Hastings MALOYA

On the First Lady - Madam Callista Mutharika

2011-03-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

She deserves a salary
By Hastings Maloya

I always find it difficult and of course tricky to comment on issues related to the country’s highest office – the State House. In all aspect, this office deserves respect. In respecting the office, one also respects the powers that this office has and recognises appointments that this office makes, especially when the appointments are not legally erroneous.

There are countries, others very close to us, where its citizens cannot comment on issues related to the state house or office of the presidency. In Malawi things are different as we are free and able to discuss, comment and make opinions on issues related to the presidency. As an extension of the freedom, here we are today debating whether the first lady should be receiving a salary on her position as coordinator of Safe Motherhood programme in Malawi. I dare say, the position deserves a salary.

It is undeniable that negative news sells. When news came out from whichever source alleging that the first lady has a contract and is salaried, it had been exciting news and was hot both in print and electronic media including gossips among gatherings. Much of the comments and opinions that we have seen and heard are negative. Not many have been able to agree that it’s necessary to pay the coordinator. As usual communicating positive stories is challenging.

The first lady has been accused of drawing salary for charity work. One wonders if indeed what she is doing could be described as charity or that the crime is that she is married to the President. My understanding is that the Safe Motherhood programme seeks to promote the advancement of women and vulnerable populations in all sectors of our rapidly changing and developing society especially in the rural areas with an aim of developing women's leadership, improving health care for women and girls, reducing gender-based violence, and promoting the education of girls. This is not charity. This is work!

The empowerment of women is central to any agenda of sustainable development, democratization, and social cohesion. The education of girls and young people is essential for cultivating responsible and productive citizens.

The government of Malawi has shown its commitment to the improvement of the status of women. It has therefore taken the President to appoint a coordinator to be responsible for issues of safe motherhood. This shows commitment form the high office and needs to be a collective endeavour that must involve government, civil society, and the active participation of all citizens.

Perhaps we don’t understand safe motherhood, so we don’t appreciate the importance of that programme whose goal is to contribute to improved quality of life among poor people especially women, young people, children and vulnerable families living in rural areas by facilitating socioeconomic development.

We should imagine a decrease in number of girl-children dropping out of primary and secondary schools on the basis of social pressures, economic hardships and unconducive learning environment and also increased awareness among communities on socio-cultural practices that increase women’s vulnerability to gender-based violence, contraction of STIs/HIV, cancer of cervix and practices that negatively influence gender orientation and stereo-typing.

Surely to achieve this and more, this programme is not a charity. It is an activity that requires measurable indicators with a full time salaried coordinator. The organisation will be fundraising and it is wrong to make sweeping statements as tax-payers paying.

It must be noted and agreed that the first lady is not only marketable. She is qualified, dedicated and experienced. From her days at Hunger Project and the impact of that project to her being an MP let alone minister there are traces of positive delivery of services. One could also notice that the moment she became coordinator she has already attracted funding in excess of what could have been expected. Media reports also indicated that there have been discussions with the South African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka on fundraising for children and they launched a vaccination programme in December in Lilongwe.

Achievements are being realised. The best example is the training of midwives from rural areas, and they will work in rural areas. This is a rare programme that will bridge the gap between hospitals and traditional birth attendants (TBAs). This will help in increased proportion of women, young people, vulnerable families, and children accessing holistic and quality integrated reproductive, child health and child development services.

Then there have been arguments that the previous holder of the position, Madam Joyce Banda never drew any salary for the work. This argument is very unfortunate as it is being wrongly equated. It requires no explanation that the previous holder, who actually was a Goodwill Ambassador for Safe Motherhood, was not a coordinator and in practice a civil servant could not be drawing two salaries. When an elected MP becomes a minister, one does not draw two salaries hence the Vice President could not draw another salary. These two people are different and its wrong to equate them in a comparison.

*The writer is a social commentator writing in his personal capacity

attached picture: Malawi’s Callista Mutharika with the German’s First Lady Bettina Wulff when they met in Berlin (source internet)

New project launched to improve ecological status of Mt Mulanje

2010-11-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

New project launched to improve ecological status of Mt Mulanje
by Hastings Maloya
A project meant to improve the lives of people and protect Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve has been launched here.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the $3 million Mount Mulanje MOBI+LISE Project, was initiated Tuesday at Kambenje Full Primary School ground in the area of Senior Chief Nkanda in Mulanje district.

Malawi’s director of forestry Dr. Dennis Kayambazinthu applauded several organizations working on this project, noting that in past the country lost its natural resources because there was a lack of cooperation among interested parties.

“It’s time we worked together. Environmental management and conservation of natural resources should be a responsibility of all especially through working together. I have no doubt that this project will be a success as it has different stakeholders working together,” said Dr. Kayambazinthu.

Also speaking at the launch which had a good turnout, Mulanje district commissioner Jack Ngulube said communities can expect to develop when they have natural resources that were preserved and used wisely.

“Development can not only be infrastructures. We need natural resources like trees and water if people are to fully be involved in the economic development of the country,” said Ngulube who also thanked USAID for its support.

Mulanje Mountain, the tallest in southern African with a rich and unique plant and animal species, was approved as a Global Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 2000. Communities targeted in Mulanje and Phalombe in this project are those in close proximity—about 10 kilometers--to the mountain as they depend on it for their water, food and income.

But uncontrolled demand say on trees for firewood exerts too much pressure on this limited resource. And experts warn that bare land as result of trees being removed wantonly leads to erosion, the lowering of the water table and drought. The whole ecosystem gets affected.

Against that harsh reality, the USAID Mount Mulanje MOBI+LISE Project was initiated to support the people in the communities by introducing them to best practices in resources utilization and management.

The project, which should benefit about 53,995 households from 132 villages around the mountain, is also anticipated to achieve the following outcomes: increased community involvement in protected area management; diversified crop production with good husbandry practices and land resource management; diversified mountain resource utilization opportunities; improved local community development capacity; and, diversified and improved biomass and renewable energy use.

This three-year project has seen the following organizations and institutions working together: Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT), the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), Concern Universal (CU) and Mulanje and Phalombe district councils.

Read more: http://www.maravipost.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4299:project-to-improve-lives-environment-launches-in-mulanje&catid=52:district&Itemid=122#ixzz15Z8lUgH0

2010-10-01T08:38:00.001-07:00

UNESCO recognizes Lhomwe cultural heritage
by Hastings Maloya

A break through!

It is no longer a forgotten tribe. After reviving its cultural beliefs, traditions, language, songs, dances and the known unique cultural living, Lhomwe is now proudly moving towards being positioned on the international map, courtesy of the support from United Nations.

Through its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the world body has supported the inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Lhomwe culture on a grass roots level. A three-week inventory through an intensive research and field work in Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Zomba and Phalombe districts has unearthed the unique living of the Lhomwe people. Their heritage is now documented and a recollection of the way of life can easily be traced.

This follows a project on “Community Based Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage” funded by UNESCO in collaboration with the Flanders Fund-In-Trust Cooperation. This is a pilot project in six selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa which include Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia.

In Malawi, the Lhomwe community was chosen largely because, unlike in other regions where similar activities have been done before, very little if any, had been done to expose the culture of southern region at global level. And Lhomwe was seen to be better organised through its cultural heritage grouping, the Mulhako wa Alhomwe.
The project was coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.

Speaking at the official launch of the project, which started with a capacity building workshop for community representatives who did the inventorying, former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Hon. Shadreck Jonas said this was a landmark in the history of Malawi that culture and cultural heritage can be systematically and professionally documented as this will help to maintain our history for the sake of the future generations.

“In most countries, cultural heritage is well documented to the extent that one can learn, know and understand any cultural belief by reading in books – a thing that has been missing in Malawi,” said Hon. Jonas adding that it was exciting now that the Lhomwe heritage has finally been recognized internationally.”

“Lhomwe was selected because it has a well structured body as Mulhako wa Alhomwe which aims at reviving the Lhomwe culture and traditions,” he said while thanking UNESCO for the financial support towards the project.

The workshop, which was facilitated by the Director of Culture in the Ministry Dr. E. Chindebvu, UNESCO’s Director of Culture in Southern Africa Mrs. Mulekeni Ngulube from Zimbabwe and Cultural expert from UNESCO Mr. Stephen Chifunyise, was the key to the opening of new horizons.

Mr. Lovemore Mazibuko, Acting Director of Culture responsible for Museums, who facilitated the project, described it as a great success and expressed hope that it will enrich Malawi’s cultural heritage with UNESCO.

Among several other things, the inventory looked into oral traditions and expressions that include proverbs, riddles, tales, nursery rhymes legends, myths, epic songs, poems, chants and prayers.

“We also looked into performing arts,” says Owen Stima one among the young Lhomwe people that conducted the inventor. “We also concentrated on social practices, rituals and festive events,” adds Sitima. These includes worship rites, rites of passage, birth, weddings and funeral rites, oaths of allegiance, traditional legal systems, traditional games and sports, kinship rituals, kinship ceremonies, settlement patterns, culinary traditions, seasonal ceremonies, practices specific to men, practices specific to women, hunting, fishing and gathering practices.

Traditional Authority Chikumbu says this inventory and the findings shall help young Lhomwe people to appreciate their culture and be proud of their tradition. She was excited with the inventory on traditional ecological wisdom, indigenous knowledge, knowledge about local fauna and flora, traditional herbing systems, rituals, beliefs, initiation rites, cosmologies, possession rites, social organizations and festivals.

In traditional craftsmanship, the inventory looked at tools, clothing and jewellery, costumes and props for festival of performing arts, storage containers, transport and shelter, decorative art, rituals objects, musical instruments, household utensils and toys for amusement or education.

Mulhako wa Alhomwe is meanwhile working on means on how to protect the intangible cultural heritage by allowing practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and associated manifestations to be sustainably maintained by the communities, groups and or individuals concerned.

Data gathered is electronically recorded and transcribed into a written form without changing its meaning. The documented information shall be given to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture with another copy kept in the Museum of Malawi and the other copy to Mulhako Wa Alhomwe for reference.

On Lhomwe Cultural Heritage

2010-10-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

On Presidential trips

2010-09-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

Lets be fair with our criticism

For employees, be it in the public or private sector, there is nothing motivating than being offered a foreign trip. Whether business or academic but when such an opportunity occurs, it is joy in homes, joy at office and its good news worth sharing to all that matter. There could be other officials that are on the plane time and again but traditionally they always get excited with their next flight.

Such trips occur for different reasons depending on the institution that one works for. Other trips are work related that one does not have a choice but to travel. Others are purely a life time opportunity. For those working in the private sector, for example doing business, foreign trips are part of the investment and require capital to carry them. But much as a lot of money has to go into such trips, the traveler still gets excited to be at the airport two hours before departure time.

The other groups of people that travel quite often are those working in the NGO sector. Mostly their natures of jobs require them to travel to different countries for seminars, workshops, work-related activities or educational tours. There are some heads of NGOs that do have a year’s schedule of travel itinerary in there diaries. Much as goals and objectives of their organisations are to save the local masses, none of their constituents are consulted about such trips. We have eventually seen heads of non-governmental organisations becoming overnight millionaires – one would suspect such to be outcomes of continuous foreign trips. We could be wrong!

Then there is the office of the President. By nature of this challenging office and without getting into unnecessary debates, the holder is obliged to travel quite a lot especially that we are now living in a global village. Whether it means wooing investors, discussing peace, soliciting donor money or promotion of tourism and other policies, it requires the President to travel to different for him to positively sale his country. In cases like these, the president has to travel with different personalities that would do different activities during such tours or visits.

There has been Malawians that have had a chance to travel following their inclusion on a presidential entourage. This has been a trend ever since we gained independence. It has been a powerful tool of education, networking and sharing of information. Of late what we have learnt is that the current president has been reducing the number of people accompanying him on such trips. Much as there could be convincing reasons but reducing the presidential entourage is not necessarily good for the nation as this denies other Malawians an opportunity to travel.

Well, thus subject for a different discussion. But the discussion here is how and why should the NGO community criticise the president for travelling and never look at their own travel programmes? The media reports, if they are anything to go by, leave a lot to be desired. The allegations and fears are that the presidential trips might be drawing on the country’s dwindled reserves due to scarcity of forex.

The criticism allegedly came from an organisation designated as the coordinating body for all non-governmental organisations in Malawi with the goal of ensuring effective coordination and collaboration of all the NGOs and other development partners including government. One would wonder why such a criticism should come through newspapers. What happened to coordination and collaboration?

Interestingly, on the list of provided trips that the president has had lately, the critics have not pointed out which among them was a useless trip and a forex drainer. They also did not indicate how much might have been lost. Simply they made an allegation without facts. The body also does not give examples of foreign trips whose officials might have turned down in the interest of the country’s forex.
The problem with such awkward criticisms is that they bring political talk where there is supposed to be no politics. They bring unnecessary debates that leave people pointing at each other in support or against. Malawi does not need this. Not at this point.

Possibly the president has of late been travelling in his capacity as both the President of the Republic of Malawi and as Chairperson of the African Union. These two especially the later, brings with it challenges that as a country we can not avoid. As was observed by the government of the United States soon after the president’s election to the position of Chairperson for the African Union, there is a huge task that the president is involved in and Malawi as a nation will contribute.

The United States said, in a statement, that it looks forward to continuing our partnership with the AU to promote peace, prosperity, and security for all Africans. “We share Chairperson Mutharika’s goals of ending child hunger and malnutrition and welcome his interest in promoting the critical goal of agricultural development and food security on the continent. The U.S. stands ready to partner with the AU on promoting democracy and good governance and to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections on the continent in the coming year”.

Surely one would not expect the President to achieve this from the four walls of his office at the State House.
It surprises me that organisations be it public or private are not good at releasing statement in recognition of achievements but rather jump to make criticisms. Maybe I need a school of thought but there are strides that Malawi has achieved that require mention positively. We may not acknowledge but others do.

On Tuesday, 17 August 2010, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) wrote on their website and I quote, “Since 2007 the country has made real progress in achieving economic growth as part of programmes instituted by the government of President Mutharika in 2005. Healthcare, education and environmental conditions have improved, and Malawi has started to move away from reliance on overseas aid. The government's programme of fertilizer subsidies has dramatically boosted output in recent years, making Malawi a net food exporter.”

Much as we may be free to criticize the President, rightly or wrongly, and make wild accusations, most of which are not substantiated, it would be good to demonstrate what we are doing better to turn around situations that we are in as a country. For example, while CONGOMA’s chairperson sees everything wrong in the President’s foreign trips as is alleged, which could be right, he should have also showed the nation what his organization has done so far to bring the much-needed forex into the country. It is also imperative to give examples of foreign trips that he turned down for the love of the country - it is called a fair game.

On Vice President Joyce Banda

2010-04-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

She needs not be Ambassador
By Hastings Maloya

There shall never be a time without debate in Malawi. With the current political dispensation and freedom of expression, we are not running short of subjects for discussion on daily basis. Some issues are worth debating as they help us understand ourselves and our nation better.

Lately in the lame light is the issue of the Right Honourable Joyce Banda with allegations that she has been stripped of her mantle as the African Union (AU) Safe Motherhood Goodwill Ambassador. There are different schools of thoughts coming out with other people clearly expressing disappointment to the development.

My colleague on the opposite page is also not happy with the alleged decision and justifies his stand. For me, if indeed it is true, i do not see any problem and I do not understand why we should be debating this straight forward matter.

According to media reports Health Minister Moses Chirambo had written a memo in which he indicated that after due consultations, it has now occurred to his ministry that the portfolio of Safe motherhood commends itself more as a portfolio under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Community development and not the ministry of Health. A fact.

The memo, it was reported, further mentioned of the placement of the portfolio of Safe Motherhood, to which the Right Honourable was relieved. Not much information has been shared but its surprising how debate has come up and how government has been accused of wrong doing.

To a certain degree one wonders if indeed there has been some other sources of information in this regard that people have which some of us do not know. I will therefore avoid commenting much on speculations but rather whether is was necessary that our Vice President be an ambassador and whether indeed it is indeed extremely wrong to have her out of that position.

To begin with, the right honourable Joyce Hilda Banda is the first Malawian female Vice President and arguably among the most strong and industrious women the country has ever produced.

During the time that she has served as goodwill ambassador of safe motherhood she has managed to raise millions of Kwacha from the private sector to help in safe motherhood so that the country remains on track to achieving one of the UN Millennium Development Goals of reducing maternal mortality.

Widely involved in politics, Joyce Banda has served several roles, both as a legislator and Minister, before she was appointed incumbent President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika’s Vice during the 2009 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Having served as Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa Constituency, Banda has also served in several portfolios including Minister of Gender, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Amongst other achievements such as the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable end of Hunger by new-York based NGO the Hunger Project in 1997 which she shared with the then Mozambican President Joachim Chissano, Joyce Banda is also a widely celebrated female activist who in her lifetime has achieved a variety of great things aimed at further developing the Malawian woman.

