Catholic members in the country and around the world are now observing the season of Lent. According to sources at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, the Pastoral Letter will be issued during the feast of Easter at the end of the period.

“The Catholic Bishops have drafted a strongly worded letter reminiscent of the one which challenged the prevailing culture of silence during the one-party dictatorship of Dr. Kamuzu Banda,” said a source.

In the historical “Living Our Faith,” Pastoral Letter of 1992, the bishops reproached the Banda regime for its authoritarianism and lack of representative democracy; not as biased proponents of specific political groups but rather as champions of accountability, respect for human rights and human dignity.

Priestly sources in the church say this year’s draft Lenten letter denounces human rights abuses and the deliberate suffocation of freedom of expression by the Bingu wa Mutharika administration; its corruption and blatant stealing in government, and ills elsewhere in the private sector especially in business.

The bishops also condemn rampant immorality in private life and call for a “communal renewal”.

According to the sources, the letter says that renewal demands justice restitution for the government’s victims.

The letter is expected to be severely critical of the present government, particularly in the area of nepotism.

Meanwhile, Catholics on Sunday observed the Fourth Sunday of Lent – which is regarded by many as the midpoint of the season of Lent.

Throughout the country the church is asking its congregations to acknowledge their sinfulness and be reconciled with God as they near the celebration of Easter.

Alex Gomani, chief economist at the Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi (MCA-M), a U.S. bilateral development fund, said the loss represents 4.4 percent of the total national income based on the country’s current GDP of $4.9 billion a year.

“Lack of reliable power supply is costing Malawi $215.6 million per year, it’s deterring new investments in the country,” he said.

Last year alone, Malawi had 63 days of power outages, the most out of 24 sub-Saharan countries and only 6 percent of its inhabitants have access to electricity.

Gomani said apart from the economic impact, power outages are also exacerbating deforestation in a country dependent on agriculture and hydro power supply.

Finance Minister Ken Kandodo (pictured) said separately on Monday that Malawi urgently needs to invest in power generation to meet future demand and cut these losses.

“Losing over $200 million per year is unacceptable, because it is hurting our small economy and we need to do something urgently,” Kandodo said.

Malawi has long faced power supply problems mainly because of deforestation along the banks of the Shire river which has polluted the water and cut river levels, curbing its hydro power potential.

The 402-kilometre long Shire river, which draws from Lake Malawi, has six hydro electric stations that generate a total of 285 megawatts.

Energy experts say the country must raise power output to 300 MW to meet rising demand as the economy grows. In the last four years, Malawi’s economy has grown at an average of 7 percent.

Last month, MCA-M said that Malawi was in line for a $300 million investment to help ease its power problems.–

Mpasu was convicted for “negligence by a public officer” resulting in the loss of his service handgun, used to protect President Bingu wa Mutharika.

He   however escaped jail when Magistrate Cecelia Onsewa fined of K288 536.00 (more than $2,000) after pleading guilty and the gun was later found.

State House security sources said Mpasu was send packing from the presidential palace last Friday following the conviction.

“The presidential guard commander, Duncan Mwapasa ordered that the bodyguard should be out of the presidential security detail for misconduct,” said a source.

He has been send back to Malawi Police service where he will be redeployed to other services, a source close to State House chief of staff, Edward Sawerengela said.

Mpasu hails from Chapula Village, Traditional Authority Mabuka, Mulanje.

President Mutharika will be hosting the talks as  Chairperson for the African Union (AU) while  President Banda  is the Chairperson of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region.

State House spokesman Albert Mungomo confirmed that  President Mutharika will meet his Zambian counterpart.

In Zambia,  Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere said in a statement that President Banda will be accompanied to Malawi by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and some senior government officials.

Zambian President and his delegation are expected to leave Malawi after talks the same day.

Green, a midfielder, a son of former Malawi national team and MTL Wanderers FC midfield star, Leonard Malunga was selected together with defender Abdul Razzaq Juma.

“Over two days, the Open Tryout participants were evaluated in a series of 7v7 games in Round 1 before concluding with an 11 v 11 game against the Galaxy U-18’s in Round 2,” said the LA Galaxy on its website.

“By being selected, Green and Juma have been invited for a trial in May with the Galaxy’s U-20 team, which competes in USL Super-20 League,” the Club said.

Malawi’s US based rapper, Chawezi Munthali better known by his showbiz name “Chazz” told Nyasa Times that Malunga is helping his son in building the football career.

”Leonard is a great father to all his kids. I have seen what he does, he works hard to provide them what they need and supports their dreams,” Chazz told Nyasa Times. “Am proud of him and his kid.”

LA Galaxy said after several days of “evaluation and deliberation”, the Galaxy Open Tryouts Assessors selected Green and Juma as the two top players from the Open Tryouts based on their technical, tactical and athletic abilities.

“On day one, we looked for players that caught our eye, in particular those demonstrating elite physical condition with the speed, power and agility to compete for a roster spot, and at the players’ tactical skill, positioning and touch on the ball,” said Ralph Perez, an assistant coach with the 1990 U.S World Cup team. “We felt both Andrew and Abdul should have another chance to try and compete for a spot.”

