this article appeared in the Sunday Times of 2 September 2007
MBC does not deserve any money from government
by Hastings Maloya
Former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi never stops to amaze me. In most cases, his political statements, leaves a lot to be desired. Especially when he instructs his members of parliament as if they were kindergarten children. But maybe thus how politics is supposed to be. The whole team of parliamentarians, who are supposed to be representatives of the people, being told what to do by their leader and they choose to listen without asking questions.
Dr. Muluzi might have advised his MPs on different issues but his recent public advice that the legislators should vote against financial allocation to the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi, was the worst ever to come from the former leader.
It was disappointing because the legislators are asked to deny MBC and TVM their allocation, not for the benefit of the people of Malawi but for his political will. This is regardless of legislation guiding the operations of the two media houses in Malawi.
Much as I hated Muluzi’s assertion, I believe it is high time Malawians pondered and debated on whether MBC and TVM should continue receiving government funding. This question, whatever the case should not be answered by politicians but by Malawians themselves. Malawians, regardless of their political affiliations must say, after all its their money at play here.
Certainly different thoughts and ideas would come in as to whether these two national broadcasters deserve public funding. I would like to say that MBC, maybe just like TVM, do not deserve any funding from government but this should not be said with any political connotations.
From time in memorial Malawi has had only one radio and it has been the only source of electronic information. It was not debatable in such a situation as to whether the government needed to fund it or not. It was obvious that the nation, needed to be communicated to through such a media. Its moto, therefore made a lot of sense, as informing, educating and entertaining. Malawians have gone through a period where radio was the only source of reliable information and most campaign were best delivered through the radio.
But it is said that things do change over time. True to it, things are changing and now Malawi has over eighteen radio stations broadcasting through out the country. Malawi has a television station, she has mobile telephones, has internet, and Malawi now has a regulatory body called the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). Yes twelve years ago, this was not the case. Indeed things do change over time.
Now the people of Malawi are free to chose which radio station to tune to. Malawians can make a judgement as to which radio station breaks the news and which one has most entertaining and quality programming. We are free to listen to what we like and switch off what makes no sense. Even advertisers have the freedom to fly their adverts on radios of their choice depending on what audience they are interested in.
But why should things remain the same in as far as funding is concerned for MBC? Have we made an assessment that MBC remains the best source of public information in Malawi? Why should it be favoured?
In leveling the playing field, if the government has financial resources thus meant to promote broadcasting media in Malawi, then it needs to fund each radio station – equally and give its people a wider choice of which station to listen to. Funding MBC is tantamount to killing the other radio stations and all of them scramble for the same market in as far as advertising is concerned.
MBC has lost its representation as a national broadcaster if one was to critically go with the type of its programming. Arguably the opposition should be allowed to advance its views, and defend itself against attacks. That is NOT happening now! New programmes that are cropping up at MBC are far from national building and development. The local content that we used to enjoy in the past years is no longer there.
The question still remain, why should Malawians contribute to MBC when the radio is not open to the listeners’ choices. In a free society that we are Malawian citizens should be free today to criticise their government, and offer thoughts. This is not happening on MBC.
Malawi enjoys freedom of expression and opinion, and this can be strengthened by a fairly leveled playing field for radio broadcasting. MBC, as it is now with the changed landscape that we are in, does not deserve any public funding. Let it receive if the laws say so and we should work tirelessly to re-look at those laws and see whether they are making sense for the time that we live in.
MBC has a vibrant business department with quite a lot of resources both technical and human. They are almost everywhere in Malawi with strong transmitters. It’s just a matter of putting in lovely productions and a team of vibrant marketing professionals and do away will all issues of corruption. Surely MBC does not need any funding from anyone. The only funding they may need should come from donor and non-governmental organisations through project proposals.
The private radio broadcasting in Malawi faces a lot of challenges from licensing to taxes and purchase of equipment. Nevertheless, the radios are a great source of information and we have seen them surviving the heat of the day. It is not time they were considered for funding too? Will Malawians cry if that happened?
Our politicians should not be talking noise for personal gains, it would help to go into parliament, look at the legislation, revisit it and alter where necessary, of course with the blessing of all Malawians. This should be done regardless on one’s political affiliations and beliefs.
It is overdue. MBC does not deserve government funding. My proposal is that MBC should receive its allocation for the time being but the legislations should be looked into now. This must stop. Lets not make our public broadcaster lazy. Things have changed, lets accept the change by changing the way we think.
At the end of the day the main beneficiary are the Malawians themselves.
Unveiling the Beauty - Mt Mulanje
this article appeared in the Nation Newspeper on Thursday 16th August, 2007
MOUNT MULANJE
By Hastings Maloya
Historically it is recorded that Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was once home to the first Malawian settlers. Recorded history indicates that the inhabitants in the mountains were dwarf people locally known as Amwandionerapati or Abathwa. It is said that they were a people with diminutive height who lived on hunting. The name Abathwa purely meant short people. However, it is said that the said people never liked being called or referred to as being short.
Fifty-eight year old Sankhulani Musopa who lives close to the mountain says there had been people that had an opportunity to see the early settlers in the reserve. He says each time one met them, they would, in quite a war-like manner, ask; “from where did you see us?” To that question, they expected the respondent to say that he/she had seem them from very far. They could then feel very proud. They were not too short to be noticed from far, anyway! They were speaking chinyanja and their question was coming like “mwandionera pati? Hence they were called Amwandionerapati.
Musopa says there had also been cases that they could provide well-cooked food, fruits and some presents if you were lucky to meet them.
“You could find well prepared food on your way, all you needed to do was eat and make no noise about it,” says Musopa but fails to link the preparation of such food and other stories about spirits in the mountain. Very little is known as to how these early settlers disappeared from the mountain’s forest reserve. Or are they still there?
Ever since the stories of the early settlers lessened, Mulanje Mountain has, over the years, mostly and moderately just known as the largest mountain in Central Africa. Of course its beauty has been written in different periodicals and recorded in different media. And tourists from all over the world have been to Mulanje Mountain. But until September 2003, it was known otherwise, it became a mountain in which people can go missing and never be found.
Yes the story of Linda Pronk was a turn of stories associated with Mulanje Mountain. Linda, a 22-year-old Dutch citizen, who one fateful Saturday in 2003, tried to set off, alone, to climb Sapitwa peak, and she has not been seen since. Sophisticated search methods were applied, traditional healers and medicine people came with different skills and approaches, preachers and leaders of different religions and beliefs also participated in the search. All efforts were done to search for Linda, hopes were raised but still it is four years now and no success registered.
As for the local people living around the mountain, ancestral spirits played a role in the missing of Linda. They say there are spirits in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve and can react in case they are not happy with a particular situation. One does not need to be forced to believe that neither is one expected to dispute such beliefs.
“My advice is that we should visit the mountain with respect. This is a treasurer for the people of Mulanje and Phalombe. It must be respected,” says a chief from Phalombe without elaborating. To date, there is nothing conclusive as to what exactly happened. Someone is yet to come up with a possible assumption.
Musopa says, “Sometimes you can not tell about this mountain. Some things that happen here, you just can not understand them, maybe thus what makes this mountain important and unique.”
All in all, this tragic incident on the mountain should serve to remind us all to strongly adhere to the well-established safety principles that guide mountain climbing. No-one can really tell what exactly happened to Linda. However, notwithstanding this unfortunate event, Mount Mulanje remains one unique resource for Malawi as it continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
Situated about 80 km from the commercial city Blantyre, past the green beautiful tea field of the Thyolo Highlands, the attractive Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak, standing over 3000m above sea level, is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive and unique massif in the southern and central African region. With its evergreen forests, woodlands and montane grasslands, the mountain has attracted increasing attention to many tourists.