The Vice President, our citizen number two, individually, is a force to be reckoned with. Joyce Banda not only has a story, but a legacy to go with it. She remains an inspiration.

To me, to maintain her as goodwill ambassador for ever is a matter of misusing resources. She has shown us what she is able to do and I am sure she can guide the nation how we can achieve more if those opportunities are left open. But maintaining her on this position is almost denying her and Malawians opportunities to see what more she has to offer to her country.

We need to move as a nation, by giving chances to others to learn. Even if she is not the ambassador, I am sure as second in command, in her capacity as Vice President she would still supervise activities of this office and advise where necessary.

Here is a woman so creative and knowledgeable. She has done it whether in business, politics, education and health. For sure she can also do it in other sectors like environment, culture, arts even sports if given a chance. Let other fields also benefit from her capabilities. I would suggest that she is given a chance to initiate things and help as many Malawians as possible learn and participate.

She is already an inspiration to many women and young girls not only in Malawi but far and wide. As we are all proud of her, my judgment is that she has more to offer to this nation than wanting her to cling to one position.

It is not wrong to relieve her of the current position. I look at it as an opportunity for her to concentrate on something different.

Let us also appreciate the fact in her elected capacity; she has a lot to do. It will be unfortunate and unfair to portray to the nation that her actual activity is being an ambassador for safe motherhood.

She is still our vice-president and the position of vice-president, the world over is very demanding... /ends

On Church Boundary

2010-03-08T01:31:00.000-08:00

Nkhoma Synod makes a good decision
By Hastings Maloya

Recently there have been debates going on as to whether Malawi is a God-fearing nation or not. While others think, indeed we are a God-fearing nation; other schools of thought are to the contrary. Examples are bound of some deeds that have taken place in the country in recent times that would make one doubt if indeed we are a God-fearing nation. Nevertheless, whether we are or not, it would depend on which side of the debate one chooses to be, but it could be agreeable by all that Malawi is a religious nation.

Despite different beliefs and thoughts, almost all Malawians belong to a certain religious sect. Arguably, most of them are Christians. And Malawi being a religious nation, we have always regarded our religious institutions and religious leaders with respect. We assign to these, the roles of counselor, leader and nation builder.
However, what we have witnesses in the past five years between the Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods of the CCAP Church have consistently refused to fit into the above roles. News related to the issue about boundaries between the two Synods brought us, observers not any closer to the teachings of Christianity but rather seeds of disunity and division among Christ’s faithful.

The Synods had, to a certain degree chosen, as their calling the defending of privileges of a small constituency other than the unification of these interests with those of the nation as a whole. Through their disagreements on regional boundaries, Malawians have noted use of language that is confrontational, alarmist and divisive turning Christianity into a festering war.

Since necessary information has not been forthcoming as to why the boundary should be an issue between religious groupings, yet of the same CCAP, Malawians have just been left wondering and making assumptions. It has only been leaders at the helm of the two Synods that know the actual reasons for the disagreements and the values associated with them. But lay people like me would wonder why sharing of the word of God should really have boundaries.

If it is due to historic background, then that history should be out of tune. We need to move with time and accept that things do change with time. Actually it could be a sign of laziness to base our arguments on facts that were thought over a decade ago.

This is why I would say finally, common sense has prevailed in the battle of 'areas of influence' between Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods. A stand taken by the Nkhoma Synod that there need not be any boundaries, though coming in late, is the best and should be applauded.

According to recent media reports, the Nkhoma Synod has given up on the protracted border dispute with the Livingstonia Synod and has adopted a ‘no border’ policy a move that has also been welcomed by the Livingstonia Synod. It is so pleasing to hear that the Synod has made the decision to close the chapter on the boundary matter.

Most Christians believe that human beings experience divine judgment and are rewarded either with eternal life or eternal damnation. Studies indicate that in most countries in the developed world, church attendance among people who continue to identify themselves as Christians has been falling over the last few decades. Some sources view this simply as part of a drift away from traditional membership institutions, while others link it to signs of a decline in belief in the importance of religion in general.

In this regard, the Nkhoma Synod has finally risen to the occasion and is not ready to weaken Christianity and its membership. Surely level-minded people would love to be members of Nkhoma Synod and freely praise the Lord without thinking of a boundary, which in the first place was not even made by spiritual guidance.
And apart from sharing the word of God, the Synod also offer social services.

According to available records, the CCAP Nkhoma Synod was founded in or around 1889 and is one of the major Protestant churches in Malawi. It has over a hundred congregations and over a thousand prayer houses with close to a million members. It also maintains a Theological Training centre, runs a health department and is also responding to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Do we really need a boundary for these services?

In short, over the past years deserving people have been denied services that could have uplifted their livelihoods because of the nonsense that was called Synod boundaries. Though late, the decision by the Nkhoma Synod will, in the next few year benefit Malawi as a whole as resources and services shall be shared to the people regardless of jurisdiction of their stay.

Protestant Christians believe that the Bible is a self-sufficient revelation, the final authority on all Christian doctrine, and revealed all truth necessary for salvation. And most of the entire Bible preaches love and forgiveness. It is unfortunate that in the modern era, Christianity has been confronted with various forms of skepticism and with certain modern political ideologies such as liberalism and recent events have ranged from mere anti-clericalism to violent outbursts.

Surely the decision by the Nkhoma Synod will ensure that peace and co-existence prevail. Our expectations should be that both the Livingstonia and Blantyre Synods also go for a no-boundary policy. Moreover, why should we have a Church of Central Africa that recognises regions and promotes divisions?

We should all acknowledge the fact that the decision by the Nkhoma Synod comes after a long protracted war between the two synods during which the CCAP general Synod tried to mediate using a commission of enquiry to no avail. The decision therefore, cannot be contested as it is not infringing on anyone but giving an opportunity of free choice to people to chose which they think is the best. In this regard it would not be expected that anyone would want to go in any argument or discussions over this decision. The Nkhoma Synod has demonstrated that it is for peace and development.

From this we can learn that there is no argument or disagreement that cannot be resolved. It does not necessarily need to take use of vulgar language or force to see things move in a positive direction. Giving in and accepting change to take natural course is the best way Malawians would lie in co-existence.

Salutations to the Nkhoma Synod for a well thought of decision. It’s a lesson worth learning!

On my wife Emily

2010-03-08T00:52:00.000-08:00

The pain of losing a wife Mrs. Emily Maloya 25 March 1975 – 16 January 2010

On Thursday 7th January 2010, as usual I came home at lunch hour and had my beautiful lunch prepared by my wife. We ate together, shared a few jokes as she narrated what has been on the news that day – both radio and TV. Yes she was good at following current affairs. I returned to office a happy man. Who could not, after a good meal?

After work, I passed a PTC shop, met some friends and while we chat, my cell phone rang. It was my wife. As usual, I cut the line so I could call her.

“Hello!” I said with a smile.

“mmmmm,” I noted she was not able to express herself but I got her saying she feel pain on the one side of her body.

I bed farewell to my colleagues and rushed home. There she was indeed in pain.

“But what happened? I mean you were ok just this afternoon,” I was at a loss.

With pain she explained that while she was comfortably chatting with her friends she just felt like something pulling her left side. I noted she was in pains and I called my doctor friend who within a few minutes was around. He administered medication that could lessen the pain before diagnosing what the problem could be. By nine o’clock in the evening, she got better and woke up. She could eat. We suspected malaria but tests proved negative. She was weak yes, but Friday was ok just as Saturday and Sunday. We watched the opening ceremony of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations together – with her usual love for Cameroon while predicting that Cameroon would win the trophy..

On Monday I noted that she was not okay and I suggested we go to the hospital, a proposal she was not in favour of – “I will be okay Hastings,” she said but I insisted so we left for Mulanje Mission Hospital. She was diagnosed malaria plus 4! The two days of our stay in hospital were not good but on Thursday she was fine and all arrangements were in place for a discharge.

But lo! Evening of Thursday things just changed from nowhere.

I prayed so hard. I asked God to allow my wife live. I did all i could. The medical people did the best they could.

“Talk to me Emily,” I could ask her. She could only smile. I saw my wife failing to eat. Getting weaker by the minute. I noted she had something to say to me but could not manage. Saturday morning 16th January, 2010, Emily breathed last.

“Oh! Lord. Why me?” I cried. “Why me? Why should I be a widower? How about the little girls. Good Lord, why have you accepted that these girls grow without a mother?” yes it as difficult for whoever was around to control my noise.

We travelled to Lilongwe – the most painful trip in my life - on Sunday and burial took place on Monday the 18th January 2010 at Kawale cemetery. I saw those men putting her down into the grave.....

Emily Maloya (nee Kacheula)

She was a wife, a mother, a counsellor, a teacher and the peacemaker. We thank God that she was with us on a strong bond for 14 years without a break. As we celebrate her life and all we gained from her, we ask the Almighty God to rest her in eternal peace.

Hastings, and the daughters Taona-Eva and Tamanda-Eve

VOTE OF THANKS

It is after this dark cloud fell that the families of Maloya and Kacheula realised that we have caring friends and partners. This hard task was made bearable through your support. We thank you all for being with us through out the painful hours both in Mulanje and Lilongwe. Of great mention:

• His Excellency the President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika
• Prof. Etta Banda MP – Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Mrs. Patricia Kaliyati MP – Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development
• The Executive Director, Programme Officers, Management and staff of the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT)
• Mulli Brothers Limited
• The Seventh- Day Adventist Church – Mulanje, Chitakale and Kawale
• The National Chairman and the entire executive committee of Mulhako wa Alhomwe
• Mr. Leston Mulli
• Mr. Ahmed Fattani – Fattani Offset Printers
• Mr. Gospel Kazako, Management and staff of Zodiak Broadcasting Station
• Mulanje Well Wishers Group
• Regional Chairman and committee Mulhako wa Alhomwe – South
• Regional Chairman and committee Mulhako wa Alhomwe - Centre
• Regional Chairman and committee Mulhako wa Alhomwe - East
• Chitakale Tea Estate
• Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha
• Mr. Llyod Muhara
• Mr. Elvis Thodi
• Mr. H. Mathanga
• Mrs. Adhija Elizabeth Nangoma
• Media Council of Malawi
• Mulanje District Football League
• Mr. Daulos Mauambeta & Management of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi
• The Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE)
• My forum friends (Namisa, Nyasanet, MalawiTalk, Dzimatsapota)
• Medical Staff – Mulanje Mission Hospital
• Amfumu Njedza ndi mudzi wonse wa Njedza
• Friends and relatives too numerous to mention

May our God of possibilities bless you all!

The Year 2010

2010-01-07T02:08:00.000-08:00

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

by Hastings Maloya

Happy New year. Yes, we are in a new decade. And the year 2010, which looks a very busy one especially sports wise, is International Year of Biodiversity according to a declaration by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. For the next twelve months Malawi joins the international community in celebrating biological diversity and boosting awareness of how important it is for our lives.

Biological diversity, or “biodiversity,” refers to the variety and variability among living organisms be it flora and vegetation, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish and a variety of other living things. This also includes diversity of ecosystems, species and genes, and the ecological processes that support them.

David Nangoma, programme officer responsible for biodiversity conservation, research and monitoring for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) says dedication of the year 2010 to celebrate biodiversity is the best way to start the decade.

"The importance of biodiversity as flora and fauna can not be over-emphasized. From a local perspective, it provides the basic livelihoods for the majority of communities as there is provision of virtually everything that nature can provide to mankind", says Nangoma.

Malawi has significant biodiversity as it sits at the crossroads of the East and Central African and Southern African floral and fauna sub regions. it also has a very high human population, the majority living in rural areas and dependant on these biodiversity resources for their survival.

Natural diversity in ecosystems provides essential economic benefits and services to human society - such as food, clothing, shelter, fuel and medicines - as well as ecological, recreational, cultural and aesthetic values, and thus plays an important role in sustainable development.

However, most people, not only in Malawi, but the world over appreciate the beauty of the natural world, but awareness of biodiversity, how seriously it is threatened, and the implications for human well being, is alarmingly low.

This leads to our ecological sites facing threats that include unsustainable resource harvesting, over-harvesting and use, encroachment into the protected areas - sometimes due to population growth, annual damaging forest fires and introduction and/or invasion of alien plant species. Biodiversity is therefore under threat in many areas of the world.

Nangoma says major threats to biodiversity in Malawi and most African countries includes uncontrollable annual forest fires.

"Forest fires have been the main cause of damage to ecosystems that most living things habit. Other threats are encroachment into protected areas by way of establishing settlements and agricultural expansion, which in most cases is due to population growth," observes Nangoma adding that the introduction of some alien invasive plant species has also been of great concern.

Concern about global biodiversity loss has emerged as a prominent and widespread public issue.

According to the United Nations, we need “to see biodiversity at the top of the global agenda, leading to stronger action from all sectors of society including government and industry to safeguard it. To do this we have to show how biodiversity is essential for sustaining our natural living systems—or ecosystem—that provide us with clean air and water, food, building materials, fuel and medicine”.

Throughout the year countless initiatives need to be organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide.

Among several others, objectives of the International Year of Biodiversity are to raise awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity for human well-being and promote understanding of the economic value of biodiversity and to enhance public knowledge of the threats to biodiversity and means to conserve it.

Awareness efforts need to put emphasis on the importance of biodiversity through our values, performance, and communication and engagement. We need to strive to conduct our operations to make sure that everyone understands that humans and the natural environment are interdependent and interact with each other in various ways. In managing our impacts we consider those interrelationships and the functions ecosystems perform in supporting sustainable economic development and seek ways to make positive contributions to biodiversity conservation in areas that we live.

Humans are an integral part of biodiversity and have the power to protect or destroy it. Currently, our activities as humans are destroying the natural world at an unprecedented rate through climate change, habitat destruction, over- harvesting, pollution and many other activities. We’re facing a global species extinction crisis. But there is growing recognition that biological diversity is the lifeblood of sustainable development and human welfare.

Well managed natural resources support peaceful communities, encourage well-balanced economic growth and help reduce poverty. It is therefore our responsibility to join hands as we commemorate the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY

Chairing the SADC Environmental Forum

2010-01-07T00:51:00.000-08:00

Malawi chairs the SADC Environmental Forum

As appeared on Nyasatimes: http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/malawi-chairs-the-sadc-environmental-forum.html

The Southern Africa CBNRM Forum (SACF) elected Malawian, Hastings Maloya of Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust as its new chairman.

According to Godfrey Mitti, Regional Coordinator of WWF Regional CBNRM Program southern Africa, Maloya, a re-known journalist and environmental practitioner was unanimously voted chairperson at the regional meeting that took place at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe last week. And is to hold the position for two years.

He succeeded Ms Rosina Masilo-Ragkoasi of Botswana.

Countries in the forum include Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. In the coming year, Tanzania and Angola will be roped.

“This is a great honour to Malawi. As a country we are making strides in natural resource management environmental conservation, and this is a vote of recognition,” said Maloya.

He said during his chairmanship, he will stride to make sure that local leaders are more involved in community-based natural resource management.

“Indigenous knowledge would be the best way if we are to manage our resources. We need to focus on local leaders and get them involved,” he said.

The 2009 TVM Awards

2010-01-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

The 2009 TVM Awards Analysis
by Hastings Maloya

They changed their slogan from "The Station for the Nation" to "Creating a World of Possibilities" and within a year Malawi Television (TVM) has slowly proven itself as one of the best TV stations in the SADC Region. They went on satelite, giving an opportunity to Malawians in other countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique to watch their local TV channel. They brought in new personalities and new programming.

From their live "Good Morning Malawi" programme, to musical ones, religious, sports, cultural and then news bulletins, Malawi Television is now a family channel. They may have a lot more to improve but given the local situation, with limited resources and the political environment, TVM is worth watching. And they bring in new things and surprises.

Mid October 2009, an advert appeared on Malawi Television. It talked about the 2009 TVM Awards. The advert talked of plans to honour and award Malawians "Who have selflessly contributed to serving others without them realising". Most Malawians could not understand what these awards will really be about. It took time for TVM to exactly say what they had in stor for Malawi.

Mid December, TVM announced the date of the awards and the venue. Entry fees at MK15, 000 in advance and MK20, 000 on the door seemed on the higher side. But they must have done good marketing. Several companies came forward to support the event and the hall at the College of Medicine Sports Complex could not take all the prospective patrons. State President, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was guest of honour.

The event, which was broadcast live on television was spiced by the perfomance of South African gospel diva, Rabecca Malope, Mganda dancers from Nkhatabay, Police Band and Joseph Tembo with his Groove Magic band.

