercise MACRA says it will revise Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and regulations to start punishing none-compliant operators, when found offering poor services to the people.
Commenting on the matter Executive Director for Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) John Kapito said, they anticipate a candid discussion with players in the telecommunication sector, having presented their grievances to the authority bordering on poor services.
“I think the cost of communicating in the country is a bit high, and we raised such issues with MACRA to intervene.
“High cost of data, challenges with connectivity and unreliable mobile money services have become the order of the day and we hope this meeting will help address them for us to start enjoying these services.”
Apart from CAMA, the regulator has invited participants from Airtel Malawi and TNM.
Woman Arrested for Stealing a Baby
By Henderson Charles Msusa
A 30-year woman has been apprehended for allegedly stealing a newborn at Ntchisi District Hospital.
Ntchisi Police Public Relations Officer Glory Kondowe, has identified the suspect as Mayines Banda, and was arrested Monday in the district.
" Banda tricked the owner of the baby, linafe Hayiton, that she was a friend to her guardian, who by that time had gone to the guardian shelter to prepare food. She offered herself to carry the baby, so that the mother could rest," Kondowe said.
Kondowe added, that with that assuarance, the mother then slept, then the suspect took advantage of this to sneaking out of the ward, fortunately, she was intercepted by the hospital's perimeter guard.
Banda who is expected to be taken to court soon to answer the charge of stealing a child. She comes from Chole village, Traditional Authority Kalumo in the district.
One dies eight others injured in Ntchisi accident
By Henderson Charles Msusa
A man was killed while eight others were admitted to Ntchisi District Hospital following a road accident which occurred on an earth road between Chikhwakhwa and M'nyanga village Saturday.
One of the persons who was in the car involved in the accident, Petro Jaziel told Zodiak that the accident involved a lorry which carried about 63 people on board, a group of mourners, going to a funeral ceremony in M'nyanga Village Traditional Authority Vuso Jere in the district.
"At the time, the vehicle was coming from Malomo direction heading to the funeral ceremony. The driver failed to control the vehicle when passing through a mound, resulting into an overturn," he said.
Spokesperson for Ntchisi District Hospital Samison Mfuyeni, said following the accident, one man died because of severe head injuries.
"About 15 people sustained minor injuries and we treated them as outpatients," he added.