And now with the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, the distance between Blantyre and Mulanje has been reduced by thirty kilometers which makes it easier for a day visit and fun for rock climbers.
Mulanje Mountain is much more than a barren rock. Covering an area of 640,000 hectares within Mulanje and Phalombe districts, the mountain has a Forest Reserve thus made up of a range of ecological habitats from rain forest to alpine, woodland to grassland. There is a great diversity of plant and animal life and many of species are endemic. The most famous endemic is the magnificent and endangered Mulanje cedar, Malawi’s National Tree, which dominates the high altitude forests.
Apart from the famous Sapitwa Peak, there are a lot of striking sites on this massif that has a grouping of lovely hills. Some appealing sites on top of the mountains include the splendid Chambe basin and the superlative Lichenya and wonderful Sombani Plateau. How about the outstanding Ruo Gorge and exquisite water falls? The weather on the top, with the breeze from the natural woodlands, makes the mountain an alternative place worth spending time at.
Up the Likhubula river, is the historical and wonderful Dziwe la Nkhalamba falls with extremely cold waters and a lovely place for picnics. It has one of the breathtaking waterfalls that would entice you to spend a day watching it. How about enjoying a swim! A walk into the mountain and its reserve, makes one appreciate the wonders of nature.
A group of students from England that visited the mountain recently saw the need to leave a comment about the mountain. After what they called 'a three hour task of climbing the hills up to Chambe peak,' the students wrote in a visitor's book: "What seemed to be a never ending uphill trudge soon led us over the hill to our first view of the beautiful Chambe peak." Three days of their stay in a suitable mountain hut was too little for what they were to see on the mountain. They left with emotive words describing what they saw; "Absolutely gorgeous place that will be described to all of England when we get home. Loved it!"
Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was gazzeted as a protected area by the then Nyasaland government in 1927 and to date it is Malawi’s oldest forest reserve.
MOUNT MULANJE
By Hastings Maloya
Historically it is recorded that Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was once home to the first Malawian settlers. Recorded history indicates that the inhabitants in the mountains were dwarf people locally known as Amwandionerapati or Abathwa. It is said that they were a people with diminutive height who lived on hunting. The name Abathwa purely meant short people. However, it is said that the said people never liked being called or referred to as being short.
Fifty-eight year old Sankhulani Musopa who lives close to the mountain says there had been people that had an opportunity to see the early settlers in the reserve. He says each time one met them, they would, in quite a war-like manner, ask; “from where did you see us?” To that question, they expected the respondent to say that he/she had seem them from very far. They could then feel very proud. They were not too short to be noticed from far, anyway! They were speaking chinyanja and their question was coming like “mwandionera pati? Hence they were called Amwandionerapati.
Musopa says there had also been cases that they could provide well-cooked food, fruits and some presents if you were lucky to meet them.
“You could find well prepared food on your way, all you needed to do was eat and make no noise about it,” says Musopa but fails to link the preparation of such food and other stories about spirits in the mountain. Very little is known as to how these early settlers disappeared from the mountain’s forest reserve. Or are they still there?
Ever since the stories of the early settlers lessened, Mulanje Mountain has, over the years, mostly and moderately just known as the largest mountain in Central Africa. Of course its beauty has been written in different periodicals and recorded in different media. And tourists from all over the world have been to Mulanje Mountain. But until September 2003, it was known otherwise, it became a mountain in which people can go missing and never be found.
Yes the story of Linda Pronk was a turn of stories associated with Mulanje Mountain. Linda, a 22-year-old Dutch citizen, who one fateful Saturday in 2003, tried to set off, alone, to climb Sapitwa peak, and she has not been seen since. Sophisticated search methods were applied, traditional healers and medicine people came with different skills and approaches, preachers and leaders of different religions and beliefs also participated in the search. All efforts were done to search for Linda, hopes were raised but still it is four years now and no success registered.
As for the local people living around the mountain, ancestral spirits played a role in the missing of Linda. They say there are spirits in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve and can react in case they are not happy with a particular situation. One does not need to be forced to believe that neither is one expected to dispute such beliefs.
“My advice is that we should visit the mountain with respect. This is a treasurer for the people of Mulanje and Phalombe. It must be respected,” says a chief from Phalombe without elaborating. To date, there is nothing conclusive as to what exactly happened. Someone is yet to come up with a possible assumption.
Musopa says, “Sometimes you can not tell about this mountain. Some things that happen here, you just can not understand them, maybe thus what makes this mountain important and unique.”
All in all, this tragic incident on the mountain should serve to remind us all to strongly adhere to the well-established safety principles that guide mountain climbing. No-one can really tell what exactly happened to Linda. However, notwithstanding this unfortunate event, Mount Mulanje remains one unique resource for Malawi as it continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
Situated about 80 km from the commercial city Blantyre, past the green beautiful tea field of the Thyolo Highlands, the attractive Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak, standing over 3000m above sea level, is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive and unique massif in the southern and central African region. With its evergreen forests, woodlands and montane grasslands, the mountain has attracted increasing attention to many tourists.
And now with the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, the distance between Blantyre and Mulanje has been reduced by thirty kilometers which makes it easier for a day visit and fun for rock climbers.
Mulanje Mountain is much more than a barren rock. Covering an area of 640,000 hectares within Mulanje and Phalombe districts, the mountain has a Forest Reserve thus made up of a range of ecological habitats from rain forest to alpine, woodland to grassland. There is a great diversity of plant and animal life and many of species are endemic. The most famous endemic is the magnificent and endangered Mulanje cedar, Malawi’s National Tree, which dominates the high altitude forests.
Apart from the famous Sapitwa Peak, there are a lot of striking sites on this massif that has a grouping of lovely hills. Some appealing sites on top of the mountains include the splendid Chambe basin and the superlative Lichenya and wonderful Sombani Plateau. How about the outstanding Ruo Gorge and exquisite water falls? The weather on the top, with the breeze from the natural woodlands, makes the mountain an alternative place worth spending time at.
Up the Likhubula river, is the historical and wonderful Dziwe la Nkhalamba falls with extremely cold waters and a lovely place for picnics. It has one of the breathtaking waterfalls that would entice you to spend a day watching it. How about enjoying a swim! A walk into the mountain and its reserve, makes one appreciate the wonders of nature.
A group of students from England that visited the mountain recently saw the need to leave a comment about the mountain. After what they called 'a three hour task of climbing the hills up to Chambe peak,' the students wrote in a visitor's book: "What seemed to be a never ending uphill trudge soon led us over the hill to our first view of the beautiful Chambe peak." Three days of their stay in a suitable mountain hut was too little for what they were to see on the mountain. They left with emotive words describing what they saw; "Absolutely gorgeous place that will be described to all of England when we get home. Loved it!"
Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was gazzeted as a protected area by the then Nyasaland government in 1927 and to date it is Malawi’s oldest forest reserve.
On the 2007 Mt Mulanje Porters Race
Master retains Mt Mulanje porters title
By Hastings Maloya
Point proven, she is a genius. She did not only defend her championship but also beat her own record of last year. Tereza Master has, for a second year running won the Mount Mulanje Porters Race after doing the trek in 2 hours 42 minutes seven minutes less of her 2006 record of 2 hours 49 minutes. She walked home K20, 000 richer and a trophy from NBS Bank. Her long time friend Nancy Matanda, current national marathon champion, came second after doing the distance in 2 hours 48 minutes, followed by Doris Fisha on the third position.
“This is a consolation as I was supposed to be at the All Africa Games in Algeria had everything gone as planned, but anyway I am very happy to have defended my title.” said the excited Master. She said the race helps her keep her fitness.