Toast of the night was the awarding of the achievers in waht has to be labbled "the 2009 TVM 2009 Our People Our Pride Awards. The choice od awardees, which among others included a Mr Mkandawire who constructed a suspended Bridge in Rumphi, the guy who caught the Nachipanti vampire in Ndirande, the Pastor who started the orphan centre where Madonna adopted David. Stories associated with each awardeee were inspiring and so moving.

Wilson Moleni,a banker in Mzuzu says the show was beyond his expectations. He said he never expected something of that magnitude to take place in Malawi adding, it was inspiring especially on the ordinary Malawians that were awarded.

"It was a marvel to watch live on television. being the first of its kind, surely TVM has set a record and it will have a tough time to beat its own record it has set, said Moleni adding: "I liked the orderly flow of the events, including the effects that went with them."

And in his remarks, Acting Director General of Television Malawi Bright Malopa, said this was only a biggining of this to come, to which he received a round of applause maybe with the audience accepting that TVM is indeed creating a world of posibilities.

President Mutharika, whose BENITH Trust was the main sponsor said he was excited that ordinary Malawians could be recognised in this manner. He also pledged to support a 15-year old orphan who was among the award receipients with school and other basic needs.

Zimbabwean music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi was also supposed to perform but failed to come at the last minute due to sickness. but that did not affect the tone of the event.

The awards ceremony dwarfs other sort of events including the famous Entertainers of the year programme on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.

On Cultural Dances

2009-03-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Dances are the core of culture
by Hastings Maloya

A day to remember - yes, a day that will go into the history books as a turning point when local dances that were almost dead resurfaced! This was through the Mount Mulanje traditional dance competition that took place on Friday the 27th March, at the Mulanje Community Centre Ground. Being the first time such an event had ever taken place, it was sufficiently interesting and likely to be remembered.

It was a rare occasion that brought together people from all walks of life, regardless of political or religious affiliations and appreciated culture. A day filled with sounds of traditionally-made drums and lovely hand clapping with participating groups in costumes and attire befitting the dances in their originality.

The competition, which was strictly for adults, those aged from 25 and above, was organised by the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust through its environmental education and awareness programme as a way of raising awareness on natural resource and environmental management. A total of 20 dancing groups from all over Mulanje district participated in the competition with dances ranging from Soopa, Gololombe, Jiri, Likwata, Visekhere, Chomanga, Dodo, Mganda, Manganje, Masalimo to Namunasini.

Through several awareness and educational activities, MMCT would like to encourage greater participation by the local communities in managing the Mulanje Mountain forest reserve and facilitate sustainable means of increasing benefits that people derive from it. And this competition just perfectly fitted in.

“Apart from raising awareness of the importance of Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve, this competition has assisted in acknowledging and improving the rich diversity of culture in Mulanje and also the development of tourism in the district,” said the District Commissioner for Mulanje Rev. Mosses Chimphepo. Rev. Chimphepo said he was excited that such an event brought people together to share joy and laughter, which he said was good for development.

No wonder the event attracted sponsorship from Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) that provided prizes to the winning groups. The Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust provided MK5, 000 to each of the 20 participating groups while the bank provided actual prizes to winning groups through the opening of bank accounts. The bank gave prizes to a total of MK100, 000 to five winning groups.

After scrutinising the performances a group of six judges came with a verdict that saw Manyamba Troupe with their Soopa dance scooping the first position and walked away with a K30, 000 bank account seconded by Gawani Traditional Dance with their Manganje dance and got K25, 000. On position three was Nancocho Club with Namunasini dance and were proud recipients of K20, 000 while Maliyera group with Dodo dance was on position four and got K15, 000; and Msuka dancers got K10, 000 for being on position five.

And in his remarks, MSB Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha, said the Bank is proud to be associated with the promotion of culture and traditional values of the people of Malawi. He thanked the Trust for organising the event and said the Bank is excited to support the groups to sustain themselves economically hence the offer to open accounts for them.

“Our bank, which has branches in all the districts of Malawi is not discriminatory. We wanted everyone to have the power of investment and groups like these are the owners of the bank. It is my hope that after opening the bank accounts, your groups will be sustained”, said Mr. Mwanamvekha.

Mr. Mwanamvekha, who is also the National Chairperson for Mulhako wa Alhomwe, a Lhomwe cultural heritage group, emphasised on the importance of traditional dances in preservation of culture. At this point he said this competition can be looked at a starting point. He observed that over the years, Malawian were starting to believe that entertainment meant bringing into the country a foreign band when we have rich and diversity of local entertainment.

People that attended the ceremony included school children, government officials, international guests, tourists, representatives of the NGO community, the civil society and the general public.

The participating groups were asked to compose songs that raise awareness on natural resource and environmental management – with focus on the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. A group of six judges was tasked to come up with winners putting in consideration consistence, composition of songs, originality of the dance, the message and the general entertainment. All songs were expected to talk of the importance of conservation.

And in his remarks, the guest of honour, Paramount Chief Mkhumba thanked both MMCT and MSB for recognising the local talent and facilitating the bringing out of dances that were about to be forgotten.

“Jiri is my favourite dance. It was almost gone but today we have revived it,” said the excited Chief Mkhumba while asking the organisers to consider making this an annual event. “We are reminded of our days. This is what our children need to be taught and encouraged to participate,” said the chief. He called on teachers and education officials to encourage children to organise and dance traditional dances than adopting foreign dances like kwasakwasa.

And the journey has just started….. the Trust wants this to be an annual event and the Bank wants it too!

On Beer Promotion

2009-03-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

Big companies and the abuse on girls
By Hastings Maloya

The time is 11.30pm and I am having my favourite Carlsberg Stout at a place called Green Bird – of course there are no green-coloured birds there – in Liwonde (Mangochi Turn Off). This was after a long day in the forests of Machinga and lengthy discussions with chiefs and local leaders. Twenty-three minutes later, when I was on my second cold one, a green minibus pulls by. Very intoxicated young people jumps out, makes a lot of unnecessary noise – maybe to attract attention of everyone present. The misguided youths, as I saw them, do not even have the sense to seek permission from the owners of the venue before doing whatever stupid thing they have brought.

Yes, they are on a promotion. They want your views whether you love the latest Kadansana which has been branded by a new name Elephant, or the sugary-heavy-and-not-interesting Gold or the beautiful-name-for-nothing Classic. They do not mind whether you are interested to partake or not but they need your attention. Here they are, taking out their belongings from the minibus, prizes, whatever-it-is and they are all over for a talk yes.

I thought I was comfortable to enjoy my Stout after having a beautiful supper of Nsima with local chicken at one of the local restaurants. Oh no! There comes a girl with all the minutiae looking for information. I am a journalist and a development worker – I said to myself and remembered that in most cases I also seek info… why should I not give it now when someone needs it? The interview has not yet finished – only realising that the girl was so drunk! Time now is 12.43 (am!)

Wow, I learnt in the course of the discussion that the girl is less than 20 years old – actually 19. So sozzled that in the prattle of the discussion she does not know what she is talking about.

“But why are you so drunk?” I ask
“Don’t you know that I am promoting a beer? Mutu wanu ukugwira?” she asks.
“How many bottles have you taken?” I asked. Didn’t want to show her that I am annoyed
“Ndauyamba mmamawa,” she says as reaches her bottle for a sip, “where do you leave? “She asks.
“I stay in Mulanje I am only here on duty”, I politely respond.
“Ah! Mulanje?” she shouts
“Yes, Mulanje” I said with a smile.
“Ah, we were there. Mulanje boarder, Chikumbe Motel, Mulanje Motel, View Motel, Chididi, Chris Corner, Blue Gum! Hahahahah! We did not sleep when we were in MJ… iii and ndinauchapa! Pa Small Ville was the place I liked most” – I was so interested the way the girl could know and describe Mulanje better than myself.

She told me of the bottle stores that she has been to. Its been Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Blantyre, Zomba, what what what……. I was so amazed. But then she really had info to her fingertips about the 40th celebration of Carlsberg birthday.

Ok, the promotion ran, competitions held and I only won an opener (a bottle opener).

See now, the girl rushes to get into a minibus – now on their way to Mangochi! I said oh! My God.

I was left there dumbfounded. What is Carlsberg up to? There I realised that on the trip, there were also journalists – taken to report on the promotion – yes promoting the promotion and reporting on the beers and beer drinking. I wondered if my fellow journalists noted the abuse on the girls.

But then I changed the feelings:

My thoughts:
1. I thought of the girls’ parents. How could they allow this small girl to go on a beer promotion trip. What do they expect out of her at the end of the day? Is it due to poverty? Kaya.
2. I thought of women and youth organisations – are they aware of these abuses?
3. I thought of us journalists. Shall we just jump on these promotions or we can also look at the other side of the same and write features for the sake of our nation?
4. Then I thought of Carlsberg and noted that it is one of the richest companies in Malawi. As it celebrates 40 years of existence why not offer scholarships to girls that seem have nothing to do after completing Form Four? Why not sponsoring those girls on a “BACK to SCHOOL promotion”?
5. Zoona Carlsberg celebrating 40 years by giving out ma T-shirt? Zipewa ndi ma opener? Braii stand? Asa! Bwanji osapanga re-launch Carlsberg Cup?
6. Or maybe we journalists, maybe we can advocate for a different promotion that will be nation-friendly. Yes we can put up a proposal – hoping Carlsberg has a listening ear.
7. Why can’t they use the 40 years of celebration to help in tree planting? We are in the tree planting season. They could again make Malawi a little greener with Green.

On Clerk of Parliament

2008-08-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

Let Matilda Katopola stay
By Hastings Maloya

For the third year running we have not had our national budget on time, a situation that has put all of us in a predicament since we all rely on the budget for guidance in whatever we are engaged in. What has been difficult to understand is why a country thus 44 years old but still very poor should choose to prioritise politics and not development. Why do we still have members of parliament that do not see the importance of the budget to the nation? If indeed it is politics, then the politics in Malawi is not exciting at all.
All along we were told that the opposition is refusing the budget until their demands for the implementation of Section 65 are met. We have heard about Section 65 so long now that it’s no longer an exhilarating issue for discussion. And when parliament met this time round, we were still expecting that the section will be mentioned so we were only waiting for the way forward.
Then came an issue of a memorandum of understanding. The opposition parties threatened to reject the 2008/09 national budget if President Bingu wa Mutharika's government does not sign a so-called memorandum of understanding (MOU) put forward by the country's clergy as a way forward to narrow the political gap existing in parliament between the two sides.
But things came to a shocking change when the opposition found another reason to make government dance for the budget to pass.

The opposition members of parliament demanded that the Clerk of Parliament Matilda Katopola be sacked before the budget was discussed and passed. The opposition political leaders pilled pressure on government to adopt a resolution to remove the clerk of parliament following reports that Katopola, Malawi’s first female Clerk of Parliament, dubiously awarded a contract to her company Monics Trends to supply printing services to parliament.

Some opposition members of parliament were quote in the press saying that they would be surprised if government allows the clerk to continue working. Their argument was that this would give an interpretation that the authorities (i.e. government) are promoting corruption and bribery. What a lousy argument.

Meanwhile, government has declared that it would not implement the parliament's decision and I say well done government. And please do not remove her. Let her stay at parliament.

The demands by the opposing parliamentarians are irresponsible and out of context putting in mind that the issue of Katopola was discussed, an investigation completed and results made public. The country’s President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika acknowledged and forgave her. This does not mean that she was not wrong and naturally she must have regretted her wrong doing and one wonders why forgiving someone has now become a sin.
The resistance by government on this immature demand is commendable because it is obvious that the said Clerk of Parliament's financial impropriety was just a scapegoat by the opposition. The real reason for her woes, could be - as we have now learned - her refusal to allow MPs have unsorted loans and her demands that MPs travel economy class and not business class on international assignments. She is on the wrong side because of her prudent financial management at parliament. We even once heard that some ‘honourable’ members were threatening to beat her up. How silly!
In any case, if indeed the issue is that Katopola is in the wrong, why is her wrong doing attached to the national budget? What is the relationship? Why should people suffer in hospitals for lack of medicines or civil servants struggling to receive their salaries simply because some misguided members of parliament are demanding the firing of a single individual? And which government department would be willing to welcome such an individual in a situation that she is being removed?
We have also learnt from reliable and knowledgeable sources that the matter of hiring, firing or disciplining the clerk of parliament belongs to the executive arm of the government and not the legislature. One therefore wonders why or parliamentarians get excited with issues. As it has already been observed elsewhere, if indeed the disgruntled MPs were not happy with the President’s decision to forgive and reinstate Katopola, the proper thing for the parliamentarians to do was to go to court and to seek a judicial review and challenge the decision. But that they wasted our time voting and tying Katopola’s removal to the national budget, is the last thing a compassionate Malawian would appreciate.
And for argument sake, who among our opposition MPs is clean of theft, bribery and corruption? I can challenge the Mps that if we were to take to task each and every one of them, we will discover a lot of anomalies in the way they have handled financial matters but they have the audacity to corner one Matilda Katopola.
Just an example, I wish our members of parliament could account for the treadle pumps they received to where they went, who is using them and how much they have contributed to crop harvest in their respective constituencies. It will be interesting to realise that some of them might have sold some of them and cannot even tell what the proceedings were used for. How many of our MPs can account for the allocated constituency funds?
I wish our parliamentarians could be aware of how many youths and women in their constituencies that do not have any source of employment and what they are doing about it. I wish they could show us initiatives that they are putting in place to help their people both economically and socially.
We are supposed to be proud that we are probably the only country in the region with a female clerk of parliament. Katopola is young and she has already proven that she is brave and intelligent. It has proven that Dr Mutharika’s choice was marvellous. She needs our support and guidance. We must accept that as an individual she can make mistakes and all we need to do is to correct her and correct her only when our sense of correction is in good faith and not out of sheer jealousy and ill will as we have noted in this recent occurrence.
Kotopola, just as the Attorney General Jane Ansah and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther Cheka Chilenje, just to mention a few are models among our young girls. She has inspired many and it would be a bad decision to remove her from parliament. I urge the government not to bow down to these crazy demands for the sake of our country.
MPs are only voted into power. They do not go through any meaningful interviews and most of them will not win the next election so should they put our deserved women in situations thus not conducive? Thus far from nation building.
Katopola must not be removed from parliament. She has brought discipline and she needs more time to bring even more changes. More-over the people, who are making the wild demands, are only doing it because Katopola is a woman. A real man is not praised for torturing women but giving them love and guidance. Our opposition parliamentarians, mostly men, have miserably failed on this one. They have only managed to put our country to shame
Here are members of parliament who have miserably failed to bring any meaningful development in their areas and failed to support the current government to help their people and are here loud-mouthed for the removal of a clerk of parliament and indeed shamelessly tying that demand to the national budget. And these people will only be in parliament for the next eight months and they want to leave parliament in shambles. We can’t accept that.
Let Matilda Katopola stay.

*Hastings Maloya works for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust but is writing in his personal capacity

Chiefs’ educational visit to Thyolo Mountain

2008-03-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

Chiefs’ educational visit to Thyolo Mountain

By Hastings Maloya

Forests and mountains in Malawi are now in a desperate situation. Forest destruction across the country continues at a wildfire pace, seemingly uncontrolled and ignored. Sadly, there is little concerted political or governmental response to this loss. Short-term gains of fuel-wood and charcoal availability are soon overshadowed by the complete deprivation of an extensive range of resources and services that our mountains traditionally offered. Bare hills stand stark testament to a tragic irresponsibility that we are all accountable for if we do not choose now to actively work together to counter and then reverse this process of destruction.

The Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve is currently facing serious problems ranging from uncontrolled and illegal harvesting of forest resources, encroachment and annual bush fires. Deforestation is on an increase, a situation that would lead to serious problems if not checked. It is behind this observation that the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) through its Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications Programme organized and facilitated a two-day educational visit for chiefs from Mulanje and Phalombe to Thyolo Mountain. This trip was meant for the chiefs to appreciate the current sorry situation that Thyolo Mountain is in and for them to have a developmental interaction with their colleagues (chiefs) from Thyolo district.

Many people, just as the chiefs and local leaders, view the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve as solely a source of natural resources to benefit from; they rarely question the aftermath effects of overuse or abuse of such resources. It is therefore imperative that chiefs, as leaders and to a certain degree owners of the people and land, develop a genuine appreciation for the mountain and the reserve so that they can understand what implications their actions may have on it.

Malawi today has many other mountain forests that are in the process of disappearing entirely and silently. One example of such reserves that lost its resource glory is Thyolo Mountain, which not long ago was a beautiful forest reserve and today it is completely bare with no hope remaining in it. Mt Mulanje is in no way being spared as a victim in this national crisis. Production of charcoal and timber are the main threats. The trip by chiefs to Thyolo was therefore meant to open the chiefs’ eyes and call for action.

