The country is facing unprecedented political crisis. And that crisis has been enabled by a leadership crisis. While the political crisis could not be predicted even as we queued to cast our votes in May, there were always tell-tale signs from a long time that our country is facing a leadership crisis. Even before ascending…
Golden Matonga
MHRC probes police on arbitrary arrests
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has opened investigations into reports that Malawi Police Service (MPS) is making arbitrary arrests and has since called for calm and dialogue over the worsening political crisis in the country. Briefing journalists in Lilongwe on Thursday, the State organ condemned the spate of violence in the country and called for…
Oversized greed…
To believe his apologists, Walter Nyamilandu is the glue that holds our football together. Were he to leave the stage, our football would collapse; hence, should continue serving as our football czar as long as his mental and physical faculties allow him. But this is a lie so those who are selling that lie are…
A party lost its soul
If there is something the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has succeed to do, with abundant consistency, is ruling this country arrogantly—with little regard to the aspirations of the people, or the political temperature of the day. Ever since the DPP won their deserved landslide victory in 2009 on the back of an impressive reign from…
Broadcasters get court relief on phone-in shows
The High Court of Malawi has slapped Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) in the face, granting broadcasters temporary relief to resume radio phone-in programmes on their airwaves. Macra ordered suspension of all phone-in programmes over allegations that they were fuelling tension in the country amid the ongoing post-election political crisis. In granting the order, High…
The glue holding us…
The President cannot travel without the military these days. Judges travel sandwiched by armoured vehicles, too. And maybe you heard it, but this newspaperman and a fellow lady journalist joined the long list of victims of the violent protests that have engulfed the country since the country’s presidential vote was rejected by the opposition as…
Chakwera, AG battle
MCP leader’s cross examination winds up Case adjourned to September 30 Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera On Friday finished giving testimony under cross-examination, cementing his case that the May 21 presidential elections were marred by irregularities, possible fraud and bias. Chakwera, who alongside UTM presidential candidate Saulos Chilima, is disputing the narrow…
Chakwera, AG in showdown
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale on Thursday tussled in court in a cross -examination punctuated by flashes of tempers. Chakwera, the second petitioner in the presidential elections case being held by the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe, was appearing in court for the first time after first petitioner…
MDAs accused of bypassing contracts unit in deals
Various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have been accused of flouting new budget guidelines and policy by failing to submit all contracts for vetting by the Government Contracts Negotiation Unit (GCNU). The development has led to fears that following huge financial scandals where billions of taxpayers’ money has gone down the drain either through…
Tax measures bring joy, pain
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwanamvekha on Monday outlined tax measures that will bring joy and pain in equal measure to taxpayers. But the highlight of the tax measures in the K1.731 trillion 2019/20 National Budget that will excite employees is the increase in the pay as you earn (Paye) tax-free bracket…
Court adjourns as third UTM witness takes stand
The Constitutional Court sitting in Lilongwe has adjourned until Monday when it will continue hearing testimony from one of the witnesses for UTM presidential candidate Saulos Chilima. Chilima, who is first petitioner in the case, is alongside Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera (second petitioner), challenging the re-election of President Peter Mutharika, alleging that…
Gwalidi completes testimony
UTM Party presidential candidate Saulos Chilima’s witness Miriam Gwalidi yesterday completed her testimony on disputed presidential elections which her party argues were marked by serious irregularities. She was re-examined by Chilima’s lawyers during which she used graphic evidence projected on a screen projector to narrate that presidential election results were altered, mostly using correction fluid…
I won’t fire Ansah—APM
President Peter Mutharika has broken his silence on calls to fire beleaguered Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah, saying he will not fire her but instead wait for due process of law. Speaking to the BBC on Monday, the President declared he will not fire Ansah as demanded by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition…
Solomonic wisdom
The first time I saw Justice Lovemore Chikopa, I was mesmerised by his audacious football tricks, including a brilliantly executed overheard kick that could’ve turned Cristiano Ronaldo green with envy. He was already a High Court judge then. And the oldest on the pitch by far, but had just out-thought—and out-jumped—anyone on the pitch to…
A very dangerous president!
President Peter Mutharika is on a dangerous path. Not just because he is ordering the military and police to forcefully quell planned Hong-Kong-styled airport and border protests. Well, that is scaring enough because there is something even more troubling. The President, has stopped listening to any voice of reason. He is only listening to himself.…
Court rebuffs APM over 243 witnesses
The Constitutional Court yesterday rejected submission by lawyers for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate in the disputed May 21 elections, Peter Mutharika to question some 243 witnesses in the ongoing election case. Close to 800 witnesses have provided sworn statements supporting the case of the four parties involved in the presidential results dispute. The…
UTM witness testifies in polls case
One of the key witnesses for UTM Party presidential candidate Saulos Chilima says Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) pledged during the May 21 Tripartite Elections results transmission that any altered results would not be admitted by the electoral body. Mirriam Gwalidi, who worked as the party’s roving monitor but was stationed at the Main Tally Centre…
Chilima, Chakwera lawyers query AG role, slow pace
Lawyers for UTM Party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidates have queried the Constitutional Court in the ongoing presidential election court petition case over the alleged partisan role played by Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale and the slow pace of the case. Kaphale’s role first came into question after the AG, who is representing…
For posterity’s sake…
For posterity’s sake…“If the only tool you have is a hammer,” goes one African proverb, “you tend to see every problem as a nail.” Well, perhaps, we should be grateful that President Peter Mutharika, after all, has remained quiet as the country burnt because each time he speaks he seems to make matters worse. At…
APM, Ansah audios played in court
As SKC case shrinks to presidential Chilima also quizzed on nullification of elections The Constitutional Court, sitting in Lilongwe yesterday, heard a glimpse of the evidence UTM presidential candidate Saulos Chilima has in the case, including audio recordings in which MEC officials are overheard discussing election irregularities. Some of the evidence came to light as…