In the men’s category, a new name in the athletic circles, Charles Musowa, who has been on second position for the past two consecutive years, breathed fire and claimed the championship of Malawi’s only extreme sport. He also K20, 000 bank voucher to open an account with NBS Bank thanks to NBS Bank, the proud sponsors of the 2007 Mount Mulanje Porters Race.
Musowa, one of the porters from Likhubula zone, did the 25km mountain trek in 2 hours 9 minutes beating last years record of Francis Khanje at 2 hours 17 minutes. Mike Tebulo from Zomba came second while Khanje came third and received K15, 000 and K10, 000 respectively from NBS Bank.
“I have finally done it,” said the excited Musowa adding: “its time now Malawi knew that from Mulanje now comes another name in athletics.” He said his wish now is to claim championship at the national marathon.
Khanje accepted defeat and praised his colleague. “It is painful to see your championship taken away but I congratulate Charles. I really wanted to defend my title but my preparations were not very good,” he said while shaking hands with the new champion adding that this encourages him to do better but also shows that there is still hidden talent in Mulanje that needs to be explored.
Both winners were offered a one night full board accommodation courtesy of Kara O’ Mula Country Lodge in Mulanje.
The race this year, which attracted 304 participants was fully sponsored by NBS Bank to a tune of K1.3 million that included prizes and all administrative costs. The chief executive of the Bank, Mr. John Biziwick said his Bank is excited to be associated with the mountain race and also proud that it is playing a role in bringing out the unnoticed talent in athletics.
“As a caring Bank, we feel honoured to be associated with events like these. Let me assure you all that we are willing to sponsor the race again next year,” said Biziwick amid ululations and handclapping from the over five-thousand crowd that braved the chilly weather to witness the event.
Biziwick said apart from the lovely sport, his Bank is willing to support small scale projects that are aimed and natural resource and environmental management.
“This is your Bank and your Bank needs to be closer to you. While I congratulate the winners today, I would like to call upon everybody here to be associated with NBS Bank in one way or another” said Biziwick adding that plans are underway to open a branch at Likhubula which is a tourist spot.
And the district commissioner for Mulanje Moses Chimphepo thanked NBS Bank for the support and for making the Porters race such a beautiful event. He said the Mulanje District Assembly is always excited that the district is leading in as far as athletics is concerned.
The 304 runners, 112 of whom were women, trekked in a rocky and hazardous route with small paths from Likhubula to Chambe Plateau then along the plateau to Lichenya and descend back from the starting point. In total it requires a total of 11 hours for a good mountain climber to cover such a trek of about 25 kilometres.
The annual Mount Mulanje Porters Race which was in the eleventh anniversary this year has attracted the attention of runners both male and female from all over the world that athletically compete up and across the lovely plateaus of Mount Mulanje. This year it attracted 58 international runners.
By Hastings Maloya
Point proven, she is a genius. She did not only defend her championship but also beat her own record of last year. Tereza Master has, for a second year running won the Mount Mulanje Porters Race after doing the trek in 2 hours 42 minutes seven minutes less of her 2006 record of 2 hours 49 minutes. She walked home K20, 000 richer and a trophy from NBS Bank. Her long time friend Nancy Matanda, current national marathon champion, came second after doing the distance in 2 hours 48 minutes, followed by Doris Fisha on the third position.
“This is a consolation as I was supposed to be at the All Africa Games in Algeria had everything gone as planned, but anyway I am very happy to have defended my title.” said the excited Master. She said the race helps her keep her fitness.
In the men’s category, a new name in the athletic circles, Charles Musowa, who has been on second position for the past two consecutive years, breathed fire and claimed the championship of Malawi’s only extreme sport. He also K20, 000 bank voucher to open an account with NBS Bank thanks to NBS Bank, the proud sponsors of the 2007 Mount Mulanje Porters Race.
Musowa, one of the porters from Likhubula zone, did the 25km mountain trek in 2 hours 9 minutes beating last years record of Francis Khanje at 2 hours 17 minutes. Mike Tebulo from Zomba came second while Khanje came third and received K15, 000 and K10, 000 respectively from NBS Bank.
“I have finally done it,” said the excited Musowa adding: “its time now Malawi knew that from Mulanje now comes another name in athletics.” He said his wish now is to claim championship at the national marathon.
Khanje accepted defeat and praised his colleague. “It is painful to see your championship taken away but I congratulate Charles. I really wanted to defend my title but my preparations were not very good,” he said while shaking hands with the new champion adding that this encourages him to do better but also shows that there is still hidden talent in Mulanje that needs to be explored.
Both winners were offered a one night full board accommodation courtesy of Kara O’ Mula Country Lodge in Mulanje.
The race this year, which attracted 304 participants was fully sponsored by NBS Bank to a tune of K1.3 million that included prizes and all administrative costs. The chief executive of the Bank, Mr. John Biziwick said his Bank is excited to be associated with the mountain race and also proud that it is playing a role in bringing out the unnoticed talent in athletics.
“As a caring Bank, we feel honoured to be associated with events like these. Let me assure you all that we are willing to sponsor the race again next year,” said Biziwick amid ululations and handclapping from the over five-thousand crowd that braved the chilly weather to witness the event.
Biziwick said apart from the lovely sport, his Bank is willing to support small scale projects that are aimed and natural resource and environmental management.
“This is your Bank and your Bank needs to be closer to you. While I congratulate the winners today, I would like to call upon everybody here to be associated with NBS Bank in one way or another” said Biziwick adding that plans are underway to open a branch at Likhubula which is a tourist spot.
And the district commissioner for Mulanje Moses Chimphepo thanked NBS Bank for the support and for making the Porters race such a beautiful event. He said the Mulanje District Assembly is always excited that the district is leading in as far as athletics is concerned.
The 304 runners, 112 of whom were women, trekked in a rocky and hazardous route with small paths from Likhubula to Chambe Plateau then along the plateau to Lichenya and descend back from the starting point. In total it requires a total of 11 hours for a good mountain climber to cover such a trek of about 25 kilometres.
The annual Mount Mulanje Porters Race which was in the eleventh anniversary this year has attracted the attention of runners both male and female from all over the world that athletically compete up and across the lovely plateaus of Mount Mulanje. This year it attracted 58 international runners.
On Political Defections - Dausi
,.....Its a political miscalculation
By Hastings Maloya
Politics, politics politics.
It is not amusing to comment on political issues especially when you are not a politician. It is therefore quite tricky to comment on the subject under debate today but living in a country thus governed by politics leaves all of us with no choice but to comment on political matters. After all, the fact that we all get involved in the process of choosing governments, makes all of us become politicians.
As an aspiring candidate for a parliamentary seat, it is purely a challenge to comment of political matters as readers, especially those that call shots in political parties may chose to read with different minds all together and make wild conclusions far from what is on the table. But all the same an opinion remains thus and certainly you will agree with my points of view. Please read on.
Recent political happenings in Malawi have to a greater degree made us all fail to concentrate on issues to do with development and have only turned us into serious politicians. What with the unfortunate debates in parliament and its subsequent suspension, the independence celebrations that saw a section of Malawians absconding and of course political statements from different commentators in all angles.
Any recent political development has in its own received different opinions from different people and different groups of people depending on which side one has tilted oneself to. Very unfortunate, but as said above we are in a situation that gives us limited choice and to comment soberly without taking sides is becoming a far-fetched trial.
But the biggest political news of recent times came on Sunday July 8 with the defection of one Mr. Nicholas Dausi from the ‘mighty’ Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to the ‘ruling’ Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Mr. Dausi was not just a mare member of the MCP. Worse still not only its spokesperson but the vice president, yes, second in command. Defection of a person holding such a portfolio is not only surprising but also put the party in a very awkward situation both within and outside it.