Summary
This was a two-day visit by chiefs from Mulanje and Phalombe to Thyolo. The trip was organised with close working relationship with the District Forest Officer and in co-operation with the District Forestry Officer for Thyolo. History, both written and oral, tells us that Thyolo Mountain once had a thick forest reserve and was among Malawi’s pride natural indigenous forest reserves. Over the years people started encroaching into the reserve by cutting down trees for various uses and also opening gardens for cultivation. This went on at uncontrolled pace to a point that the entire forest reserve was wiped out. Today, the mountain a bare land with farms established and buildings constructed in areas that are still a forest reserve.

On the agricultural front, people produce bananas from the forest reserve apart from other farm produces. This has mainly affected the water table and the dryness of most rivers that has/had their sources from Thyolo Mountain. One of the main rivers that supply water to the entire Thyolo urban community is Suwadzi, which is now drying up. There is a lot of sand that is now being produced by Suwadzi River, as a result of serious soil erosion that has taken place over the years.

It was imperative therefore to take the Mulanje Chiefs to Thyolo to see for themselves the situation that the mountain is in and have a feel of what would happen to the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve if the current destruction process is not checked. Again, Thyolo and Mulanje are close districts and share similar geographical features with similar challenges. Traditionally, the chiefs from the three districts (Mulanje, Thyolo and Phalombe) share similar cultural beliefs so it was good to bring them together.

A representative of the chiefs from Thyolo, who were 13 in number, Group Village Headman Maonga welcomed the colleagues from Mulanje and Phalombe and asked them to feel at home. He also thanked MMCT for facilitating the visit, which he said came at the most opportune time. He said this was a very important meeting not only for natural resource management but also to cement relationship between the districts. The chief reminded his colleagues that education is not only about being in class but that traveling from one place to another is a great eye opener.

During the visit, it was indeed noted that Thyolo Mountain once had a beautiful and thick forest reserve. The first leg of the tour took us into Mianga Tea Estates towards the mountain where the other side we saw the deforested part of the mountain and on the other side, there is the only remaining forest that is managed by the tea estate.

Looking at the only managed forest, the thicket of the trees, and the natural beauty it is giving against the other devastated area, it is a worrisome site on the damage thus caused by the careless use of natural resources. But it was also noted during the informal discussions that the tea estates can also be blamed on encroachment as it was noted that there was too much land with tea, maybe giving little land for cultivation for local people who might have resorted in encroaching into the reserve.

Chiefs from Thyolo explained that until around 1968 the Thyolo Forest Reserve was so thick that not a single person could dare enter it. They noted that it just started like a joke when people started cutting down trees for timber. At uncontrolled rate, it happened that with time, all the trees went and people started opening gardens and now constructing houses and different other buildings.

The biggest worry now is that Thyolo Mountain is no longer able to produce and give water to the people of Thyolo as it used to do. Meanwhile Thyolo is suffering with water shortages with the district headquarters mainly affected.

Ironically, the bare Thyolo Mountains is saving the nation with latest technologies. Towers for both cellular phones and FM radio stations stand tall on the mountain.

There are indeed challenges in managing forest reserves, in particular, matters concerning non-availability of management plans, encroachment, charcoal production, illegal harvesting of firewood, rampant corruption, shortage of financial and human resources, annual bush fires, poor maintenance of infrastructure, and now a dire need to involve local stakeholders. The idea of searching for a more effective way of doing things implies that we are aware of the deficiencies attending the present arrangement and that we wish to make improvements. We are all aware that we live in difficult times where environmental degradation in general is accelerating at unprecedented rates.

On President Mutharika as Minister of Agriculture

2008-02-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

Bingu needs not step down

By Hastings Maloya

Democracy in Malawi is steadily coming of age as is manifested by the freedoms that include the freedom to speak ones mind without reprisals. Gone are the days when young democrats were almost rulers as they could create an environment of intimidation and torture. Yes Malawians were not able to speak their minds lest one was asking for a rain of blows in case what you said was not in line with the thinking of the ruling clique.

Today people of different political thoughts and beliefs are able to sit together, enjoy, laugh and agree to disagree on various matters. People are free to be quote in the media regardless of the issue they would like to bring forth. Things do change over time indeed.

This freedom of expression is very good though to a certain degree it leads us to say things thus irrelevant to our society and negative to the development of our country.

This brings me to the subject of debate today. Some politicians and analysts say President Bingu wa Mutharika needs to step down or resign as minister of agriculture because according to their thinking, Dr Mutharika has failed to run the ministry. They single out the main reason for the ‘failure’ as being busy with the office of head of state.

The said politicians and analysts say the fertilizer subsidy programme has not gone well. In case that is true, instead of coming out with possible reasons that may have led to the problem, they only suggest the removal of Dr Mutharika as minister responsible. Seems they could have expected the minister to be at every fertilizer selling point in Malawi or he was supposed to be seen distributing coupons himself to qualify as performing his duties.

I find this very unfortunate and unhelpful.

These opposition politicians let alone the analysts, to me seem to be attention seekers, just excited to have their names and pictures seen in newspapers or their voices heard on radios. They are not for national building. They were around when parliament took ages to approve the budget for this financial year. They know it took several months of discussing the budget, indications of it being refused and all the drama that was associated with it. So here are our commentators who cannot count how many months it took after the approval of the budget to have a good system in place for the production and distribution of coupons, the purchase of fertilizer and to transport it to all corners of Malawi.

Its sad that some people cannot appreciate the fact that fertilizer is not manufactured in Malawi, let alone we do not have our own ports for easy transportation. Here are people who cannot think of the logistics associated with this exercise and the costs. The ministry of agriculture managed it, problems or no problems, fertilizer saw its way to almost all parts of Malawi. And honestly we call for the resignation of the minister?

The argument that the ministry of agriculture is one of the most involving ministries and that it is difficult for the president to head it does not hold water. We have had a situation where the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda held this ministry up until the time that he was very old but it was a success. It is also not true that it requires moving around frequently for the success of this ministry.

Government, on behalf of the nation employs people whom we call civil servants and they are expected to work on behalf of the president, the government and the entire nation to deliver as is required. In short, government, through the ministry of agriculture, just as is the case with all other ministries, has its ears, eyes, nose and hands on the ground throughout the country. It is therefore unfair to put blame on the minister on activities that could or are supposed to be carried out by the people employed to do that.

The ministry of agriculture is well structured. It has Dr Mutharika as the minister and Bitony Kunsaira as deputy. It has eight agriculture development divisions (ADDs) across the three regions of the country and it employs young and educated men and women responsible for field activities. It is therefore ridiculous to expect the whole minister frequently visiting all the ADDs as is suggested by some opposition leaders and our self-styled analysts. Any minister, not because he or she is the president, cannot be on the run from one office to another because the minister mostly deals with issues of policy.

In all fairness, the problem here could not necessarily be on the administration by the minister but the little support that government got from the opposition ion parliament. Our opposition worked tirelessly, with little success to see the agriculture sector fail.

It was the same ministry that managed to construct silos in Mangochi, which we are told are full with the staple food. Was it not the same ministry that facilitated better prices for tobacco growers at the auction floors? How about the improved market prices for cotton? I think we need to give credit where it is due.

Just a month ago, for the first time in the history of Malawi, we have seen one of the most influential, respected and national newspaper in the United States – the New York Times writing very positively about the achievement of Malawi on food security. The paper commended Malawi’s ministry of agriculture for its sound policies that have led to Malawi having enough food. I wonder which policies such an advanced country saw in our ministry that cannot be seen by a fellow Malawian. Maybe we talk of envy as our main problem.

It could make some sense if our analysts maybe said that some people employed to manage different arms of the ministry, who, just as is the case with any manager were supposed to technically and professionally know how to handle situations as they come, are not doing a good job. In case we have managers that are just sitting phwiii, we need not blame the minister lest he proposes the firing of the front line staff.

How I wish the said politicians and analysts called for the resignation of the national football coach! Definitely they could have had better reasons.

It is high time Malawians woke up and started being patriotic to their nation. In case there is any problem that affected the subsidy programme, why not take it as our problem and we play a role in sorting it than being faultfinders. Let us ask ourselves what role we have played to assist in the fair distribution of coupons and how many of the poor households that have we assisted in cash or kind to enable them buy the fertilizer?

It is very unfortunate that our political analysts are only bent to look at the negative side of issues without complementing the positives. Why should it take the New York Times in the US to note the successes of Malawi on food security when our learned analysts cannot see? Do they deserve being called analysts?

In summary, it is coming out very clearly that calls for the resignation of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika as minister of agriculture are only out of malice and lack of appreciation. None among the so-called analysts have come out with a possible name of a candidate they think would do better than Dr Mutharika. But this could be one of the fruits of democracy and freedom of expression. Democracy in Malawi is indeed taking shape.

All in all, Dr Mutharika has performed. He needs not step down, as there is no reason.

Misa delegates into Malawi’s oldest forest reserve

2008-02-03T03:02:00.000-08:00

Misa delegates into Malawi’s oldest forest reserve

by Hastings Maloya

They arrived from all member countries of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Malawians, as usual, showed their warmth in welcoming and making the visitors feel at home. Sunbird Mount Soche hotel was not a disappointment. For the first time Malawi hosted the regional indaba for scribes and after three days of serious deliberations, an out-of-hotel tour was necessary. The perfect and able conference organising team planned a visit to Mount Mulanje, Malawi’s island in the sky.

Those that had visited different mountains in their home countries thought they had seen the best. As such they might have not been very excited with the programme that indicated a tour to Mulanje Mountain. But when a briefing was made prior to the tour, only doubting delegates could have wanted to prove a point. Can Malawi indeed have such a wonderful resource? A surprise was in the wait!

The tour started soon after lunch. Had it been that the sites were boring, it could have been a perfect recipe for a slumber. But who could close one’s eyes past the Chipembere Highway with exchange of jokes from different countries? There we were, outside Limbe into the Thyolo road, past Bvumbwe and Thunga ~ yes the beauty of the tea fields kept the delegates silent for a while.

“Mr. Driver, please stop, I want to have a feel in my hands of a tea leaf! Oh! this is wonderful,” cried a South African before the plea was chorused by all while those with cameras were doing the actual jobs that the gadgets were made for. A slight wait took the delegates to the historical Mwala wa Nthunzi in Thyolo – a stone on the roadside. The history and stories associated with this stone were not only amazing but lured the visitors to make a special trip to Malawi. However, they were yet to see other things.

The journey had to go on. Past the Thyolo highlands the sight of Mount Mulanje was noted. Those that thought that they had visited mountains before realised that they have only been to hills. Yes the situate of the attractive Mount Mulanje took the delegates all the way past Chitakale trading centre into the Likhubula Valley past the Mulanje District Forest office to the Likhubula CCAP.

Every member wished this trip started in the morning. They wished they could have climbed up Chambe plateau, or at least a visit to the historical Dziwe la Nkhalamba, but time was not available.

Patricia Kawawa of the Likhubula CCAP House was an excellent guide around the place and to the Likhubula pools. She led the delegates into the Likhubula river, where a feel of the fresh waters was a toast of the day for the delegates, with everyone wishing to take a bath – yes if the costumes were available swimming tactics could have been experienced.

“This is just little about Mount Mulanje, there is more inside,” says Patricia to the pain of her visitors as now wished the time of their stay in Malawi was extended.

Time was spent in playing in the cold waters of Likhubula. How about exciting picnic pictures on the rocks of the rivers? Notebooks were looked for, pens in the hand and notes taken… yes the trademark of scribes – out to tell stories. To most of them this was a day they will live to remember.
But all good things have to come to an end. Time to get back to the hotel, but we need a drink…don’t we? Kara O’Mula, one most lovely lodge on the other side of the mountain was host for a mean cocktail. Just crowned up the already lovely day! With all the fascinating sceneries, the mountain left a mark in the minds of many.

Situated about 80 km from the commercial city of Blantyre, 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. It is is much more than a barren rock with its 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. With its evergreen forests, woodlands and montane grasslands, the mountain has attracted increasing attention to many tourists.

The journalists attested to it. And more to it, back to the hotel, Honourable Aleke Kadonaphani Banda had something in store for them

………ends

On Broadcasting in Malawi

2007-09-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-18T05:23:00.000-07:00

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.

On the 2007 Mt Mulanje Porters Race

2007-07-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

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.

On Political Defections - Dausi

2007-07-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

,.....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

On Detention Camps

2007-04-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

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.

On Traditional Healers

2007-02-07T02:38:00.000-08:00

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.

On Floods

2007-01-04T06:05:00.000-08:00

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

On Madonna

2006-12-27T01:46:00.000-08:00

(this article appeared in the Sunday Times)

This adoption is not right

By HASTINGS MALOYA

Today, the one-year-old little known David Banda from Mchinji is spending his fifth day in his new home near London's Marble Arch in the United Kingdom at a start of his 18 months’ temporary custody by his new parents. And when all the legal requirements are made, this home shall never be temporal and from then, his mother will be no other than the internationally acclaimed pop star, Madonna.

Yes, David has been adopted by the queen of pop. It is said by some quarters that the child is out of the poverty circles and chances are high that he might have an enjoyable life. His father Yohane Banda was quote in the international press saying, "I am the father of David, who has been adopted. I am very very happy because as you can see there is poverty in this village and I know he will be very well looked after in America."

One could not be too sure whether David will go to America or will stay in Britain. Maybe the father was not told the exact destination. But the father, just as many commentators, was more exited that his child will be out of poverty. The issue has raised international media interest and locally the entire process through which it has been handled has brought up an interesting debate.

David, to be assisted and supported away from home? Not a good idea really.

When it was first reported in June, 2006 that Madonna will tour Malawi before the end of the year, surely many people were trying to imagine and figure out what type of a concert she would perform and at which venues. Of course it was mentioned that she was coming for charity towards the HIV/Aids pandemic. Fun seekers were meanwhile guessing how much it could cost to witness such a concert. For those that had an idea of her performances were not too sure if Malawi has any sort of arena for the Material Girl, as she is popularly known.

It was left to be seen once she is in the country.

Very few people, if any, were aware of the exact dates for the visiting Madonna. It therefore came as a surprise when she landed. There was no proper schedule nor itinerary released. Since journalists had problems to trace the pop queen, it was difficult to have a clear indications and objectives of the visit. The government also seemed to be in the dark. There was a lot of secrecy.

News had it that she was in Lilongwe before it was reported that she was at Bvumbwe in Thyolo and later she opened up to the press when she was in Mchinji. She was visiting orphanages. And after these visits, speculation that the singer was planning to adopt a child began. Through the BBC, Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg initially denied the adoption reports. But it was said that the 48-year-old Madonna had travelled to Malawi with her husband, film-maker Guy Ritchie, to help fight poverty and the problem of HIV and AIDS. A wonderful idea.

But later the rumour about adoption was becoming a reality. First it was a girl from Lilongwe that was in the papers claiming that she would be the one to join Madonna across the oceans. Later things changed and the name of David came in. What followed was a marathon of legal battles and protests. Nevertheless, the pop diva won and managed to get the child out of Malawi. Definitely there was much work done to have the baby’s passport and visa applied, approved and processed.
The biggest worry has been changes and inconsistence of statements especially from government officials.

Several TV news channels showed footages of a woman carrying the child through the Johannesburg airport with officials that acted as bodyguards. The TV pictures showed the baby with a grey-hooded top hiding him from the view of surrounding press. The secrecy remained. It still remains to be explained why such an action.

It is said that David’s mother Marita died a month after his birth from childbirth complications and that since then the child had been cared for at Orphan Care Centre. It could possibly be that he needed special attention being in the tender age. But surely the father is energetic enough and at some point he could be able to look after the boy. It is not very clear whether on Malawian standard such a child would be classified as an orphan.

Much as we could all be happy for little David, Malawians, culturally we are an extended family-type of a people. Most orphans are looked after by grandparents, while others are in a child-headed family environment. In this regard, Madonna should not have adopted the child but instead, with such prosperous financial success, she should have created a charity that she should have been funding to have a multiplier effect of helping a lot of Malawian underprivileged children.

Celebrities like Madonna, and more are needed, could render much help to our impoverished children by forming organisations, which they could closely monitor that should support children to go to school, have food, access accommodation, and have good medical services.

Removing children from their local environments could bring a risk of severing their roots and creating a generation without a sense of true identity. Why not support the child's paternal father, house them, feed them, educate the little boy and give him the chance to succeed in his own society?

In one of his lovely songs, music maestro Mlaka Maliro, sang and I quote: “chuma chomadya popanda abale sichimakoma” (money doesn’t mean a lot when you don’t have your family and relations around you). To go with Mlaka’s thinking Madonna could have supported the father and child in its own district of Mchinji. He would grow up not knowing his roots and with good guidance the money that the musician could provide could and would have helped David’s family to prosper.

