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

Dausi’s verbose on Capital Radio Straight Talk

By Nyasa Times Published: April 22, 2010

Deputy Minister in the Office of President and Cabinet, Nicholas Dausi was a marvel to listen to when he was guest on popular in-depth-interview Straight Talk programme on Capital Radio when he used his verbiage.

The Mwanza Central legislator praised the Bingu administration for being far much better than the previous Bakili Muluzi regime in terms of economic development.

"When it comes to development, when it comes to moving away from mere pediatrics of empty promises, mere political rhetoric, when it comes to real government, financial discipline, fiscal prudence, food security, water and sanitation, then this Bingu administration has far much performed," said Dausi in his long-winded style of speech.

Asked what his job was at OPC as deputy minister, he said: ""It's not something that is extraordinaire per se but it's a position that is in the office of the president therefore it is something that day to day you have to make sure that

UDF tears apart Finance Minister on Air Malawi crisis

By Nyasa Times Published: April 21, 2010

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has denied claims by Finance Minister Ken Kandodo that it was responsible for the current financial and operational crisis the country’s sole airline, Air Malawi, is going through.

Finance Minister blamed the then UDF government for buying the Sapitwa aircraft, which is currently grounded in South Africa, after being in operation for relatively short time soon after the purchase.

"The fact of the matter is that this plane was not such a good deal. Spent too much on it and since we bought, we really haven't made any money

Expect a ‘good’ budget, Goodall’s was not one-man show –Finance Minister

By Nyasa Times Published: April 20, 2010

Malawians should expect a reasonable 2010/11 budget, which will focus on core sectors of the economy, Finance Minister Ken Kandodo has said.

"It will be a very good budget," Kandodo told Capital Radio Straight Talk programme on Tuesday evening.

"We want to invest in the Greenbelt initiative. We also want to continue in the investment in our road network. We will continue with poverty reduction projects," he said.

The finance minister has been holding the customary pre-budget consultations with different interest groups like captains of industry.

He has already met with several important functionaries to bolster his views about the budget to be presented in June in parliament.

"Ideally a minister of finance should consult every single Malawian but the practice is difficult to achieve; so first of all

Establish First Lady Foundation, NGO urges

By Nyasa Times Published: April 19, 2010

Chairperson of the NGO, the Gender Coordination Network, Emma Kaliya, has urged government to establish a First Lady Foundation to run charitable activities of the First Lady.

Malawi has the new First Lady, Callista  wa Mutharika, who tied the knot with President Bingu wa Mutharika last Saturday.

"Why doesn't the state consider that they should be having what they call the First Lady Foundation so that when the other person leave, the First Lady Foundation should still move," Kaliya told Capital Radio on Monday.

Previous first ladies, late Ethel Mutharika and Patricia Shanil Muluzi

Fear grips DPP MPs: Anonymous caller asks them, ‘Which camp are you in?’

By Nyasa Times Published: April 18, 2010

There is fear among members of parliament of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Malawi because of anonymous phone calls they are receiving asking them which camp they belong to.

The party is divided into two camps, one supporting President Bingu wa Mutharika and his younger brother Peter Mutharika; the other supporting Vice-President Joyce Banda in the race to succeed the President for leadership of the party and the national Presidency when his  presidential term expires in 2014.

Because of constitutional term limits on the president, President Mutharika is ineligible to run a

‘Nachipanti’ victim still in pain, needs help

By Nyasa Times Published: April 17, 2010

Six months after her discharge from the hospital, Maggie Twalibu, one of the surviving victims of of blood suckers', the infamous 'Nachipanti' attack that terrorized people of Goliyo in Ndirande Township says she has not fully recovered.

The 16-year-old Twalibu is the only surviving victim of last year's October 7 blood suckers' attack that left her sister's son Razak dead on the spot. Her elder sister Sheila died few weeks at the hospital where the two were admitted.

Narrating her story at Quarry-Soche where she is staying with her brother, Yusuf, Twaibu said she