I believe Mr. Dausi’s decision to leave MCP is not only miscalculated but also wrongly timed. The reasons given are also far from convincing let alone slightly vague and unpalatable. Without mincing words, Mr. Dausi has made a wrong political decision or a good one but with wrong reasons and at a wrong time. Yes, with the current political tension, the move by Mr. Dausi is more or less adding sand on an already bruised eye.
Least I say, Mr. Nicholas Dausi happens to be a very good friend of mine and I have followed his political life with keen interest. Very understanding and helpful that man is. His most outstanding character being his ability to easily mix with people of all ages and races – very rare among politicians! Nevertheless, his recent political turn is today subject for debate.
Mr. Dausi is not knew on the political scene. He made the MCP tick in the southern region despite having not a single member of parliament. He has always been composed, a friend of the media and his political comments have always been intelligent. It is completely out of context to say the departure of Dausi from MCP is a good riddance – whoever said those words must be ashamed, but hear this…..
On June 15, Mr. Dausi was among hundreds of opposition leaders that celebrated the supreme court’s landmark judgement on section 65. He was quote in the media hailing the judgement and said it was now up to the speaker of the national assembly to do justice to members of parliament that obviously had crossed the floor. Mr. Dausi’s expectation, just as is the case with all opposition leaders, was that as soon as parliament meets, heads will roll and that would mark the exit of DPP as a ruling party.
Is it not interesting therefore, that three weeks later the same person will come round and tell the nation that he hates his former party because it is excited with the section 65 ruling?
How about the love for Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda?
Mr. Dausi tells us that he is impressed with the DPP and its leadership because it respects the former leader and founder of the Malawi nation. Again the interesting pustule will be the fact that ever since the death of Dr. Banda, MCP has maintained his face not only on its cloth but also on badges. Very ironic indeed for Mr. Dausi to see the love of Kamuzu in a different party thus away from his own. Interesting.
This former vice president also indicates that he was not respected or honoured in the party and was frustrated. Smells something. One can not be too sure what type of respect thus being described here and whether the leadership of MCP to which he was second in command was not following its own rules and regulations. Or there is nothing of that sort in MCP. No governing principles? And the Vice President could not work on some?
In different interviews with different media houses including the national broadcaster – the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Mr. Dausi had described DPP as a group of frustrated politicians and surely the least thing we were supposed to hear is someone joining a group of frustrated individuals.
Many a people would definitely be surprised why Mr. Dausi remained in MCP all these years. It still remains guess work as to when did he become conscious that MCP does not have the welfare of the people of Malawi at heart. And when did he come to realize that it’s the DPP and its leadership that recognizes and respects Dr Banda? It must have taken him quite sometime to compose the reasons and bring them forth and they are yet to become valid.
Maybe thus what politicians are supposed to do.
Nicholas Dausi is such an eloquent man and surely he has, for a long time, put the government in check. His comments and statements benefited the nation to a certain extent. Now chances are high that in him we will soon get praise-singing if he is not going to be silenced completely. This is a loss.
In summary where are these defections taking us to? Are we building Malawi? MCP just as any other political party in Malawi needs people of Dausi’s caliber.. people with brains that would help check the government is its operations. People that would give provoking thoughts in relation to different situations, for the love of the country. It is yet to be seen if this defection will help Malawi move some steps forward not just politically but in is democratic maturity.
Decisions that are seen to attract individual gains shall never be helpful. It should therefore be our prayer that when Mr. Dausi feels the heat in the new camp, we should not be here again to write about his next defection. And the DPP should not be excited with defections for the sake of it. Of course with Mr. Dausi, it’s quite a good catch.
Nonetheless, Mr. Dausi did a lot of service for Malawi while in opposition. He could have stayed put. We therefore expect a lot from him but not his personal gains.
Hastings Maloya writes in his personal capacity
By Hastings Maloya
Politics, politics politics.
It is not amusing to comment on political issues especially when you are not a politician. It is therefore quite tricky to comment on the subject under debate today but living in a country thus governed by politics leaves all of us with no choice but to comment on political matters. After all, the fact that we all get involved in the process of choosing governments, makes all of us become politicians.
As an aspiring candidate for a parliamentary seat, it is purely a challenge to comment of political matters as readers, especially those that call shots in political parties may chose to read with different minds all together and make wild conclusions far from what is on the table. But all the same an opinion remains thus and certainly you will agree with my points of view. Please read on.
Recent political happenings in Malawi have to a greater degree made us all fail to concentrate on issues to do with development and have only turned us into serious politicians. What with the unfortunate debates in parliament and its subsequent suspension, the independence celebrations that saw a section of Malawians absconding and of course political statements from different commentators in all angles.
Any recent political development has in its own received different opinions from different people and different groups of people depending on which side one has tilted oneself to. Very unfortunate, but as said above we are in a situation that gives us limited choice and to comment soberly without taking sides is becoming a far-fetched trial.
But the biggest political news of recent times came on Sunday July 8 with the defection of one Mr. Nicholas Dausi from the ‘mighty’ Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to the ‘ruling’ Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Mr. Dausi was not just a mare member of the MCP. Worse still not only its spokesperson but the vice president, yes, second in command. Defection of a person holding such a portfolio is not only surprising but also put the party in a very awkward situation both within and outside it.
I believe Mr. Dausi’s decision to leave MCP is not only miscalculated but also wrongly timed. The reasons given are also far from convincing let alone slightly vague and unpalatable. Without mincing words, Mr. Dausi has made a wrong political decision or a good one but with wrong reasons and at a wrong time. Yes, with the current political tension, the move by Mr. Dausi is more or less adding sand on an already bruised eye.
Least I say, Mr. Nicholas Dausi happens to be a very good friend of mine and I have followed his political life with keen interest. Very understanding and helpful that man is. His most outstanding character being his ability to easily mix with people of all ages and races – very rare among politicians! Nevertheless, his recent political turn is today subject for debate.
Mr. Dausi is not knew on the political scene. He made the MCP tick in the southern region despite having not a single member of parliament. He has always been composed, a friend of the media and his political comments have always been intelligent. It is completely out of context to say the departure of Dausi from MCP is a good riddance – whoever said those words must be ashamed, but hear this…..
On June 15, Mr. Dausi was among hundreds of opposition leaders that celebrated the supreme court’s landmark judgement on section 65. He was quote in the media hailing the judgement and said it was now up to the speaker of the national assembly to do justice to members of parliament that obviously had crossed the floor. Mr. Dausi’s expectation, just as is the case with all opposition leaders, was that as soon as parliament meets, heads will roll and that would mark the exit of DPP as a ruling party.
Is it not interesting therefore, that three weeks later the same person will come round and tell the nation that he hates his former party because it is excited with the section 65 ruling?
How about the love for Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda?
Mr. Dausi tells us that he is impressed with the DPP and its leadership because it respects the former leader and founder of the Malawi nation. Again the interesting pustule will be the fact that ever since the death of Dr. Banda, MCP has maintained his face not only on its cloth but also on badges. Very ironic indeed for Mr. Dausi to see the love of Kamuzu in a different party thus away from his own. Interesting.
This former vice president also indicates that he was not respected or honoured in the party and was frustrated. Smells something. One can not be too sure what type of respect thus being described here and whether the leadership of MCP to which he was second in command was not following its own rules and regulations. Or there is nothing of that sort in MCP. No governing principles? And the Vice President could not work on some?
In different interviews with different media houses including the national broadcaster – the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Mr. Dausi had described DPP as a group of frustrated politicians and surely the least thing we were supposed to hear is someone joining a group of frustrated individuals.
Many a people would definitely be surprised why Mr. Dausi remained in MCP all these years. It still remains guess work as to when did he become conscious that MCP does not have the welfare of the people of Malawi at heart. And when did he come to realize that it’s the DPP and its leadership that recognizes and respects Dr Banda? It must have taken him quite sometime to compose the reasons and bring them forth and they are yet to become valid.