Celebrities of the Madonna calibre can make a huge difference not necessarily by adopting a child but give over a portion of the millions, which surely they have and to a certain extent, they undoubtedly don't use or need to improve the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children, not only in Mchinji but most parts of Malawi. It would help to leave these children where they are in their native locality and make a better life for them.

Many have said that taking this child away from his homeland is right because he'll have access to money and education. That could be true. But with the association with Madonna and whether the London or the American home, as has already been noted about the publicity that the issue has attracted, this little boy will grow up being hounded by the press and we are supposed to think that this is a better life. After a second think, we will realise its wrong and not pleasant!

Also, it is not very right for celebrities to just be able to adopt children from less fortunate countries like ours just by opening a cheque book. We should not create a precedent! Next time it would help if celebrities go through all proper adoption channels like every one else..

On Lake Chilwa

2006-12-18T07:32:00.000-08:00

(This article appeared in the Traveller Magazine)

Lake Chilwa – Malawi’s forgotten lake?

Stories and pictures by Hastings Maloya

If a group of primary school pupils were asked today to name Malawi’s second largest lake, surely it would take sometime before a correct answer is given. Not only among primary school pupils, even secondary school students may not know which lake in Malawi is second to Lake Malawi in size.

More so, known professionals in different fields may not have an immediate idea that Lake Chilwa is Malawi's second largest lake. It could be a forgotten lake but it does not deserve to be. How about the fact that it is one of the most productive lakes in Africa?

Situated in the country's former capital of Zomba, about 70 km from the commercial city of Blantyre, Lake Chilwa is a shallow tropical salt-water lake with no outlet. The inland drainage lake stretches 60km long and 40km wide and shared in boundary by Phalombe, Machinga and Zomba districts. Many people are silently benefiting from this shallow body of water, which is only seven metres at its deepest point.

Over 6000 fishers ply their trade on the salty waters of Lake Chilwa. It has a dozen of fish species with a highest population of herrings (matemba). It is estimated that over 20% of fish caught in Malawi, comes from Lake Chilwa. Wherever one may live in Malawi despite whatever distance it could be from Zomba, but whoever enjoys fish for a meal may have had a taste of local matemba. And they are all from Lake Chilwa. Then, there is the popular matemba a Domasi – proudly a Lake Chilwa product.

The lake also lies in the boundary between Malawi and Mozambique to the east. It is therefore a route for people travelling to and from both countries. This creates a major trade route for informal import and export of goods between the two countries. Ferry owners and operators transit goods including bicycles, cement, iron sheets, sugar, soft drinks and many more through the waters of Lake Chilwa.

On the lake are two islands of Chisi and Thongwe. Chisi the bigger island has a population of over 2000 habitants. Their main source of livelihood is fishing.

The lake and its wetland is also a home of large populations of breeding waterfowls and an estimated 1000 bird catchers are economically relying on the lake. Lake Chilwa and its wetland boasts a total of 161 localised bird species and 41 Palaearctic migrant bird species with a total estimated bird population of 350, 000. The lake also supports large populations of breeding waterfowls.

What a beautiful place for bird watching.

The existence of fish and other natural resources on Lake Chilwa which are sustaining thousands of people economically, makes it not only one of the most productive lakes in Africa but unique as well.

The Lake Chilwa wetland was declared a listed site under the Ramsar Convention on March 14 1997 making it qualify as a wetland of international importance alongside other wetlands of the same nature world-wide. The wetland comprises open water, typha swamp, marsh and flood plain grassland. It has a vegetation that is used for economic activities like making brooms, baskets, fish traps and building materials for roofs, walls and fences. The grassland also forms the basis for existence of livestock.

However, the majority of Ramsar-listed wetlands in Africa and elsewhere are situated in national parks and are thus legally protected. This is not the case with Lake Chilwa wetland. It is an open-access common resource, which lies in one of the most densely populated and impoverished areas of Africa, making it a unique wetland with unique problems.

To get to Lake Chilwa, from Zomba town go on with the road to Liwonde to Matawale turn off; take the Air wing road about 30 km of dusty road past Govala Trading Centre takes you to Kachulu Harbour. You are at Lake Chilwa!

It’s a place worth travelling to.

On Mt Mulanje

2006-12-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

(This article appeared in This is Malawi Magazine)
Mount Mulanje, Malawi's Island in the Sky

by Hastings Maloya

Malawi is very rich in natural resources, which makes it indisputably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. These resources, if put to full potential use, as observed by tourism experts, could complement dwindling foreign exchange earning from agriculture. One such resource that the country needs to be proud of is the Mulanje Mountain.

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.

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, Malawi¹s National Tree, which dominates the high altitude forests.

The great variety of wildflowers make the Mulanje grasslands a delight at any time of year but especially during the rainy season, during which time, the plateau is a riot of colour with, amongst many other species, orchids, gladioli and red hot pokers. The Mulanje Massif, apart from its natural beauty, is an important ecosystem. It has stunning forests which are a source of timber and other non-timber resources and home to a rich and diverse endemic plants and animals. The mountain also boasts the presence of hundreds of both localised and migrant bird species

The bird life of this afro-montane habitat is rich and species range from the impressive crowned and black eagles to Malawi¹s only endemic the yellow-throated apalis. The mammals, which include serval cats, hyrax, duiker and bushbuck, are shy and elusive but some are occasionally seen. Two species of dwarf chameleon and several lizard species are only found on this Mountain and in the streams are frogs that also occur nowhere else in the world.

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 Rou 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. It is therefore not surprising that there are always a lot of people from different parts of the world that visit the mountain with love to 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!"

Bounded by precipitous slopes and a series of discontinuous marginal plateaus, the massif, shared by Mulanje and Phalombe districts is also vital for watershed protection. It is a catchment of headwaters for nine strong rivers in the two districts. Apart from the sturdy perennial rivers, tens of streams have their sources in the mountains. Mulanje Mountain has been managed by the Department of Forestry as a Forest Reserve since 1927.

There are about nine well constructed Mountain huts on the mountain that will offer you a lovely and memorable sleeping time within natural noises and away from hassles. You just need to bring your food and you are safe! Among the well established mountain huts are Lichenya, Chambe, Minunu, Thuchila, Sombani, Chisepo, Madzeka and the CCAP Hut on Lichenya plateau. Well trained and well behaved porters and guides are readily available to assist.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Mulanje offers spectacular hiking on the plateau and peaks, fly-fishing and invigorating swimming in the crystal-clear mountain waters. For the really adventurous there is also serious rock climbing - the west face of Chambe peak provides the chance to undertake 1,700 metres of technical climbing and is the highest rock climb in Africa.

Those that have not been to Mulanje yet, and have not been up onto Mount Mulanje, have not done justice to themselves. Its time they did just that!

On Aids and Soccer

2006-12-18T01:30:00.000-08:00

An available way to fight HIV/Aids through football

by Hastings Maloya

Whether it is by design or default, most hospitals and health centres in Malawi have a football team. Different thoughts can be debated as to the relevance of a health institution to have a football team. It could be that football is such a famous or beautiful sport that many people would love to be associated with. It could also be a way for health institutions to get a mixing pleasure with communities that they serve as people come to watch a team thus carrying a name of their hospital, clinic or health centre.

The availability of teams aside, what has interested me lately is that almost all teams with thus carrying a name of a medical institution is doing very well in respective district soccer leagues through out the country. Names like Rumphi Medicals, Liwonde Medicals, Chikwawa Medicals, Salima Medicals, Mulanje Medicals and the list is endless are heard day in and day out for their impressive soccer talents in their respective district leagues.

Some of them have gone further to participate in the newly launched FAM Cup. What a feat!

Now wait a minute.

Apart from just playing soccer and registering positive results, are there no messages that these teams can carry? I have in mind the HIV/Aids pandemic thus on our midst.

It does not need to be overemphasised that soccer, despite whether it is played in urban or rural areas, attracts huge gatherings and of people from different walks of life, thus both male and females, old and young. Here is an opportunity thus being wasted. Here are people who only come to watch soccer, they talk soccer and will come again to the football ground the following week to watch soccer, talk soccer and go home.

I am certainly sure that the spectators, apart from watching soccer they could also ably listen to different messages that they could take with them back home. In this regards I have the medical teams in mind. To supplement their winning streaks , these teams must be supported to all carry messages to the people especially on the dangers of HIV/Aids and how to prevent the spread of the disease.

My call is to the National Aids Commission (NAC) to take advantage of this well established system which could prove an easy way of message delivery. One would argue that maybe there is need to develop a proposal to NAC for this noble task. I would say there is no need to do that because the teams to be used are already in the health system. It would just be an opportunity to reach more people who could not be able to get the same messages from the hospitals.

NAC should develop a deliberate policy or programme by incorporating in their system some creative people that would maximise any available opportunity like this case of soccer especially at district level. Support in any form to medical teams like uniforms with proclamation scribbled on them would go along way in message delivery.

The teams have already proved good on the field of play and there is no way they would fail to deliver to save Malawi. Most of them, in fact, have very energetic and sporty young men who may not want to be associated with failure.

Organisations like the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) have used sports in message delivery on natural resource and environmental management and it has bore fruits. What can stop us fight Aids through sports?

The author is Treasurer for Mulanje Medicals

Cry our Environment

2006-12-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

This article appeared in the Sunday Times of June 5, 2005
A one year stock-taking on our environment

Since 1972 June 5, every year is World Environmental Day (WED), a day set aside by the United Nations as one of the principal vehicles through which nations the world over should stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.

Today Malawi joins the international community in commemorating the day under the global theme “Green Cities” and the slogan is “Plan for the Planet!” Locally the theme has been narrowed down to “Keep our cities Green and Clean”. Environmental journalist HASTINGS MALOYA ponders on the theme in relation to challenges facing our cities and towns.

Once upon a time, people leaving in and around the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre had pride in the free flows of Lilongwe, Lingazi, Mudi, Limbe and Likhubula rivers, just to mention but a few. Women would do much of their laundries in the rivers while children would spend afternoons playing in the waters, of course learning the art of swimming. Others would enjoy the rare trade of fishing from the rivers while others would use them as a source of water for small scale irrigation.

The same was the case in other towns like Zomba and Mzuzu where availability of water in the rivers did not only ease house chore activities but also added beauty to the towns especially with the provision of wonderful vegetation in the river banks that made towns look green and beautiful..

With its beautiful trees and flowers, the City of Blantyre was once known worldwide due to its cleanliness and caring residents. There were designated places where one would litter and refuse collection was order of the day. Today it is a completely changed situation, not only in Blantyre but in all our cities, towns and districts. Litter is everywhere, surely an eyesore and residents seem they mind very little of how they should manage waste. The rivers that people used to be proud of now have no water and are a supply of pungent smells following piles and piles of waste.

The rivers are polluted and this has led to inadequate access to safe drinking water and cause to different sicknesses. Another hitch is lack of proper sanitation facilities and overcrowded conditions in our cities and towns due to unplanned expanded settlements which pose a high risk of communicable diseases and caused additional pressure on management of waste. We continuously witness residents dispose waste in a lamentable manner. Our towns and cities today are no longer a pleasant sight – yes they are full of waste. This is not only bad to our health but to our environment too. No body can claim to be happy with the current situation.

We can fairly define waste as leftovers after products have been made by producers and have been used by consumers. Waste can be quite hazardous to the health of humans as well as plants and animals. Common waste in domestic garbage include cans, bottles, cardboard and paper, plastic, and rotting organic material.

Much waste in a form of volume of garbage in our cities and towns come from our own homes, offices and schools. Packaging of the products sold in most shops has also been another cause of the pathetic situation that our cities are in today. Of late there has been a lot of paper being distributed from shops in the form of carrier bags but which have not been carefully disposed after use.

Most of our industries lack responsible strategies for dealing with the waste by-products of their manufacturing processes. And not much has been said in condemning the production and release of waste from industries simply because industries have been looked at as an engine for economic growth and a starting place of development. We have therefore ended up living in very a very polluted environment in our quest to support industrial growth.

And our towns cities and districts lack regular waste collection services hence we have noticed garbage building up on road sides, footpaths and vacant land, especially along river banks. With little understanding, knowledge and awareness we have let things happen the way they do without raising much concern. Sometimes we have only complained within ourselves while situations continue to deteriorate.

Most unfortunately this appalling situation comes after peoples’ realisation that the traditional reliance on landfill as a method of disposal can create its own set of problems. In the first place, landfills take up space which in most cases, especially in cities and towns, is very valuable. Secondly, landfills can eventually 'leak' - releasing a toxic mix of rainwater and decomposing waste into the soil and groundwater.

However, all is not lost yet. Commemoration of the World Environment Day should open up new horizons and give us an opportune time to take stock of the environment that we live in. It should be a people's event to promote an understanding that we have a responsibility to changing attitudes towards management of our surroundings. The day should be used to advocate means of ensuring that people enjoy a safer living environment. On this day, it would be imperative for us to examine the state of our environment and seriously consider actions which each of us must take with a sober mind and quiet confidence.

It also takes people in responsible positions in our cities and towns to measure their performance against the environmental situation of their responsible towns and cities. It should be a shame for a responsible officer to be seen in the city jumping up and down in the streets trying to avoid piles of waste or when an officer witnesses minibus commuters throwing litter through windows.

For example, in his message on the commemoration of the day, Governor of California State in the US, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to passionately commit himself to defending California's environment, and providing real leadership to protect its precious land, air and water.

“Here in California, we have rejected the notion that we must choose between protecting the environment, and protecting jobs and economic growth. We know that if our beaches are soiled by oil spills, tourists will not experience the wonders of our magnificent coastline. If we log our forests irresponsibly, streambeds will be destroyed and our fishing industry will suffer”, says the well known film star of the Terminator fame.

And the California Governor advises: “If we are going to leave a better planet for generations to come, we must work within a global effort to ensure the economy and the environment never become competing interests”. It is encouraging and indeed exciting when people whom we have known most in the entertainment or rather in political circles make positive comments in relation to the day.

To us, this day should be for stock taking. Let us accept that we have done much damage to our environment and we have lost the pride of having beautiful towns and cities. We have irresponsibly turned our towns and cities as dumping grounds. But all in all, we are ready to reverse the situation.

For a while, let us look at the environment as our surroundings and check whether we are using our natural resources in a sustainable manner and how we dispose unwanted materials in our daily living. This will give a human face to environmental issues and we would empower ourselves to becoming active agents of environmental management as an aspect of development.

The media has a big role to play. As observed recently by the deputy minister of mines, natural resources and environmental affairs Sidik Mia environment is a key component of the country’s sustainable development. Mia bemoaned lukewarm reporting on environment by Malawian journalists and urged them to report more observing that the media is a better channel that would enable people and institutions to appreciate serious environmental problems facing the country.

“One of the deficiencies identified in achieving the noble task of informing and educating Malawians, is lack of proper reporting and sufficient coverage of issues that matter,” observed Mia.

Malawi also lacks environmental education. Environment should be considered as a subject in the curriculum so that school going children whether in kindergarten, primary or secondary are instilled with environmental issues at a tender age. They definitely would grow while appreciating the environment that they live in and taking steps to jealously gourd it.

For government, the observance of the World Environment Day should provide an opportunity to establish permanent government structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning for sustainable and equitable development. So far the Malawi Government has done considerable strides on the environmental management. A lot of policies in line with good environmental management have been produced.

Through the Department of Environmental Affairs the government has facilitated the production of district and national State of Environment Reports and Environmental Action Plans. While State of Environment Reports enlighten environmental situations, Action Plans provide strategies and directions on management.

However, we cannot talk of environmental management as an achievement relating to the production of reports or plans or policy reviews alone. These documents may be useless unless information contained in them is put to better use. Considering the state of our cities and towns today, the need for empowerment and instillation of ownership among residents cannot be overemphasized.

It is only unfortunate that the concept of the environment is fairly new and this presents a challenging task to sensitize people on the effects of poor waste management and ideas of sustainability. However, it only takes us to acknowledge that we are the custodians of places that we live in and it is our responsibility to care for our environment.

Many people view their environment as solely natural resources to benefit from and rarely question the aftermath effects of overuse or abuse of resources. It’s also very difficult to change ones mentality if benefits cannot be seen immediately with the proposed change. One must also appreciate issues of poverty and livelihoods and that people are not deliberately trying to destroy their environment but rather they are trying to survive in the short term.

As we join the international community in observing the day, we have a challenge to mend our situation. After reading this piece, look at your surrounding – if you are not happy the way it is, what do you think should be done? And who should do it? Surely it is yourself.

