Three DDP MPs set to join Aford

By Nyasa Times Published: April 29, 2010

Three suspended ruling DPP Northern Region Members of Parliament suspended in February 2009 after they refused to apologize to the party for criticising the discriminatory education quota system are set to join Alliance for Democracy (Aford) party.

The three are Christopher Ngwira of Mzimba Hora, Mzimba Luwerezi parliamentarian Bofomo Nyirenda and Ackim Mwanza of Mzimba Solora constituency.

The MPs were suspended after they voiced their views against the controversial directive by President Bingu wa Mutharika to impose the infamous quota system of university selection.

The three parliamentarians suggested that the quota system should also

Malawi not cowed by Tanzania free entrance for explosive U-20 tie

By Nyasa Times Published: April 28, 2010

Malawi national football Under-20 coach Franco Ndawa says his side is not intimidated with the announcement by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to give fans an offer to watch the African Under-20 Championship qualifier match between Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Heroes and Junior Flames at the Uhuru Stadium on Friday free of charge.

TFF Spokesman, Florian Kaijage is quoted by Daily News of Tanzania that the offer will only apply to popular stand seats.

“We need massive support, therefore fans should not shy away from the offer, and they should come to cheer Ngorongoro Heroes in their

Minister confirms govt to outlaw polygamy in Malawi

By Nyasa Times Published: April 27, 2010

Government has drafted a marriage, divorce and family relations bill which will be presented to parliament to outlaw men from marrying more than one wife, Minister of Gender, Women and Children, Patricia Kaliati has confirmed.

Kaliati said the bill had passed cabinet committee on legal matters chaired by Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs Prof Peter Mutharika and that it would be tabled in the National Assembly in September.

"What we want from this Marriage, divorce and family relation, we are trying to reduce the gender based violence. We just want to protect our

Malawi open up for homosexuality as police quiz conference organisers

By Nyasa Times Published: April 26, 2010

A conference opened on Monday in Liwonde Township on the inclusion of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBTs) in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The conference which has been organised by the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) together with Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) attracted delegates from civil society, law experts and faith leaders.

It was opened by CHRR board member retired judge Tujilane Chizumira who urged delegates to have understanding of LGBTs.

"Before we start condemning them we should first accept that these are our fathers, mothers, daughters and sons,”

Editorial: ‘God recalled’ Aleke

By Nyasa Times Published: April 25, 2010

Assassination is not such a good word the Nyasa Times would want to use. The word is very tricky and nasty. It is the extreme form of censorship and has never changed the history of the world but for lack of better word the Nyasa Times can only say "God too back" to describe the cancellation of the medical scheme at a time the revered politician Aleke Banda needed it the most on the ventilator in a South African clinic.

Every hand that must have been involved in the cancellation was naïve and bashful

Malawi President slams homosexuality

By Nyasa Times Published: April 24, 2010

President Bingu wa Mutharika has come out in the open to express disapproval of homosexuality in Malawi.

The President commenting for the first time since the arrest and trial of gay couple, 26-year-old Steven Monjeza and 20-year-old Tiwonge Chimbalanga, said homosexuality was bizarre.

Mutharika who wedded with Callista on April 17 was speaking at the ordination of Monsignor Montfort Sitima as the auxiliary bishop of Blantyre Archdiocese of Blantyre.

"Homosexuality is a strange act in the country," Mutharika said.

He said the country was being haunted by several ills, among them domestic violence, child

RETOSA delegates fall for Malawi’s Gondolosi

By Nyasa Times Published: April 23, 2010

Delegates to the three-day 43rd board and annual general meeting of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA), which was held in the commercial city of Blantyre, Thursday enjoyed the climax of their visit to Malawi when they could not resist purchase of herbal powdered aphrodisiac popularly known as Gondolosi when they visited Mulanje on excursion.

The delegates, who came from Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa and hosts Malawi visited the tea districts of Mulanje and Thyolo and spent some time at the Lhomwe heritage centre at