Maybe thus what politicians are supposed to do.
Nicholas Dausi is such an eloquent man and surely he has, for a long time, put the government in check. His comments and statements benefited the nation to a certain extent. Now chances are high that in him we will soon get praise-singing if he is not going to be silenced completely. This is a loss.
In summary where are these defections taking us to? Are we building Malawi? MCP just as any other political party in Malawi needs people of Dausi’s caliber.. people with brains that would help check the government is its operations. People that would give provoking thoughts in relation to different situations, for the love of the country. It is yet to be seen if this defection will help Malawi move some steps forward not just politically but in is democratic maturity.
Decisions that are seen to attract individual gains shall never be helpful. It should therefore be our prayer that when Mr. Dausi feels the heat in the new camp, we should not be here again to write about his next defection. And the DPP should not be excited with defections for the sake of it. Of course with Mr. Dausi, it’s quite a good catch.
Nonetheless, Mr. Dausi did a lot of service for Malawi while in opposition. He could have stayed put. We therefore expect a lot from him but not his personal gains.
Hastings Maloya writes in his personal capacity
On Detention Camps
Detention Camps – the only sure way to end violence against women and children
By HASTINGS MALOYA
If it was a prayer, I could have asked all of us to bow our heads; close our eyes and pray. Well, it’s not a prayer, but nevertheless, let us take a bit of our time and silently reflect. Just come to think of it; a 57-year old man defiles a six-month old baby. A seven-year old girl is defiled by her own teacher, let alone a headmaster. And a woman has her arms chopped by her husband or has her private parts disfigured by someone who was supposed to be her lover.
How about issues of well-dressed men caught with private parts in their bags. Talk of news of unknown assailants removing women’s breasts and gouging their eyes. Then there is the-now famous Ndirande vampire who has the audacity of changing locations in Blantyre and targeting innocent women at will. The stories are endless and they do not make good reading. Each passing day we realize that Malawi is not as safe a place to live in as it was supposed to be especially for women and children.
All these sounds and feels easy when they are just in a form of news that we read in the papers, listen on the radio or watch on TV. We can as well get used to them and let them pass.
But why are we silently reflecting today? Well, I want us to try and imagine what our reaction would be if our closest relation was such a victim. We are trying to put ourselves in an imaginary situation where our daughter has been defiled, our sister has had her private parts removed or our only child has been attacked and his eyes removed! Our imaginations go beyond the act, but now the perpetrator has been caught and enough evidence lay bare. Here we are standing in front of the handcuffed culprit.
I know different people will react differently but honestly very few will talk of forgiveness. Individually, one would think of the trauma that might have engulfed the affected community, let alone the future of the victim is he or she is lucky to be alive. One would ask why such a heartless person should be forgiven. Others would even ask the police to release the culprits so that the concerned community can provide the required chastisement that the scoundrels deserve. Unfortunately, the police won’t allow people to take the law in their hands and there is no possibility that these merciless people shall be given the stiffest penalty that would deter others from committing similar crimes.
But then as a nation, do we have in sight any means that we can use to deal away with this situation? Yes. Introduction of detention camps where all proven perpetrators should be thrown and get the heat. They should realize that our society does not need such type of people whose behaviour is more or less that of a beast. Thus the only way we will deal away with the worries that we have today.
This is where His Excellency the President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika deserves credit for proposing the reintroduction of detention camps for perpetrators of violence against women and children. He needs to be given all the support. We can build a better Malawi.
But; hear this.
At a rally addressed by the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Mulanje recently, some political leaders accused the President for having proposed the introduction of detention camps. They called it dictatorship. In other words, they are not supporting stiffer punishments for people who bring calamities and anxiety in our midst. After all they are free to do what they please – this is democracy. Isn’t it?
The president’s proposal for detention camps was not meant for politicians. It was not meant for those opposing to his governing policies. And it was not made at a political rally. It was meant to give peace and harmony to our women and children. How this noble thought was turned to mean politics is yet to be clarified. One wonders whether the opposition politicians just wanted to achieve political mileage by misguiding their followers or indeed they meant what they said. Again it would be very difficult to comprehend whether any of them has ever had an experience of what it means to go through an ordeal of violence. Turning this issue into politics is the last thing Malawians could have expected to hear from a government in waiting – if indeed thus what opposition means.
Nonetheless, who can blame the politicians when it was custodians of human rights in Malawi that started it all? Their reaction to the suggestion by the President was that of total condemnation regardless of what the suggestion was meant to achieve. The so-called human rights watchdogs never gave a chance to Malawians to debate the proposal and look at the pros and cons. Thus human rights – Malawi style. In other words, our colleagues who work for human rights organizations are the know-it-all supermodels and can positively think of a proposal only when it comes from among themselves. Sad.
Human rights? Whose human rights are we concerned with?
It makes some of us sad that we have people with little concern about our children being defiled daily, school girls and women being raped at will. Our mothers dehumanized, beaten and having their body and private parts tampered with. Gone are the days when we could leave our school girls freely walking distances to and from schools. Today we can not trust our own housemaids and watchmen. Notorious businesses are creeping in. And we want to sit there and silently watch. Poor we.
Its unfortunate but we do not need to overemphasize the fact that the so called human rights activists are only looking for their daily bread. It’s employment. They do not have the concerns of the nation at heart. We may delay if we were to waste our time listening to them. As for politicians, your guess is as good as mine.
With a level mind, President Mutharika ought to be given massive support for this brilliant proposal. Surely families that have had a share of the problems associated with violence on women and children now realizes that they have comfort in the country’s leadership. If there will be need to change the name of the camps from detention camps to something else, there will be no problem but the idea is luminous. We may see an end to the suffering that Malawian women and children have seen through the years.
And the President must know that not all will agree with his proposals regardless of how gleaming they may be. Whether it would be the fight against corruption, the fertilizer subsidy programme, the Shire Zambezi Waterway, the Kamuzu Mausoleum and many more, we still shall have people that will want to pull his legs despite having no convincing reasons. I bet he does not give up. If anything, let Malawians debate this proposal and views shared honestly. I strongly believe that we need the detention camps – it’s a solution.
* Hastings Maloya works as an Environmental Education Officer
for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust
but writing in his personal capacity.
By HASTINGS MALOYA
If it was a prayer, I could have asked all of us to bow our heads; close our eyes and pray. Well, it’s not a prayer, but nevertheless, let us take a bit of our time and silently reflect. Just come to think of it; a 57-year old man defiles a six-month old baby. A seven-year old girl is defiled by her own teacher, let alone a headmaster. And a woman has her arms chopped by her husband or has her private parts disfigured by someone who was supposed to be her lover.
How about issues of well-dressed men caught with private parts in their bags. Talk of news of unknown assailants removing women’s breasts and gouging their eyes. Then there is the-now famous Ndirande vampire who has the audacity of changing locations in Blantyre and targeting innocent women at will. The stories are endless and they do not make good reading. Each passing day we realize that Malawi is not as safe a place to live in as it was supposed to be especially for women and children.
All these sounds and feels easy when they are just in a form of news that we read in the papers, listen on the radio or watch on TV. We can as well get used to them and let them pass.
But why are we silently reflecting today? Well, I want us to try and imagine what our reaction would be if our closest relation was such a victim. We are trying to put ourselves in an imaginary situation where our daughter has been defiled, our sister has had her private parts removed or our only child has been attacked and his eyes removed! Our imaginations go beyond the act, but now the perpetrator has been caught and enough evidence lay bare. Here we are standing in front of the handcuffed culprit.