On Honey & Money

2006-12-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

This article appeared in Sapitwa Newsletter and the Sunday Times

From bees now come money

by Hastings Maloya

Stories of bees having disturbed gatherings especially at funerals are very common in Malawi. Through the popular Nkhani za Mmaboma programme on MBC Radio 2, stories have been said on how bees in different parts of the country have made people run for their lives. To some extent communities have associated bees with some kind of witchcraft. But apart from the fact that bees can sting and cause havoc, what more do we know about them?

They produce honey.

And indeed over the years since time in memorial, people especially in Africa have enjoyed honey from bees. It could be the process of getting honey thus cumbersome but the joy associated with it surpasses the problems in trying to get it. The taste of honey has also led to lovers calling each other ‘honey’ in comparison to the taste thus delivered from products of bees.

Now honey is money. In most parts of Malawi, today bee keeping has become a potential activity that is quickly becoming a source of income. It is also an initiative in line with sustainable natural resource conservation and utilisation. Different non-governmental organisations that are promoting sustainable livelihood initiatives are encouraging communities to take up a challenge in bee keeping.

The Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) is facilitating bee keeping initiatives among communities living in and around the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. The ultimate output is conservation of Mulanje Mountain natural resources and improved economic status of communities living in the boundaries.

According to Moffat Kayembe, programme officer responsible for forest co-management and sustainable livelihoods for MMCT, the initiative started in 2003 with three villages in the areas of traditional authority Mabuka and Nkanda in Mulanje. Fifteen individuals from the three villages showed interest and started bee keeping with an initial production was 45Kg, which was sold at MK120.00/Kg and MK5, 400.00 was realised by people.

“Since then, many people developed interest and now we have several people that are engaged in this activity”, says Kayembe. He explained that by the end of 2005, 15 villages and 300 farmers respectively were in full swing with bee keeping and honey production in the areas of traditional authority Nkanda and Mabuka.

“At this point, production had increased from 45Kgs to 1000Kgs (1tonne) and prices have gone up from MK120.00/Kg to 145.00/Kg. Based on the good quality, more buyers are now interested to buy honey from Mulanje. In addition, people from 20 more villages including those from traditional Authority Mkhumba in Phalombe district have been trained and ready to start bee keeping and honey harvesting.

Kayembe says the training for bee keepers include technical aspects of beehive construction, installation, monitoring, record keeping, harvesting, storage and general hygiene. Through the training, people are now able to harvest honey without using fire thereby maintaining the resources in a way they naturally would be.

“The increased beekeeping activities are a clear indication that the initiative is empowering people economically while promoting conservation of natural resources around the mountain,” says Kayembe.

Kayembe explained that currently, 6 villages, which are under beekeeping initiative, have decided to go into a Forest Co-Management arrangement with Department of Forestry where management of resources would be done in partnership between communities and the department. This, observes Kayembe, is a positive way forward towards sustainable utilization of natural resources and community’s’ participation in natural resource management. To ensure that the groups are both economically and technically sustainable experienced beekeepers are challenged to train beginners as a way of using available resources and expertise within the local set up.

Meanwhile the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) is the main local buyer of the produced honey which is eventually treated, bottled and sold in the country’s super stores.

Who does not want honey!

On Snakes

2006-12-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

Nalikukuti, One of Malawi's popular snakes

by Hastings Maloya

A relatively small but long snake. Very common in most parts of Malawi. This could be one of the snakes that most people have managed to see or heard of in and around their localities. It is very common but has caused minimum harm on people.

This is a vine snake , which is also known as a twig snake, or sometimes it is referred to as a bird snake. It is locally known as nalikukuti or kalikukuti but its scientific name, which is mostly used by scientists and biologists is Thelotornis capensis.

An adult vine snake would averagely be 80cm long but most of them are 1.2m long. According to records, the longest so far was recorded in Mozambique and was 1.47m long. The vine snake is always thin and looks small despite its age. It does not have a specific colour because mostly it resembles the colour of the environment in which it is found. The snake is cryptically coloured or camouflaged especially when it is motionless in a tree or on a shrub. It resembles tree branches or twigs (hence the name twig snake).

Despite its size, a vine can swallow something two or three times its size. Though timid and tiring, the vine snake will inflate its neck to display its anger when threatened. It actively hunts for food during the day. It takes time to catch its prey but when it does, no matter how long it would take to swallow it, it would. It is a slow eater but with a very flexible neck that allows big prey to pass. The vine mainly eats lizards, chameleons and frogs. Snakes and birds are also taken on occasion. This snake usually strikes from above and often swallows its prey. It spits and the venom takes control of the prey!

The difference between a male and a female is not enormous. A male has much longer tails than the females and women (females) are more heavy-bodied than males. If not disturbed, this snake can stay motionless on the same spot for four days. In most cases, the vine snake changes position or moves from wherever it is when it is disturbed. Just as is the case with most snakes, the vine snake does not move in pairs nor is it seen with its off springs. This snake is a beauty to watch for those that have a liking for snakes.

The vine snake has a coloured long tongue, which mostly is bright yellow to orange-red but black to its tip. As is the case with any other snake, the vine has a forked tongue. And just like any other snake, the vine uses its tongue for smell and not taste as is the case with other animals. Every snake uses its tongue to smell and look for its prey. A snake does not need a feel of taste because it enjoys what it normally eats. Be assured that the forked tongue of a snake can not harm or sting in any way and is used only for smelling.

As stated above, Thelotornis capensis is mostly found in trees and shrubs in lowland forest to moist savanna and arid savannas. In other words, the vine snake is predominantly found in the southern Africa region and mainly in countries like Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Among the countries, South Africa has the most population. This could be because most South Africans love keeping snakes and they are serious on regulations about conservation of wild animals.

These snakes are not naturally found in Europe. Izi ndi zathu zathu za ku Africa. Of course Sweden has some but are all exported from Southern Africa

For the sake of interest, and to be sure you have seen a vine snake, look out for:
• Lance-shaped head with keyhole-shaped pupil
• Superbly camouflaged as a branch or twig
• Inflates the neck showing the skin colours when comforted
• Spends most of its life in trees and shrubs
• Top of the head is green or blue-green
• Red and black tongue is held out when threatened

Most people in Malawi are yet to develop the liking for snakes. As such very few individuals keep snakes. And the vine snake has not been fashionable among snake keepers.

On Porters Race

2006-12-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

This article appeared in ULENDO - Air Malawi's Inflight Magazine
The tenth time racing in the mountain
by Hastings Maloya

Some ten years ago it was an event not worth noticing. It wasn’t an event that would attract the interest of a cabinet minister. It wasn’t an event that would make one travel all the way from Europe to participate. Ten years down the line, it is an event that everyone would want to be part of be associated with. Yes you are not wrong, thus the Mount Mulanje Porters Race, Malawi’s only extreme sport.

Originally, the Porters Race was a competition limited to porters and guides (who escort tourists up the mountain). Later it became an annual event attracting any interested runner and over the years it has become a big event through which Malawi has produced reputable athletes. It’s a Race whose participants prove not only strong but that they have a passion for natural beauty apart from looking for honours. And the 2006 Race was not just a race, but a remarkable one attracting 438 runners out of which 148 were female and 28 were foreigners.

News about this race was known from January when notices flew all over and it sounded like a long distance to get to July 15. The runners waited patiently looking forward to the date while the organisers were putting in everything to make sure that the event is a success. Sponsors were also looking forward with great anticipation to the event.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the weather was cool. People around Likhubula Forest Office, venue for the race woke up as early as 4’oclock in the morning looking forward to what tuned out to be an outstanding occasion. At exactly 6 o’clock, the Minister of Information and Tourism, Hon Patricia Kaliyati was already at the venue, signs of something good to come! Joined by her my ministry officials and members of parliament for Mulanje Pasani and Mulanje South, Hon Ebbie Mathanda and Ina Mezalumo respectively, the Minister was there clad in the running beep and ready for the big race.

But, would she and the other distinguished guests, make it into the mountain?

No, it had to take the masters of the trade to do it. The 25km race, which is open to all interested male and female athletes or runners above eighteen years of age and who feel fit enough to run in a rocky and hazardous route into the mountains, starts at Likhubula Forest Office. The runners trek to Chambe Plateau about 2500m above see level before proceeding via the plateau to Lichenya Plateau and back to Likhubula.

So the Honourable Minister only had to be on the starting line-up in an effort to give courage and morale to the runners and she did it very well! She saw the runners off and in less than three hours, we saw the winners coming back finishing a distance that would take one over 16 hours on a normal walk.

Malawi’s renowned athletes Francis Khanje and his female counterpart currently the junior SADC athlete’s champion Tereza Master carried the day during the gruesome race in the male and female category respectively.

Twenty-two year old Khanje crossed the finishing line after 2 hours 17 minutes to claim the first position but failed to beat the standing record of 2hours 12minutes set by Byson Willy who had won the race for three consecutive years. It wasn’t a good year for Willy this time round as he came out on position four.

In the female category Master proved to be the fastest female runner in the past 10 years when she finished after 2 hours 49 minutes making it an all time record for a female runner. The previous record was 3 hours and 11 minutes

Both Khanje and Master went away with K20 000 each, certificates and beautiful trophies courtesy of NBS Bank, Malawi’s caring bank. The Bank also honoured winners for the second and third positions for both categories with MK15, 000 and MK10, 000 respectively.

Charles Musowa maintained the second position, which he won last year and was trailed by Paul Sitima. Nancy Matanda and Mwandida Mpandawawo were the proud holders of the second and third positions in the female category.

“I trained hard. The pain in me was that Willy had won this race three consecutive years. There was need to stop him. I am happy I have done it,” said Khanje with smiles. And Master said, “I am excited. I have conquered the mountain and this is a warning to all female runners in Malawi.”

Impressed with the whole event, Minister Kaliyati said the Porters’ Race has a capacity to put Malawi on the international map and encouraged the organisers to put in more efforts in future. She promised her Ministry’s support towards organisation of the race.

“My ministry is currently working on strategies of how tourism products can be diversified through cultural activities and sports. I am very hopeful that as we move towards the 2010 World Cup which will be host by South Africa, Malawi will have strategically positioned herself as a major sporting tourism destination,” said the Minister.

The 2006 Porters Race enjoyed the proud sponsorship of NBS Bank, Rab Processors Malawi Limited, Kingfisher Associates, Population Service International (PSI), Bowler Beverages, Dispatch Newspaper, Dairibord Malawi, Arkay Plastics and Multochoice Malawi..

Mount Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak standing over 3,000 metres above sea level is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive massif in the south-eastern African region. Situated to the south east of Malawi, to the border with Mozambique, Mulanje Mountain has attracted attention of researchers and tourists from different parts of the world. Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve ranks high in terms of terrestrial biodiversity richness in Malawi. Globally it is an ecological site. Mulanje Mountain is also a home to Malawi’s national tree, Mulanje Cedar (Widdringtonia Whytei).

The massif, covering an area of 250,000 hectares and shared by Mulanje and Phalombe districts, has a very rich and stunning forest reserve, which is a home to a rich and diverse endemic plant and animal species. The forests and woodlands are vital for watershed protection and is the catchment of headwaters for nine strong rivers in the two districts. The mountain also represents an important source of resources like firewood, grass (for thatching), water, timber, animals, and fruits. Close to a million people have their livelihood dependent on resources from the Mountain and the Forest Reserve. To underscore the importance on this resource, the government of Malawi gazetted Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve as a protected area in 1927.

This Hastings Maloya

2006-12-17T03:17:00.000-08:00

Hastings Maloya is currently working as Programme Officer responsible for Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) since September 1, 2002. Hastings, who comes from Tradional Authority Mabuka in Mulanje District, was born on January 21, 1972 at Mulanje Mission Hospital. He is an Adventist Christian, married to Emily and have two daughters Eva and Eve (seen in the picture).

Professional Highlights
• Public relations, feature and story writing and editing, press releases, photography and video production
• Production of radio and TV documentary programmes and information pieces like posters, brochures, newsletters
• Practical experience in development communication and action research
• Desktop publishing and designing (Quark Express, Adobe Indesign, PageMaker, PhotoShop and Microsoft Publisher
• Practical experience in Environmental Education, public awareness and development communications
• Practical experience in working with community leaders and youths
• Introductory skills and experience in Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• Experience in workshop organising, facilitation and training
• Knowledge of website development and management, use of the internet and e-mail
• Practical experience in community mobilisation

Employment History
(a) Programme Officer –Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications MMCT.
(b) Communications Specialist for the DANIDA -funded Capacity Development in Environment (CDE) Project– Lilongwe
(c) Community Liaison Officer – DANIDA-funded Lake Chilwa Wetland and Catchment Management Project
(d) Communications Officer for the Projects Office – CCAP Blantyre Synod
(e) Editor for the Business Telegraph newspaper
(f) Associate Editor for the Independent Newspaper
(g) Assistant Editor/Reporter for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)

Missing in Mt Mulanje

2006-12-16T08:19:00.001-08:00

(This article appeared in the Sunday Times of 10 September, 2006)

Three years missing in the mountain

by Hastings Maloya

“Three years gone, yes but I still have a feeling like it is only a dream,” says Emie Suliwa almost shading tears in disbelief. She raises her head and through my office window she looks at the magnificent Mulanje Mountain. Shakes her head again and says, “in that mountain, my friend Linda Pronk went missing three years ago.”

Emie works as an office assistant for InfoMulanje, the information centre that offers all tourism information about Mulanje Mountain. When I normally call her to my office, her expectation is that there is some information that she needs to collect or has to clarify on the number of tourists that have visited the mountain in a given period. Wednesday, September 13, could not have been a good day to call Emie to my office.

It was far from what she had expected. She was shocked when I mentioned to her that I wanted to have a brief interview with her as I was writing an article on the missing of Linda in Mulanje Mountain. She recalled, it was on September 13, and this was exactly three years after the demise. For a while, I had to change the subject a bit to let her take a breath before continuing with the interview.

Linda Pronk, a 22-year-old Dutch citizen, served as a development worker with the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) working in the laboratory of the CCAP Mulanje Mission Hospital. On Saturday 13th September, 2003, Linda set off, alone, to climb Sapitwa peak, the highest point of Mount Mulanje. She has not been seen since.

Linda was no stranger to Mulanje, she worked at the CCAP Mission Hospital and had enjoyed climbing the mountain many times, explains Emie.

“We went up the mountain on Friday and we were a group of more than seven. We camped at the newly constructed Chisepo hut and we had all the fun that is associated with mountain climbing,” recalls Emie. “I left the mountain early on Saturday because I had some assignments to sort out down here. We agreed with Linda to meet the following day as she still remained with other friends. I never knew; it was the last time that I had seen her”.

On this particular day, while they were still at Chisepo hut, basically the base of Sapitwa, it is said that Linda expressed an interest to climb the peak and was advised by the rest of the group not too attempt it on her own. Later, it was noticed that she was not on the vicinity of the camp and apparently she might have started off to the peak. That was all about the young Dutch girl.

The alarm was raised early on the Sunday morning and a message was sent down speedily to Likhubula Forest Office. The request for assistance was communicated to the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust and Mulanje Mission Hospital, and soon after, the police were also informed.

I was in office that Sunday but I could not know what to do let alone where to start from, if indeed I was to do anything. There was no rescue plan at hand, no specified leadership, no trained personnel, little equipment and no radio communication! However, there was a rapid reaction from concerned organisations and institutions immediately, a base was established at Kambenje Village, and a search had started.

According to Carl Bruessow, Executive Director of MMCT, the main achievement that day was the climb that was made in very difficult rains by some porters to reach Chisepo with radio and other basic supplies so that there was at least communication between top and bottom. Police, porters, friends, forestry staff and colleagues all rallied to join the effort but lo! there had been no sign of Linda during the searches made in the vicinity of the Sapitwa path. The stormy, wet cold weather atop made life even more difficult.

First thing Monday morning, I got a call from the Daily Times, I stammered before confirming that indeed we were in a situation as a young lady is missing in the mountain. “We are trying all we can and I am hopeful that we may succeed by the end of the day.” I said and could not take more questions. Just as I thought that was enough, it was another call from the Nation, then Power 101fm, before MBC came in. I could tell indeed how serious this issue is. What with the BBC getting wind of the news and their correspondent was already on line for clarification.

Then came a game capture helicopter from Majete Wildlife Reserve to assist in a sky search, if only to raise the morale of Linda, should she be stuck somewhere in that bad weather. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday saw very difficult weather conditions with strong cold winds, heavy cloud and rain prevailing for most of the days.

The area above Chisepo towards Sapitwa is very rugged with many steep slopes interspersed by boulder-strewn stream valleys. According to Bruessow, the helicopter flew at least ten hours of aerial searches over these days negotiating the difficult winds around the peaks. Seven days later, the search effort was beginning to lose momentum as people had to leave the mountain to attend their normal commitments. Hope was beginning to be lost.

