Tag: Malawi

Plane Crash Claims Lives of Malawi’s Vice-President, 9 Others

11Jun

By adminNo Comments

Malawi

Plane Crash Claims Lives of Malawi’s Vice-President, 9 Others

It has now been confirmed that Malawi's Vice-President, Saulos Chilima, was among ten people killed when a small military plane crashed in a mountainous region in the north of the country. President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the news in a live televised address on Tuesday, expressing deep sorrow and condolences to the nation. The ill-fated aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers on Monday after the pilot was instructed to return to the capital, Lilongwe, due to deteriorating weather conditions. Despite efforts to maintain communication, the plane ultimately vanished from radar, leading to a frantic search and rescue operation. "I'm deeply saddened, I'm sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircra...

$4.7m Malawi Covid Fund Missing After Audit

22May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Corruption, Covid-19, Finance, Malawi, News

$4.7m Malawi Covid Fund Missing After Audit

An audit into Covid spending in Malawi has found that around $4.7m (£3.7m) cannot be accounted for from $21m set aside to deal with the second phase of the pandemic. This is on top of $881m from the first phase that a 2020 audit showed had been spent irregularly or was not accounted for. After the first audit, President Lazarus Chakwera promised to crack down on the culprits and several officials were taken to court, though none of the cases have yet concluded. The latest investigation - a 66-page report by the country’s auditor general - lists the irregularities, which include undelivered medical supplies, allowances paid without attendance sheets and fuel acquired without official documentation. Read Also: Face Masks Now Optional, COVID-19 Restrictions To Go Soon – FG ...

Mozambique Detects First Wild Polio Case In 30 Years

19May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

News

Mozambique Detects First Wild Polio Case In 30 Years

Mozambique has declared an outbreak of wild polio after a young child was diagnosed with the disease in the country’s north-eastern Tete province - its first case in 30 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) says doctors detected it when the child began experiencing the onset of paralysis in late March. Neighbouring Malawi reported a similar case in February this year. “The detection of another case of wild polio virus in Africa is greatly concerning, even if it’s unsurprising given the recent outbreak in Malawi. However, it shows how dangerous this virus is and how quickly it can spread,” WHO's regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said in a statement. Read Also: President Buhari Salutes Health Workers as WHO Declares Nigeria Polio Free The health mini...

Catholic Priest, Others Convicted Over Albino Murder In Malawi

30Apr

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Crime, Justice, Life, Malawi, News, Violence

Catholic Priest, Others Convicted Over Albino Murder In Malawi

A Malawi Catholic priest, a policeman and a hospital worker are among a dozen convicted over the 2018 gruesome murder of a man with albinism. Five out of the 12 were found guilty of killing MacDonald Masambuka, 22, at the height of a crime spree that saw more than 40 murders and 145 assaults on people with the condition in the country. The priest, Masambuka’s brother, a police officer and a hospital employee were convicted of selling human body parts. “MacDonald was betrayed by those he had trust in, namely the brother, the priest, the policeman and the clinical officer. These are positions of trust,” said the country’s public prosecutions director Steve Kayuni. From 2014 Malawi suffered a wave of assaults over several years against people with albinism, whose body parts a...

Lazarus Chakwera- The New Face of Democratic Struggle in Africa

1Jul

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu1 Comment

Africa, Judiciary, Malawi, News

Lazarus Chakwera- The New Face of Democratic Struggle in Africa

Leadership in Africa has been unique with its abundance of long serving leaders most of whom could be adjudged to have lost passion for delivering dividends of democracy to citizens. Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera by virtue of his swearing in as the sixth president of Malawi set an unprecedented record in the history of the continent as the first ever President to unseat a sitting president after court annulled election. The events that played out in Malawi were reminiscent of that of Kenya which was the first ever presidential election annulled by election tribunal. While Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya went on to defeat opposition candidate Raila Odinga in the boycotted election in 2017, Chakwera claimed 58.57% of votes cast to unseat incumbent Arthur Peter Mutharika. An insight into the eve...

Malawi Re-run Election: Chakwera Sworn in as Sixth President After Historic Court-overturned Vote in Africa

28Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, Judiciary, Malawi, News

Malawi Re-run Election: Chakwera Sworn in as Sixth President After Historic Court-overturned Vote in Africa

Leadership changed hands in Malawi as the country swore in Lazarus Chakwera as the sixth President of the country for a five-year tenure on Sunday. Chakwera became the beneficiary of the first ever court overturned presidential vote in the African continent. He unseated former president Peter Mutharika in a re-run election. Malawi held election in May 2019, where Mutharika was retuned but the result was voided by court. Chakwera, aged 65, won 58.57% of votes cast at Tuesday’s election. Observers say the repeat served as a test of the ability of courts in Africa to fight electoral fraud and checkmate presidential power. “To stand before you as president today is an honour. It’s an honour that fills with unspeakable joy and immense gratitude,” Chakwera said in his acceptance spee...