I know different people will react differently but honestly very few will talk of forgiveness. Individually, one would think of the trauma that might have engulfed the affected community, let alone the future of the victim is he or she is lucky to be alive. One would ask why such a heartless person should be forgiven. Others would even ask the police to release the culprits so that the concerned community can provide the required chastisement that the scoundrels deserve. Unfortunately, the police won’t allow people to take the law in their hands and there is no possibility that these merciless people shall be given the stiffest penalty that would deter others from committing similar crimes.
But then as a nation, do we have in sight any means that we can use to deal away with this situation? Yes. Introduction of detention camps where all proven perpetrators should be thrown and get the heat. They should realize that our society does not need such type of people whose behaviour is more or less that of a beast. Thus the only way we will deal away with the worries that we have today.
This is where His Excellency the President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika deserves credit for proposing the reintroduction of detention camps for perpetrators of violence against women and children. He needs to be given all the support. We can build a better Malawi.
But; hear this.
At a rally addressed by the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Mulanje recently, some political leaders accused the President for having proposed the introduction of detention camps. They called it dictatorship. In other words, they are not supporting stiffer punishments for people who bring calamities and anxiety in our midst. After all they are free to do what they please – this is democracy. Isn’t it?
The president’s proposal for detention camps was not meant for politicians. It was not meant for those opposing to his governing policies. And it was not made at a political rally. It was meant to give peace and harmony to our women and children. How this noble thought was turned to mean politics is yet to be clarified. One wonders whether the opposition politicians just wanted to achieve political mileage by misguiding their followers or indeed they meant what they said. Again it would be very difficult to comprehend whether any of them has ever had an experience of what it means to go through an ordeal of violence. Turning this issue into politics is the last thing Malawians could have expected to hear from a government in waiting – if indeed thus what opposition means.
Nonetheless, who can blame the politicians when it was custodians of human rights in Malawi that started it all? Their reaction to the suggestion by the President was that of total condemnation regardless of what the suggestion was meant to achieve. The so-called human rights watchdogs never gave a chance to Malawians to debate the proposal and look at the pros and cons. Thus human rights – Malawi style. In other words, our colleagues who work for human rights organizations are the know-it-all supermodels and can positively think of a proposal only when it comes from among themselves. Sad.
Human rights? Whose human rights are we concerned with?
It makes some of us sad that we have people with little concern about our children being defiled daily, school girls and women being raped at will. Our mothers dehumanized, beaten and having their body and private parts tampered with. Gone are the days when we could leave our school girls freely walking distances to and from schools. Today we can not trust our own housemaids and watchmen. Notorious businesses are creeping in. And we want to sit there and silently watch. Poor we.
Its unfortunate but we do not need to overemphasize the fact that the so called human rights activists are only looking for their daily bread. It’s employment. They do not have the concerns of the nation at heart. We may delay if we were to waste our time listening to them. As for politicians, your guess is as good as mine.
With a level mind, President Mutharika ought to be given massive support for this brilliant proposal. Surely families that have had a share of the problems associated with violence on women and children now realizes that they have comfort in the country’s leadership. If there will be need to change the name of the camps from detention camps to something else, there will be no problem but the idea is luminous. We may see an end to the suffering that Malawian women and children have seen through the years.
And the President must know that not all will agree with his proposals regardless of how gleaming they may be. Whether it would be the fight against corruption, the fertilizer subsidy programme, the Shire Zambezi Waterway, the Kamuzu Mausoleum and many more, we still shall have people that will want to pull his legs despite having no convincing reasons. I bet he does not give up. If anything, let Malawians debate this proposal and views shared honestly. I strongly believe that we need the detention camps – it’s a solution.
* Hastings Maloya works as an Environmental Education Officer
for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust
but writing in his personal capacity.
On Traditional Healers
Let them advertise their services
by Hastings Maloya
They were supposed to be known as traditional healers. It could simply mean that they can traditionally treat ailments and save lives. And thus what they have done over the years. They were supposed to be recognised as traditional doctors but nay they are better known as witchdoctors and are mainly associated with witchcraft and sorcery.
One would argue that apart from treating ailments, which ironically most people recognise and accept, the traditional healers are architects of witchcraft and the cause of harm on innocent people. It could also be contended that many people have failed to progress or have died earlier than normal because of the work of the local medicine people who are blamed for casting bad spells (matsenga) on guiltless individuals.
If we were given an opportunity to tell a story related to bad spells that we believe are a result of the work of medicine people, each one of us would tell a story different from another and we would think ours is classic! To a certain extent, people that trade in traditional or local medicines are not very welcome in our society. Much as they have been very helpful to most of us, and have assisted us in most trying times, we may not want to be allied with them. We can’t publicly tell of the assistance we got or we keep getting from traditional medicine people but we will be able to talk of any negatives associated with them. Most religious groupings may not want to associate themselves with people that have traces of traditional medicines.
Surprisingly, much as all of us are free to say all the negatives about the medicine people, rarely are they given an opportunity to give their side of the story let alone allowed to defend themselves through widely accepted media outlets. There is a problem here.
It is against this background that I suggest that these people be given an opportunity to tell their stories and advertise their services as much as they can and through any available medium. The choice shall be ours.
Historians and history books tell of witchcraft not only in Africa but the world over. If it’s a profession, then it’s a very old one. Issues of sorcery are not new and have been recorded in a lot of history books including religious ones. It is also said that since time in memorial there were people that had skills to do away with bad spells in a society. Much as it can be accepted that the causative agent of all reported cases of witchcraft and sorcery have been medicine people, it should also be recognised that it has been the same medicine people that have dealt away with those problems.
Recently a man who works around the Ginnery Corner in Blantyre challenged a known wizard that whatever he would try to do, his wizardry wont work. This was after the ‘known wizard’ threatened that he would turn computers into stones and bring thousands of butterflies into an office so that no one would work in that office. This was after some disagreements between the man and the ‘wizard’ – of course the disagreement was nothing to do with medicines. While accepting the existence of witchcraft and acknowledging that it is possible for people to cast bad spells on others, the man challenged that he was well protected him that not a single charm can cause any harm on him. His colleague said he believes in Jesus Christ and fears nothing. It seems the wizard left, he never did anything, and the butterflies were never seen to date.
Now thus the problem with our medicine people. They believe in threatening others and creating an environment of fear and danger. Some of them dress in a way that scares off level-headed individuals. They associate themselves with ominous wild animals like snakes. The vicinities they live in are shabby and in most cases they seem not believing that some ailments can have natural causes. To them any ailment is connected to witchcraft and bad spells (kulodzedwa). This is where we need to help them for a change.
Now coming to advertising. Recently there have been advertisements in the press about some traditional healers that are able to find jobs for the jobless (regardless of education? Search me). They claim that they can ably find stolen goods, can sort out any problems be if family or otherwise. They can make one a millionaire within days, they can help you find a partner in case you are looking for one and they can treat any disease.
After reading the advert, while others would wonder how possible these things could be, some people would want to give it a trial. Others will just throw away the newspaper while others will copy the contact details and make follow-ups. Thus how things are supposed to be. They call it freedom of choice and that of association. And whatever repercussions or results, there is nothing to do with an advertisement but the person who chose to make an attempt. In any regard a lot might have been assisted that way.
Traditional healers, or witchdoctors as they are commonly known today, are in business. As is the case in any business, they must advertise. It is said that doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark – no body knows what you are doing. It is up to the audience to make a decision on their own whether to go for it or not. These people must be allowed to advertise as much as they can. It could be the only way they would be given an opportunity to have their stories heard. If they are liars, we will realise after trying them.
Over the years we have heard of adverts of different medications especially from the west. This has been on the radio, in the newspapers and on television. Some adverts are very unrealistic to the effect of telling us that when you take a particular drug, only in less than a minute the headache or cough is gone. How could that be? But why have we accepted that and take it as part of our living? Shall we not accept our local medicine people to advertise because they are local or they do not deserve to be known?