In the October - December, 2006 edition of Sapitwa newsletter, Bruessow wrote, “the improved weather over the next four days through to Saturday enabled a full search to be launched and coordinated. At full capacity between 60 and 75 searchers worked the rugged mountain-top carrying out group line searches, often covering priority areas several times.”

All efforts by the army and police bore no fruits. Another effort ten days later was made by a number of dog-sniffer teams who flew out from the Netherlands and gave of their time over five days, again turning up with nothing. And as Bruessow puts it, ordinarily, in any usual situation Linda should have been found but it was not to be and the reason for this failure will elude us for some time.

Thirty-one local traditional healers and medicine men came with different skills and different approaches. Others went through the office of the District Commissioner while others came through village heads and recognised local leaders. They raised the hopes that one of them would succeed in finding the missing lady. It could not work.

Preachers and leaders of different religious beliefs and sectors also participated in the search. They used different approaches and methodologies, still it is three years this week, 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.

“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. And Emie concludes our interview saying, “sometimes you can not tell about this mountain. Some things you just can not understand them, maybe thus what makes it more important.”

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 tourist from all over the world. According to the laws of Malawi, Linda shall only be declared dead after seven years. Practically, we have four more years to concretely say the final word about her. But then, where is she? Living in the mountain?

Hastings Maloya is Programme Officer for environmental education
and communications for the Mulanje Mountain
Conservation Trust (MMCT)

On Minister Kaliati

2006-12-16T08:02:00.000-08:00

Kaliati was to apologise to who and why?
by Hastings Maloya

The just-ended sitting of parliament will definitely go down the memory lane. It was long, tough and a heated one. For the first time, we were about to witness a rejection of a national budget. What an unfortunate thing that could have been!

Personally I have never enjoyed commenting on issues to do with parliament let alone about conduct of parliamentarians. Because I aspire to becoming a legislature at some point, I always believe that our parliamentarians know what they are supposed to do in the August house for the best of the nation.

However the issue about demand for an apology from the Minister of Information and Tourism Honourable Patricia Kaliyati before passing the budget allocation for her ministry has made me go against my norm of not commenting about parliament. Much as thoughts of the honourable members need to be respected, it is not easy to imagine people with the welfare of the nation at heart, to refuse passing a budget vote, not because of its contents, but because of an individual.

When it was reported that parliament has finally approved the 2006/07 budget and that the impasse on the Ministry of Information vote was resolved by an arrangement that the Minister responsible should miss the session, which she duly obliged, I laughed and asked, so what have they achieved?

Just like most Malawians, I am still not convinced as to why Madame Kaliyati was supposed to apologise and apologise to who? Unless it is clearly stated that with effect from this sitting of parliament, anyone who utters statements that are not palatable will be asked to apologise. Otherwise there are tens and tens of examples of acts that needed a demand for an apology than forcing Malawians to comprehend the unfair demand on one Mrs. Kaliyati.

Some Mps dwelt much on the use of tax payer's money in the form of resources that maybe the minister uses in her infamous routine distribution of bad political language. However, there has not been a case or an example given of those that used public resources to a bad use and came out apologising, or asked to apologise.

Think of the former president Dr Bakili Muluzi’s public comments and pronouncements at political rallies. With peace he could call his opponents zimphonongolo, mutu ngati screw driver, mphuno biii – forsake! He even had an audacity to ridicule his on Vice, Hon. Justine Malewezi that he takes 32 tablets daily calling him munthu opusa uja! Kumbwambwana! How I wish our Parliament could at some point demand an apology for such utterances.

Who among us does not remember the acts of the young democrats? Think of our own Emie Chanika being beaten at the COMESA Hall in the full view of the police officers. Come to think of journalists being beaten on the streets of Blantyre. Examples are numerous and the list is endless yet to-date none of the culprits, despite some of them being known, has been asked to apologise. Worse still, they are yet to be brought to book despite the fact is that they inflicted pain on innocent Malawians. Its sad that our parliamentarians can not see that or maybe the poor souls do not deserve an apology.

It is said, and it has never been denied, that at some point, when Malawi was in dire need of food, some government officials thought it wise to sell to Kenya the only grain that we had. Malawians were left to starve to death when a few selfish individuals were swimming in money through such an inhuman act. And up to this very day our good law makers do not see anything to demand an apology for this.

Our parliamentarians, in their competence as law makers, need to elucidate as to what sort of issues that would lead to a demand for an apology. Should the whole house really demand an apology for political statements? And if indeed thus what it should be, then there are more politicians than Mrs. Kaliyati that need to apologise. For those that have followed political comments from Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba, for example, one would think that he would have been the first one to be asked for an apology. At times it is very difficult to tell whether he is speaking for the government or for his party, but whichever between the two that he speaks for, he causes much more damage than good.

How about Minister George Chaponda who could not see the importance of councillors in local assemblies and indicated that government was not interested in local government elections despite each one of us knowing the importance of these elections. Wait a minute, did I hear our vocal opposition MPs asking Minister Chaponda to apologise? And I hear a deputy minister had to insult a police officer on duty, and todate no apology made? Ah! No. Surely our knowledgeable MPs demanded an apology!

Now, someone please tell Malawians why Honourable Kaliyati was asked to apologise for purely making a political statement and outside the house. It is also very important for the MPS to tell us why the demand for this apology was tied to a budget vote for the Ministry of Information and Tourism.

It would be a little bit unfair for lay people like us to think that maybe the so-called lawmakers had forgotten that ministers can be moved from one ministry to another at any time. Poor them if indeed they could not know that Kaliyati’s salary and benefits is already taken care of by the office of the president and cabinet. Very unfortunate if indeed our ‘honourables’ could not know that employees of the ministry, some of whom their own relations, would suffer simply by demanding an apology and tying it to a budget. This act can be described as the worst from our MPs.

The parliamentarians could have known that it is under Kaliyati’s leadership as Minister of Information that for the first time ever, Malawians were able to follow parliamentary deliberations live on MBC. Malawians were able to hear their MPs, others speaking geography instead of English. Under her leadership, Malawians could stay awake to watch parliamentary proceedings on Television Malawi. Our MPs could have known that for the first time we have a Minister of information who does not keep information to herself. My colleagues in the media will agree that for the first time we have a minister who would pick up a phone any time and will not give hassles for an interview.

What else does Malawi need? Before demanding an apology parliament was supposed to applaud the good job she has done and advise her to improve on areas that are not doing well.

From me, Thumbs up to Kaliyati. She never apologised! She has impressed me. Standing on her principles.

Street Vending & Environment

2006-12-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

(this article appeared in the Sunday Times)

Of vending and effects on our environment
by Hastings Maloya

In the just-ended week, the government started flushing vendors out of the streets in urban centers. The move has received mixed reactions from different people with others supporting the it while others condemning it depending on one’s belief and understanding. Environmental journalist HASTINGS MALOYA ponders on how street vending in our cities and towns damaged the environment and the anticipation for an improvement when vendors shall no longer be on the streets.

About twelve years ago, when one lived in the rural areas, visiting cities like Blantyre and Lilongwe was a marvel. On the eve of a trip to the city, one would spend a sleepless night, not out of fear but eagerness to get into a different environment. It could be because of the nice buildings that one would see or the number of vehicles that the eyes would feast on, which were purely a dream in the village.

But apart from the infrastructures, simply Malawian cities were a beauty, so clean that walking along the streets was really a good thing. There were designated places where one would litter and refuse collection was order of the day. With wonderful vegetation in the city’s river banks that made the towns look green and beautiful, it was everybody’s wish to stay in town.

As years went by, the situation slowly changed, the beauty dramatically lost and the cleanliness completely gone. Today, litter is everywhere, and surely an eyesore. The available rivers in our cities that people used to be proud of, now have no water and are a source of pungent smells following piles of waste, which is quite hazardous to the health of humans as well as plants and animals.

There could be many causes to this change and different people would give different reasons.

One reason had been the coming in of street vending. Though it would be difficult to tell how vending slowly became part of our living in cities, it must be acknowledged that this trend led to unplanned expanded settlements. Many people trekked from the rural areas to settle in towns and cities with a belief that an available occupation was on the street.

The streets were therefore full of people and activities, which resulted in lack of proper sanitation facilities and overcrowded conditions. This also posed a high risk of communicable diseases and caused additional pressure on management of waste. Our towns and cities today are no longer a pleasant sight – yes they are full of waste. This is not only bad to our health but to our environment too. We have noted people turning walls of buildings and tree trunks into toilets.

Nature of business and places of operation of such businesses has always been a very big problem. For example how could we allow the sell of alcohol at a hospital premises? Packaging of the products sold by most vendors has also been another cause of the pathetic situation that our cities are in today. We have noticed garbage piling up on road sides, footpaths and vacant land, especially along river banks. Sometimes we have only complained within ourselves while the situation continued to deteriorate.

However, all is not lost yet.

The move by the government to remove vendors from the streets should be applauded and looked at as stock taking. This should not be apolitical issue but a developmental one. Let us accept that by accepting vending in the streets of our cities, we did much damage to our environment and in the process we lost the pride of having beautiful towns and cities. We irresponsibly turned our towns and cities into dumping grounds.

As observed by the Minister of Rural Development, George Chaponda, the removal of the vendors must be seen as good for Malawi. It is now high time for people in responsible positions in our cities and towns to measure their performance against the environmental situation of their responsible towns and cities. Waste collection must be intensified. Without vendors in the streets, it should now be a shame for responsible officers in our town and city assemblies if the situation is not reversed. Meanwhile it is the hope of every Malawian that our cities and towns will once again look beautiful and that we will avoid communicable diseases.

It only takes us to acknowledge that we are the custodians of places that we live in and it is our responsibility to care for our environment.

On Street Vending

2006-12-16T07:56:00.000-08:00

(Appeared in the Sunday Times)

Flushing out of street vendors – unfinished business

….. charcoal still being sold on the streets of Malawi

By Hastings Maloya

Finally the government has flushed vendors out of the streets in both urban and rural centers. This can be described as a success story, of course with respect to different people’s beliefs and understanding. But the fact remains that our towns and cities are slowly but steadily regaining the lost beauty and walking in the streets, is no longer a hassle.

Not long ago, our streets were full of people and activities, which resulted in lack of proper sanitation facilities and overcrowded conditions. This also posed a high risk of communicable diseases and caused additional pressure on management of waste. Our towns and cities were no longer a pleasant sight – yes they were full of waste. Cases of theft were numerous.

It is a changed situation now. Much as we are still looking forward to designated littering places and anticipating that refuse collection become order of the day, it is still a situation worth applause.

However, when the whole exercise was starting not many people believed it would succeed. Prophets of doom indicated that the government was starting a battle that it was ready to lose. The vendors themselves had indicated that come rain or sunshine, they wont move from the streets. The government used available legal instruments and finally everybody has acknowledged that street vending is illegal. So, no more street vending! This is government.

But now, wait a minute. Why is charcoal still being sold on the streets of Malawi? Is this not street vending?

Driving along the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, it is a terrible sight of the hundreds of charcoal bags that are seeing their way into the city. The state of affairs on the Zalewa road is not worth mentioning. It has been said enough. And along the Salima road the situation is the same. How about what seems to be a proper charcoal marketplace at the Machinjiri Turn–off on the Chileka road in Blantyre? Area 23 in Lilongwe. It is all over Malawi and it seems no-body cares. One wonders again if there has been a thought of the source for the charcoal.

But do we need to stress that charcoal production and sell is illegal in Malawi? As, it has been said before Malawi has viable legislation that lacks enforcement. Section 81 of Malawi’s Forest Act of 1987 reads: “No person shall make or sell charcoal from indigenous timber or tree except pursuant to a licence issued under this section.” And Malawians are yet to know whether any of the charcoal producers in Malawi has a licence and whether the licences are checked as is the case with driving licences by our traffic police.

And section 82 of the same Act reads “No person shall engage in commercial processing of any wood or forest produce without a permit. Again, Malawians need to be told whether any of the charcoal business people have permit to carry out their businesses. It is very unfortunate that illegal indigenous timber from forest reserves and customary areas are too common on our streets and the trend is going on without control.

The major reason for the worsening environmental damage in Malawi is therefore not the absence of legislation but laxity in the implementation and enforcement of policies, legislation and strategies by responsible Ministries and Departments.

In December 2005, a Coalition of Environmental NGOs in Malawi, cried through its press release that the country lost 2,501,571 ha. of both indigenous and plantation forests between 1972-1992 and much higher values after this period resulting in Malawi having a deforestation rate of 3.5%, the highest in the SADC Region.

The Coalition observed that between 1992 - 2005, charcoal production and trade was intensified in Malawi; where 140,000 ton/year of charcoal and about so many tons of firewood is was traded informally with Government deriving no revenue from this big trade.

“It requires no emphasis that enforcement and implementation of legislation, policies and regulations is primarily a responsibility of Government. There is need therefore, to enforce the Forestry Act and regulate charcoal production and selling. Courts should also be asked to impose heavy penalties on cases of encroachment, and illegal charcoal trade, as provided for in the law”, said the Coalition in the release.

While everybody agrees that street vending is illegal, why cant the government come in at this moment and save our trees by flushing charcoal sellers from the streets? We may lose an opportunity here. Actually production of charcoal in Malawi is far beyond demand and that is why we have piles and piles of charcoal on the streets. This is totally an illegal business.

Government MUST treat and view the environment and its associated natural resources and wildlife as economic goods; and come up with proper valuation of these assets including introduction of taxes, licenses and charges for the use. It would also be imperative to encourage farmers, the private sector and institutions of higher learning to take natural resource management as a business

Or should we suggest that all those that lost out on street vending should venture into charcoal business? Seems its acceptable.

…..ends

On Forest Fires - SADC EE

2006-12-16T07:53:00.000-08:00

(Appeared in SADC EE News Flash Dec 2005)

Malawian Trust intensifies EE on forest fires
By Hastings Maloya

As we get to the festive season and getting into the New Year, environmentalists and concerned Malawians will remember the just ending year as the worst in relation to harmful bushfires that led to devastation of over 2000 hectares of pristine forests across the country. This included the damage to Malawi’s national tree - the Mulanje Cedar in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve.

Fires, the worst seen in recent years, caused heavy damage on plants and animals in almost all protected natural forest reserves and plantations in Malawi. Among several causes, mostly the fires were caused by unsustainable means of resource utilisation like hunting where fire is used to drive animals from their hiding places. Honey harvesting has also been another cause when some harvesters use fire in their operations and carelessly leave flames that lead to uncontrolled fires. Other fires have been caused by misguided individuals whose intention is to cause damage and panic among people.

Only last year, we were excited that for the first time in many years, the Mulanje Mountain and its unique forest reserve was spared from the effects of devastating forest fires. Very few fires had occurred and we believed that this indicated peoples’ increased understanding of the importance of the reserve.

While we were about to start the success story of retaining lost biodiversity, the situation this year is not encouraging. The forest reserve, just as many parts of Malawi, has suffered serious damage.

It could be that many people have not been reached yet with messages though the continuous awareness campaigns or the targeted community was limited.

This is what has led to the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) to intensify environmental education programmes among school-going children around the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve, Malawi’s biggest and oldest reserve.

The Trust’s environmental education programme has been facilitating the formation and strengthening of environmental clubs in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and coordinating out-of-class lessons in the reserve. Using a handbook “Why Forest Fires – or Do We Need Them? the programme has included teachers in the exercise. In participatory format, the school children and teachers are given an opportunity to evaluate causes and the effects of uncontrolled fires. The handbook was developed recently during an EE training programme at the SADC EE Centre in Howick and it has since proven a very powerful tool.

Serious awareness campaigns on the dangers of forest fires had mainly targeted on village-based communities. The focus now is on school-going children and out-of-school youths. It is anticipated that when the youths are made aware of the dangers of fire while in school, they will ably pass on the message to the community that they live in and the will to fight for their environment shall remain in them.

The youths, full of zeal and energy, have since set up monitoring programmes and will soon be trained in basic fire-fighting techniques ready to take part in putting of fire in case it starts.

Malawi, just as many countries in the world, is today facing a lot of environmental problems and challenges, which include water and air pollution, soil erosion, deforestation and loss of biological diversity. Fire has been noted, to a certain extent as being the main source and cause to these problems. This has also led to loss of some plant species that could not stand the heat caused by fires. This leads to environmental degradation where the links and relationships between natural resources and people are affected in one way or another.

Mulanje Mountain, central Africa's highest mountain, is home to rare species of trees and animals. The Mulanje cedar, Malawi's national tree, is found nowhere else in the world, making the mountain one of the country's famous tourist destinations. Mulanje Cedar was declared Malawi's national tree by the country's founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda in 1984 but Mulanje Mountain has been a protected area since 1927, making it the country's oldest forest reserve.