We are living in an open society where technology is also advancing and everyone is free to make a decision provided one has the much-needed information. When the traditional healers or asing’anga are given an opportunity to advertise their services, and advertise widely, they will give people an opportunity to make an informed choices and it will also help to create an environment where people can easily discuss issues related to traditional medicines. Religious groups need to open up to these people and give them an opportunity to be heard.
Not all that is traditional medicine is bad. A lot of people have been assisted by traditional healers. As was sang by one Michael Mukhutho Phiri in the late 80s, “ kupanda mitengo iyi, ife tikanalowa” (if it was not for the trees, some of us could have been dead by now). The trees that Mukhitho talked about were nothing but the work of traditional healers, as the trees are their capital.
There could be an opportunity that we are losing or missing. It is only the availability of information that will make an informed society. Time to get things that are ours! Let traditional healers advertise.
by Hastings Maloya
They were supposed to be known as traditional healers. It could simply mean that they can traditionally treat ailments and save lives. And thus what they have done over the years. They were supposed to be recognised as traditional doctors but nay they are better known as witchdoctors and are mainly associated with witchcraft and sorcery.
One would argue that apart from treating ailments, which ironically most people recognise and accept, the traditional healers are architects of witchcraft and the cause of harm on innocent people. It could also be contended that many people have failed to progress or have died earlier than normal because of the work of the local medicine people who are blamed for casting bad spells (matsenga) on guiltless individuals.
If we were given an opportunity to tell a story related to bad spells that we believe are a result of the work of medicine people, each one of us would tell a story different from another and we would think ours is classic! To a certain extent, people that trade in traditional or local medicines are not very welcome in our society. Much as they have been very helpful to most of us, and have assisted us in most trying times, we may not want to be allied with them. We can’t publicly tell of the assistance we got or we keep getting from traditional medicine people but we will be able to talk of any negatives associated with them. Most religious groupings may not want to associate themselves with people that have traces of traditional medicines.
Surprisingly, much as all of us are free to say all the negatives about the medicine people, rarely are they given an opportunity to give their side of the story let alone allowed to defend themselves through widely accepted media outlets. There is a problem here.
It is against this background that I suggest that these people be given an opportunity to tell their stories and advertise their services as much as they can and through any available medium. The choice shall be ours.
Historians and history books tell of witchcraft not only in Africa but the world over. If it’s a profession, then it’s a very old one. Issues of sorcery are not new and have been recorded in a lot of history books including religious ones. It is also said that since time in memorial there were people that had skills to do away with bad spells in a society. Much as it can be accepted that the causative agent of all reported cases of witchcraft and sorcery have been medicine people, it should also be recognised that it has been the same medicine people that have dealt away with those problems.
Recently a man who works around the Ginnery Corner in Blantyre challenged a known wizard that whatever he would try to do, his wizardry wont work. This was after the ‘known wizard’ threatened that he would turn computers into stones and bring thousands of butterflies into an office so that no one would work in that office. This was after some disagreements between the man and the ‘wizard’ – of course the disagreement was nothing to do with medicines. While accepting the existence of witchcraft and acknowledging that it is possible for people to cast bad spells on others, the man challenged that he was well protected him that not a single charm can cause any harm on him. His colleague said he believes in Jesus Christ and fears nothing. It seems the wizard left, he never did anything, and the butterflies were never seen to date.
Now thus the problem with our medicine people. They believe in threatening others and creating an environment of fear and danger. Some of them dress in a way that scares off level-headed individuals. They associate themselves with ominous wild animals like snakes. The vicinities they live in are shabby and in most cases they seem not believing that some ailments can have natural causes. To them any ailment is connected to witchcraft and bad spells (kulodzedwa). This is where we need to help them for a change.
Now coming to advertising. Recently there have been advertisements in the press about some traditional healers that are able to find jobs for the jobless (regardless of education? Search me). They claim that they can ably find stolen goods, can sort out any problems be if family or otherwise. They can make one a millionaire within days, they can help you find a partner in case you are looking for one and they can treat any disease.
After reading the advert, while others would wonder how possible these things could be, some people would want to give it a trial. Others will just throw away the newspaper while others will copy the contact details and make follow-ups. Thus how things are supposed to be. They call it freedom of choice and that of association. And whatever repercussions or results, there is nothing to do with an advertisement but the person who chose to make an attempt. In any regard a lot might have been assisted that way.
Traditional healers, or witchdoctors as they are commonly known today, are in business. As is the case in any business, they must advertise. It is said that doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark – no body knows what you are doing. It is up to the audience to make a decision on their own whether to go for it or not. These people must be allowed to advertise as much as they can. It could be the only way they would be given an opportunity to have their stories heard. If they are liars, we will realise after trying them.
Over the years we have heard of adverts of different medications especially from the west. This has been on the radio, in the newspapers and on television. Some adverts are very unrealistic to the effect of telling us that when you take a particular drug, only in less than a minute the headache or cough is gone. How could that be? But why have we accepted that and take it as part of our living? Shall we not accept our local medicine people to advertise because they are local or they do not deserve to be known?
We are living in an open society where technology is also advancing and everyone is free to make a decision provided one has the much-needed information. When the traditional healers or asing’anga are given an opportunity to advertise their services, and advertise widely, they will give people an opportunity to make an informed choices and it will also help to create an environment where people can easily discuss issues related to traditional medicines. Religious groups need to open up to these people and give them an opportunity to be heard.
Not all that is traditional medicine is bad. A lot of people have been assisted by traditional healers. As was sang by one Michael Mukhutho Phiri in the late 80s, “ kupanda mitengo iyi, ife tikanalowa” (if it was not for the trees, some of us could have been dead by now). The trees that Mukhitho talked about were nothing but the work of traditional healers, as the trees are their capital.
There could be an opportunity that we are losing or missing. It is only the availability of information that will make an informed society. Time to get things that are ours! Let traditional healers advertise.
On Floods
January 2007
Government should continue supporting its people
By Hastings Maloya
The rains are here once again. We should be a happy nation, as we cannot overemphasise the importance of the rains to Malawi whose economy is mainly agro-based. However, as it has always been the case over the years, problems associated with them, especially floods overshadow the importance of these rains.
As it continues to rain, certainly our worry and fear are the floods that may follow especially in the low lying geographical areas like in the Shire Valley area, Ntcheu and some parts of the central region, parts of the lakeshore districts and some low areas of the northern region. Each time we have excess incessant rains as we are experiencing now; there has been a result of suffering among Malawians who become victims of the effects of floods. This leads to loss of household property, crops and animals while to a serious effect, over the years there has been loss of lives. In the process we have also lost infrastructure like bridges, schools and hospitals.
Floods are natural disasters and to a certain extent very difficult to predict and control. If we are to go with the warnings and prediction from experts at our meteorological department, we still have days ahead of us with continuous rains and we cannot rule out the possibility of worse effects than last year. It is only worrisome and painful that mostly the affected people are the same year in and year out. Surely as of now our colleagues in the affected areas are not too sure what will come of them in the next few days.
Nevertheless, much as natural disasters are sometimes unpredictable, floods and flooding is slowly becoming part of us and surely as a nation we need to start and effect planning to contain such situations. I find it unfortunate that very little is done to avert flooding and indeed very little is done to assist people who are slowly becoming perennial sufferers of the effects of floods.
It is even more worrying when some quarters of the society call on the affected people to move to higher grounds – whatever that means. Some things are easier said than done especially when it is not the one saying who is supposed to implement the suggested action.