On Charcoal

2006-12-16T07:49:00.000-08:00

This article was published in the Sunday Times of - June 5, 2006

If only Charcoal was banned!

By Hastings Maloya

While we are all watching, our indigenous forests are steadily diminishing. The once beautiful hills and mountains are gradually becoming bare and our good land becoming unproductive due to continuous soil erosion. Siltation in our rivers is becoming an order of the day. Electricity power failures are no longer news.

Malawi is currently facing serious environmental problems with deforestation as the main challenge. It is sad that everyone accepts that the state of affairs is bad but ironically we are aware of the main cause to the situation that we are in. Charcoal production! It is estimated that 140,000 ton of charcoal are produced per year in Malawi.

It is very unfortunate that the presence of illegal indigenous timber from forest reserves and customary areas is too common on our streets and the development is going on without control. Malawi has allowed wanton cutting down of its trees by its own people in the name of livelihood survival for people. Another excuse has been lack of alternative source of energy. Malawians have been made to believe that there is no any other better source of fuel energy but charcoal. We have watched this trend for years and maybe we will wake up for an action when we get to the last tree!

In December 2005, a Coalition of Environmental NGOs in Malawi, cried through its press release that the country lost 2,501,571 ha. of both indigenous and plantation forests between 1972-1992 and much higher values after this period resulting in Malawi having a deforestation rate of 3.5%, the highest in the SADC Region.

In all circles there seem to be nothing happening to tackle the problem, if there has been any effort then it has been painfully very slow. Actually production of charcoal in Malawi is far beyond demand and that is why we have piles and piles of charcoal on the streets. To a certain extent those that are producing charcoal are doing it just for the sake of it, not that they have a ready market.

Driving along the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, from Mulanje to Blantyre it is a terrible sight of the hundreds of charcoal bags that are seeing their way into the city. The state of affairs on the Zalewa road is not worth mentioning. It has been said enough. And along the Salima road the situation is the same. How about what seems to be a proper charcoal marketplace at the Machinjiri Turn–off on the Chileka road in Blantyre? Area 23 in Lilongwe. It is all over Malawi and it seems no-body cares.

But by law, charcoal production and sell is illegal in Malawi as stipulated by Section 81 of Malawi’s Forest Act of 1987 which reads: “No person shall make or sell charcoal from indigenous timber or tree except pursuant to a licence issued under this section.” And charcoal producers in Malawi have no licences. Charcoal production in Malawi can only be legal when there is recognised sustainable forest with a management plan as a source of the charcoal.

It has been argued by some quarters that production of charcoal is a source of livelihood and that it should not be banned unless alternatives are found for the people. This is a very poor excuse. Why is it not accepted that all people involved in charcoal are doing an illegal business? And one wonders why there should be alternatives for law breakers. In actual sense, we can hardly found a charcoal producer whose livelihood has improved because of this type of destructive business.
Charcoal suppliers to town remain hanging about dirty through-out the year. Very few of them seem to have taken a shower for a week or so. As a country we should be ashamed of ourselves to clap hands on such poor fellars who are failing to make ends meet and keep on cheating them that they are surviving on charcoal – what type of survival? How many of them will come forward to show us children that are going to school, or some type of beautiful houses that have been built out the charcoal business?

Perhaps because it mainly affects marginalized and poor people, even politicians have taken advantage of the porous situation for political gains. We have heard of politicians shielding the charcoal business people simply to get votes during an election. Some politicians and big business people have actually been seen involved in this illegal trade and are in the forefront saying charcoal can not be banned unless alternative sources of livelihood are found. And yet the longer this problem is ignored, the worse it gets, putting all our futures at risk. It is a tall order to reverse the trend of tens of years, but it has to be done – and done now.

We used to have minibus toots on the streets of Malawi. We used to have street vendors in our towns and cities. They are no longer there. They were operating illegally and had to be shown the exit. And nobody proposed an alternative source of livelihood. What is so special with people that are destructing our environment? If indeed we love mother Malawi, there should be a total ban on charcoal. And this requires a radical approach.

Then there is a question of alternative source of energy. For who? The people that already have the alternative source of energy i.e. electricity are the ones that are buying a lot of charcoal. The literates are the ones in the fore front of the damage. New fuel saving stoves are coming on the market but how many people are buying them? Recently there has been an introduction of a locally made Rocket Stove that has already shown what wonders it can do in saving our forests but how many among the elites have gone for it?

People in the villages have traditional means of using fuel wood and do not talk of charcoal. This tells us that the excuse about alternative source of fuel wood is only a scapegoat in the process of making Malawi bare and unproductive.

Now, Malawi tomorrow joins the international community in commemorating the World Environment Day and this year's theme is Deserts and Desertification with a slogan -Don't Desert Drylands! This follows the designation by the United Nations General Assembly for the year 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. In keeping with tradition, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has chosen the theme for World Environment Day to coincide with the International Year in order to highlight this pressing environmental issue.

Desertification is about land degradation: the loss of the land’s biological productivity, caused by human-induced factors and has potentially devastating consequences in terms of social and economic costs. Malawi is in this situation at the moment.

Surely each one of us would want to know whether it is necessary for Malawi to participate in the commemoration. Time to check if as a nation we are worried that in anyway we are almost deserting our country.

Why not a total ban on charcoal and no excuses about alternatives!
It is said that forests precede civilization, and, deserts follow. It has been so since humanity first settled down from a nomadic life. Written history indicates that some 3,000 years ago Mesopotamia had wonderful cedar forests and excitement in cutting down the wood by its own people led it to becoming a desert today. History will give us a lot of examples but we do not need to go that far when our own Ndirande Mountain can give a good example.

The major reason for the worsening environmental damage in Malawi is therefore not the absence of legislation but laxity in the implementation and enforcement of policies, legislation and strategies by responsible Ministries and Departments

Info on Mt Mulanje

2006-12-16T07:47:00.000-08:00

Get to know more about Mount MULANJE

by Hastings Maloya

Introduction

Mt. Mulanje is located 65 km east of Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city. The view of Mt. Mulanje when driving from Blantyre is superb provided the weather is clear. Mulanje is a vast, isolated granite massif rising sharply and dramatically above the Phalombe Plain southeast of Blantyre. The massif covers an area of 650km2, and largely comprises a plateau of rolling grassland averaging around 2,000m in altitude. This plateau is incised by several thickly wooded ravines, while rising above it are 20 peaks that reach an altitude of over 2,500m. One of these, Sapitwa Peak, is at 3,002m the highest point in Central Africa.

Several different vegetation types cover Mulanje. The lower slopes of the massif, where they have not been planted with exotic pines and eucalyptus, are covered in closed-canopy woodland. The main vegetation type of the plateau is not dissimilar in appearance to the alpine moorland found on East Africa’s larger mountains: a combination of heathers, heaths and grasses. There are supporting a wide array of wild flowers, including various helichrysums, irises, lobelias and aloes, a large number of which are endemic to the mountain.

Evergreen woodland and forest is largely restricted to ravines and watercourses. The most notable forest tree on Mulanje is the endemic Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei), a magnificent timber tree which can reach a height of over 40m. Mulanje’s cedars have been depleted in the last century due to timber felling, but several impressive stands remain, the most accessible of which lies in the saddle southeast of the Chambe Basin and includes many trees that are thought to be over 300 years old.

In the open highlands, the only mammal species seen with any regularity are klipspringer, rock hyrax, red rock hare and vole. In the woodlands of the lower slopes and in forested areas, there is a good chance of seeing vervet and samango monkeys. Red duiker, bushbuck, leopard, bushpig and porcupine are also present in wooded habitats.

With easy access from Blantyre, well-organised and inexpensive facilities, and some of the most dramatic scenery in the country, Mulanje is Malawi’s premier hiking and rock-climbing destination, popular with tourists and expatriates alike. There are several routes from the base to the plateau, but the only ones that are used with much regularity are the Skyline Path to the Chambe Basin and the Lichenya Path to the Lichenya Plateau. Both of these routes start at Likhubula Forestry Station, which lies at the eastern base of the mountain about 10km from Mulanje Town.

In addition to there being inexpensive accommodation at Likhubula Forestry Station, there are nine huts on the plateau, connected to each other by well-marked trails ranging from three to six hours’ walking duration. With 20 peaks to explore, Mulanje has enough walking and climbing potential to keep anybody busy for at least a month

Guides and porters

We are very proud that the guides and porters of Mulanje are very organised. At each entrée point to the go up Mt. Mulanje is a guides and porters branch present. The guides have knowledge about the area and some are even specialist in birds and wildlife.

The porters work on a rotation schedule. Therefore is it very important that you collect your porters from the entrance points, especially in Likhubula. The rotation schedule was designed as a countermeasure against hassling from not registered guides and porters. Please take notice of this and use only guides and porters from the designated offices.

Safety

It is important to bear in mind that rescue services are virtually non-existent. If you decide to climb a peak do sign the hut destination book and tell the watchmen, guide, porter of your plans. Remember that days often change on Mulanje from gorgeous clear mornings to misty, cloudy weather when route finding conditions become very different. Dry rocks quickly become very slippery. Flash floods and dangerous river crossings feature the rainy season. This does not mean you cannot hike Mt. Mulanje. When you do take precaution. I advise to take at least one guide or porter with you. Guides and porters all have had medic first aid training.

Interesting sights around the base of Mt. Mulanje

There is a road along the whole of the base of Mt. Mulanje. All the entrance points have their own interesting points to see, if a group does not want to hike the mountain or has half a day to a day left. These include pools near Likhubula and Lujeri, a hydro system near Lujeri, an old graveyard site near Fort Lister, real African villages near all entrance points and many more.

InfoMulanje

InfoMulanje is our local information office. Here you can make bookings for all accommodations and restaurants around Mt. Mulanje. Furthermore they organise tea-tours in one of the nearby tea-estates, which gives you more inside in the tea making process. It even includes a factory visit!

InfoMulanje can give you on the spot information about day trips to other interesting sights around the base of Mt. Mulanje.

InfoMulanje is located in Mulanje Chitakale, where the main Trading centre is and the turnoff to Likhubula. The Turnoff is easily recognisable by Pizzeria Bassilica. On top of the pizzeria is the InfoMulanje office.

Contact details:
InfoMulanje
Manager: Mss. Emmie Suliwa
Tel: (+265) 01 466 466
PO Box 200, Mulanje
Email: infomulanje@mountmulanje.org.mw or infomulanje@sdnp.org.mw

On Aids

2006-12-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

(Sunday Times Dec 3, 2006)

Fighting HIV/Aids pandemic

It’s not a question of going public about one’s sero status.

by Hastings Maloya

Sex or sexual intercourse is a funny way of communication. It could be possible that someone in Nsanje has had an indirect sexual contact with someone in Mzuzu simply because one of them might have had sex with another person who, in the course of travel or life exploits, also had sex with another and eventually the latter had sex with the first one. In our communities, we might have had some sort of indirect sexual intercourse even with our closest friends. Funny it could sound but it is real.

The only good thing about this situation is that most of us do not know, neither do we probe as to who might have slept with who nor how we would personally find ourselves in line of the communicated persons. This silence and lack of probing is what has kept us all along. Otherwise if indeed we were to seriously go into the circus of probing or wanting to know, some of us could be very disappointed to note that we have sexually been associated with the people that we have all along thought we have avoided! This, therefore poses as the biggest challenge in the fight against HIV/Aids.

On Friday Malawi joined the international community in commemorating the World Aids Day under the theme stop Aids – keep the promise. Only if indeed we keep the promise, our fight against HIV/Aids will be very difficult to win.

Now this brings me to the subject of discussion today. The Aids pandemic has reached a crisis level and people are being encouraged to go for voluntary HIV testing so that they can make informed choices and be sure of looking after themselves. The question is, will it help if people that have been diagnosed with HIV or those that have Aids come out open to declare their sero status?

I think no.

History tells us that there have been epidemics and catastrophes associated with human development since time in memorial. Most of the catastrophes and calamities that human generations have faced have been natural and in most cases have been controlled or dealt with naturally, nevertheless recognition has gone to some dedicated individuals and institutions that have put in efforts and resources to help eliminate such tricky situations.

Disease has been one of the main problems that has troubled human development and continues to be the biggest challenge to date despite all efforts aimed at dealing away with it. Almost each generation has had its share of a particular troubling disease and maybe handed over to the next generation. Some of the diseases have proven to be a crisis and have cost lives of so many people. This is why examples of such diseases remain in our history books. However, life still goes on. Nature, sometimes, cannot easily be understood.

We are currently in the midst of yet another crisis. HIV/Aids is also slowly going into the history annals among the worst pandemics that have befallen man. Worse still, this crisis is in our midst at the time when we are struggling with other continually death-causing diseases like malaria, cholera and tuberculosis. But unlike the other diseases, which of course have caused a lot of deaths, the biggest challenge associated with HIV/Aids is the fact that there is no known cure and treatment.

Records indicate that the first case of HIV/AIDS in Malawi was discovered in 1985 and to date it is said that over 365,000 Malawians have died of the disease. The Joint UN Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) puts the adult infection rate in Malawi at 16%. Other statistics indicate that Malawi has more than one million people estimated to be living with HIV, the virus that causes Aids. It is also scaring to accept reports that Malawi’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is almost twice the rate in sub-Saharan Africa. However, we have to accept these painful realities. HIV/AIDS, which is spread primarily through heterosexual sex, is now the leading cause of death in Malawi among people of ages 20-49.

According to available data, women account for more than half of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. In 2003, over 83,000 children in Malawi were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS and there were an estimated 500,000 Aids orphans. It is also said that HIV prevalence rates are almost twice as high in urban areas of Malawi compared to rural areas. The government acknowledges the daunting challenges that its support has been grossly inadequate and the condition of orphans is made worse by extreme poverty and the erosion of extended families.

The escalating numbers of orphans in the country as a result of HIV/Aids cannot be over emphasized. Malawi has, however, been praised for its humane and exemplary treatment of orphans despite the meagre resources.

But, wait a minute. To a certain extent, the Aids pandemic is not news. It is not news in the sense that today, it would be a very small percentage of Malawians that can stand up to claim that they have never heard anything about HIV/Aids. Over the past twenty years we have had numerous and series of campaigns, workshops and activities that have not only raised awareness and understanding but have also called for action among people.

Awareness initiatives have been done through different avenues including both the electronic and print the media, music, drama, and sports, religious and social gatherings. Controversies have also been noted in the cause of message delivery with different thoughts and agendas put forward. For example disagreements and counter arguments on whether we should promote the use of condoms among religious faithful have helped the cause of raising awareness as such controversies only strengthen debates among people thereby helping in disseminating messages among masses.

Studies have found that general awareness of HIV/AIDS in Malawi is very high. The only unfortunate thing is that statistics that come out of bodies and institutions trusted to handle issues of HIV/Aids do not give any hope. It shows that despite numerous messages and campaigns, there is little progress as the prevalence rate still escalates and deaths related to HIV/Aids are still high. No hope in sight.

The call for people to go for voluntary HIV testing and counseling is meant for us to be aware of our sero status and make an informed decision on how one would look after oneself and how to avoid infecting others in the spirit of keeping the promise. Because of the way the earlier messages about Aids were delivered, it is not easy for one to be told and accept his/her status. This is why the testing is also associated with counseling. In other words the only person that has been tested and counseled will ably accept the situation and indeed make an informed decision.

It is not easy for someone who would only know of the possibility of an infection through the assumption after realizing that a partner or an acquaintance has been diagnosed positive. It has always been said that fear for death is more painful than death itself. The moment people shall come out open about their sero status. We should accept that we shall create an environment of fear and disbelief. It will not help but rather create another catastrophe. Actually most people will not be encouraged to go for testing as they will have already made concluding assumptions following the disclosure by other people, especially if their status in society matter.

For those that made the wise decision to go for testing and are aware of their status surely, with good counseling, can indeed make wise decision about their lives. But please lets not put others in panic through wild assumptions. No need to announce during funerals – it wont help in the fight rather it will create fear and stigma. We cannot develop!

* Hastings Maloya works for Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust but is writing in his personal capacity

About Me

2006-12-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

Hastings Maloya
Experienced Journalist, writer, specialist in Communications, Public Relations, Desktop Publishing, Environmental Education, and Rural Development

The Person
A 34-year-old Malawian young man, hard worker, very dynamic, self-motivated journalist, trainer, environmentalist and rural development worker with eight years professional experience in both electronic and print media, communications, publications, writing for the mass media, press releases, public relations, natural resources and environmental management and rural development with excellent writing and verbal communication and desktop publishing skills.

Contact Address:

P.O. Box 3,
Mulanje
MALAWI
Central Africa
Tel. (265) 1 466282;
Cell: (265) 8 864241
E-mail: hastings11@gmail.com