It should be accepted that naturally all of us have villages and homes where we come from and very few of us made choices to be born where we were born. We have, over the years, lived in the available geographical landscapes as is provided and it will not be very easy to be told to move just like that. More so, there has never been any provision of infrastructure or amenities in areas where suggestions are made for people to move to. One wonders what is expected of the people to do once they move to the so-called higher areas.
It has been urged in some quarters that because people are not moving to higher grounds, they should not be assisted or given hand outs because this creates a dependence syndrome and that people remain in low areas because they know they will be assisted. Sadly these arguments are coming in at a time the people have not been physically assisted especially in the preparation of their next settlement places.
First of let us think of why people settle where they are. It could be farming coming with fertile soils, availability of drinking water, availability of social amenities and infrastructures that leads to accessibility and communication. We have also noted that initiatives for development whether by government or non-governmental organisations have taken place around where people live. Why then should people be advised to move to higher grounds where there is almost nothing to sustain them? By the way, do we have enough land in the proposed areas? Issues of land are sensitive, no need to overemphasise this.
It must be noted and agreed that in the situation that we are in now, there has not been any provision from the government in proposed areas for relocation, and therefore the government should give continuous support to the affected. Actually there is need to budget for these kind of expected calamities. Hopefully as parliament meets in a couple of weeks, this issue will be tabled and enough allocations set aside to assist the people that might be affected by the anticipated floods. The government should never give up in taking care of its own people.
Issues about floods are purely environmental problems and one would want to know how committed is the Malawi government in efforts to tackle environmental problems and their effects. Are the people educated on natural resource conservation and the dangers associated with environmental degradation? For example, both the national state of environment report (SOER) and the national environmental action plan (NEAP) only mentions about environmental education in Chapter 9 but mentions nothing of actions that needs to be taken if people are to do away with problems that come due to environmental degradation. Again there is no mention to the effect that environmental education is one of the integral components of natural resource and environmental management.
This also tells us that most of the infrastructures that we see are developed without any environmental impact assessments otherwise the structures could not have been erected where they are today. The structures could not have been attracting people to be where they are today.
There is need for the government to increase basic knowledge and understanding of the environment and its inter-relationship with human and raise awareness of the environment and its problems while identifying social values and attitudes which are in harmony with environmental quality and develop skills to solves environmental problems. It is wrong for the government or government officers who are transmitters of knowledge to turn the learners or the villagers into mere receivers of the transmitted knowledge without involving them to make an informed decision.
To solve this perennial problem, we need a multisectral approach in experimental learning where the government as a facilitator shall enable its people to draw on their own experiences and create new knowledge. The people shall therefore be active constructors of knowledge through experience.
It should always be appreciated that it is very difficult to change peoples’ mentality more especially when benefits cannot be seen immediately with the proposed change. One must also appreciate issues of poverty and livelihoods and that people are not deliberately where they are but rather they are trying to survive in the short term.
The problems we are facing now can not be sorted out by the affected people. This is the responsibility of the government and should be a long-term initiative that the government needs to engage on. People should not be told to move just for the sake of it when there are no facilities to sustain their livelihood.
Ends!......04.01.07
Government should continue supporting its people
By Hastings Maloya
The rains are here once again. We should be a happy nation, as we cannot overemphasise the importance of the rains to Malawi whose economy is mainly agro-based. However, as it has always been the case over the years, problems associated with them, especially floods overshadow the importance of these rains.
As it continues to rain, certainly our worry and fear are the floods that may follow especially in the low lying geographical areas like in the Shire Valley area, Ntcheu and some parts of the central region, parts of the lakeshore districts and some low areas of the northern region. Each time we have excess incessant rains as we are experiencing now; there has been a result of suffering among Malawians who become victims of the effects of floods. This leads to loss of household property, crops and animals while to a serious effect, over the years there has been loss of lives. In the process we have also lost infrastructure like bridges, schools and hospitals.
Floods are natural disasters and to a certain extent very difficult to predict and control. If we are to go with the warnings and prediction from experts at our meteorological department, we still have days ahead of us with continuous rains and we cannot rule out the possibility of worse effects than last year. It is only worrisome and painful that mostly the affected people are the same year in and year out. Surely as of now our colleagues in the affected areas are not too sure what will come of them in the next few days.
Nevertheless, much as natural disasters are sometimes unpredictable, floods and flooding is slowly becoming part of us and surely as a nation we need to start and effect planning to contain such situations. I find it unfortunate that very little is done to avert flooding and indeed very little is done to assist people who are slowly becoming perennial sufferers of the effects of floods.
It is even more worrying when some quarters of the society call on the affected people to move to higher grounds – whatever that means. Some things are easier said than done especially when it is not the one saying who is supposed to implement the suggested action.
It should be accepted that naturally all of us have villages and homes where we come from and very few of us made choices to be born where we were born. We have, over the years, lived in the available geographical landscapes as is provided and it will not be very easy to be told to move just like that. More so, there has never been any provision of infrastructure or amenities in areas where suggestions are made for people to move to. One wonders what is expected of the people to do once they move to the so-called higher areas.
It has been urged in some quarters that because people are not moving to higher grounds, they should not be assisted or given hand outs because this creates a dependence syndrome and that people remain in low areas because they know they will be assisted. Sadly these arguments are coming in at a time the people have not been physically assisted especially in the preparation of their next settlement places.
First of let us think of why people settle where they are. It could be farming coming with fertile soils, availability of drinking water, availability of social amenities and infrastructures that leads to accessibility and communication. We have also noted that initiatives for development whether by government or non-governmental organisations have taken place around where people live. Why then should people be advised to move to higher grounds where there is almost nothing to sustain them? By the way, do we have enough land in the proposed areas? Issues of land are sensitive, no need to overemphasise this.
It must be noted and agreed that in the situation that we are in now, there has not been any provision from the government in proposed areas for relocation, and therefore the government should give continuous support to the affected. Actually there is need to budget for these kind of expected calamities. Hopefully as parliament meets in a couple of weeks, this issue will be tabled and enough allocations set aside to assist the people that might be affected by the anticipated floods. The government should never give up in taking care of its own people.
Issues about floods are purely environmental problems and one would want to know how committed is the Malawi government in efforts to tackle environmental problems and their effects. Are the people educated on natural resource conservation and the dangers associated with environmental degradation? For example, both the national state of environment report (SOER) and the national environmental action plan (NEAP) only mentions about environmental education in Chapter 9 but mentions nothing of actions that needs to be taken if people are to do away with problems that come due to environmental degradation. Again there is no mention to the effect that environmental education is one of the integral components of natural resource and environmental management.
This also tells us that most of the infrastructures that we see are developed without any environmental impact assessments otherwise the structures could not have been erected where they are today. The structures could not have been attracting people to be where they are today.
There is need for the government to increase basic knowledge and understanding of the environment and its inter-relationship with human and raise awareness of the environment and its problems while identifying social values and attitudes which are in harmony with environmental quality and develop skills to solves environmental problems. It is wrong for the government or government officers who are transmitters of knowledge to turn the learners or the villagers into mere receivers of the transmitted knowledge without involving them to make an informed decision.
To solve this perennial problem, we need a multisectral approach in experimental learning where the government as a facilitator shall enable its people to draw on their own experiences and create new knowledge. The people shall therefore be active constructors of knowledge through experience.
It should always be appreciated that it is very difficult to change peoples’ mentality more especially when benefits cannot be seen immediately with the proposed change. One must also appreciate issues of poverty and livelihoods and that people are not deliberately where they are but rather they are trying to survive in the short term.
The problems we are facing now can not be sorted out by the affected people. This is the responsibility of the government and should be a long-term initiative that the government needs to engage on. People should not be told to move just for the sake of it when there are no facilities to sustain their livelihood.
Ends!......04.01.07
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