Currently, the Malawian is training with the Hollywood United Hitmen of the Premier Development League (PDL), according to LA Galaxy.

The Open Tryouts attracted more than 200 players including wait listed players. There two players from United Kingdom, France and Mexico and United Kingdom as well as Brazil, Japan and Taiwan.

Chirwa was arrested together with Brigadier Cosgrave Mituka, Commanding Officer of the Malawi Army Airwing in Zomba and Brigadier Jack Mtende on allegations that they had wanted to overthrow the  Bingu wa Mutharika government.

Brigarier Chirwa confirmed to Nyasa Times that he was at ISS.

“I am in Addis Ababa Ethiopia for a short time doing consultancies with the Institute for Security Studies as a Senior Research Fellow,” said the military officer in an e-mail response.

“After fulfilling my bail conditions of the arrest on treason Malawi Defence Force stopped paying my salary before the conclusion of the matter. So I had to look for a piece of work to take care for my family’s needs and personal livelihood while waiting for the conclusion of the matter,” Brigadier Chirwa said.

“I will go back home (Malawi) as I am still waiting for the Malawi Defence Force to clear my name and then I will formally retire from the MDF,” he said.

According to information on ISS website, Brigadier Chirwa is the Senior Research Fellow and Head of African Peace Support Trainers’ Association (APSTA) Secretariat at the Addis Ababa office of ISS.

ISS said before joining the institute in August 2009, Chirwa served in the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) in a variety of command and staff positions among them the Director of Personnel, Director of Finance, Deputy Commandant, Desk Officer for the Interstare Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC) at the Ministry of Defence and Deputy Director Operations.

He represented the Malawi Defence Force in a variety of activities including command, training and operations both in Malawi, SADC region and internationally, reads the information on the ISS website.

The climax of the tragic-comedy ‘treason’ case which Brigadier Chirwa was charged was themed “political tit-for tat” by political observers when it reached its climax after security forces arrested former president Bakili Muluzi that he was behind the plot.

Many commentators called it “a comedy “when the State failed to charge Muluzi despite arresting him in a theatrical manner at the Kamuzu International Airport with military planes.

Analysts say the arrests of political opponents prove the age-old fact that dictatorships all over the globe thrive on intimidation.

According to insiders, donors are withholding their funds demanding forensic audit at the organisation.

Sources also said there was a K8 million unaccounted-for loan which was taken by a top PAC official.

But publicity secretary Rev. Maurice Munthali told the Weekend Nation that donors had told the organisation that they were not bankrolling due to the global recession.

“We were told that it was because of the global financial crisis,” Munthali said.

However, sources said financial scandal at the organisation had forced donors including Norwegian Church Aid and Irish Aid to cut aid a development which former PAC chair, Fr Boniface Tamani is said to have been aware of and triggered him to resign.

But when contacted, Fr Tamani told Nyasa Times that PAC board had not given out loans to officials, parrying an allegation he had also not been a beneficiary of any loan.

“I have my own means of surviving; the church supports me and I also work very hard. When I left PAC. I left in good faith,” Fr Tamani told Nyasa Times.

Fr Tamani said he officially relinquished his post during a joint board meeting, saying the financial position of PAC could only be explained by the board.

“If there is anything, it is the board of trustees and not me,” he said and added his resignation was long overdue as his term of office had expired at PAC.

Munthali told Weekend Nation that PAC board would meet to “find the way forward”.

PAC is an organisation that fights for good governance, the rule of law and human rights. It was formed in 1993 and has significantly contributed to Malawi’s transformation to democracy.

The organisation members are: Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Evangelical Association of Malawi (ECM), Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), and Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM).

Since Fr Tamani left PAC to assume a position in the Presidential Advisory Council, Rev Macdonald Kadawati  (pictured) is acting chair of the organisation.

Masangwi runs Elvis Freight which clears motor vehicles.

According to a source at Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Masangwi was given a convertible Ford car belonging to owner of Club Mustang Sully to clear.

He, however, undervalued the vehicle and paid a little sum to the revenue collection body.

But MRA went to seize the vehicle.

The owner was furious and when he contacted MRA, he was told the vehicle had undervalued duty.

“We seized the vehicle because it was undervalued duty,” said an official at MRA.

Masangwi is reported to be “powerful” that he directs MRA bosses on how to clear his things.

Customs officers were reportedly ordered to remove roadblocks at the Malawi-Mozambique border in Ntcheu to allow Masangwi’s freight pass through without thorough check.

“Masangwi is in control of MRA. He wields such power of  an untouchable,” said a senior MRA official who declined to be named for fear that he may be fired because he is not from the Lhomwe belt, the corridors of political power in Malawi.

Masangwi could not immediately comment on the story as he could not pick up his mobile phone when contacted on several attempts.

The multi-talented Usi known in showbiz as ‘Manganya’ said the new international film project would to roll out in the next two months.

According to self-made artist, the development has been triggered by the positive response people of Mzuzu have given to his latest production, “Manga, the International Cook”, which was premiered at the Mzuzu Hotel.

Usi said the film project was also aimed to “unearth talent in the Northern Region”.

The new project will be Usi’s third feature movie, after “Doctor Manga” and “Manga the International Cook”, which are films he stars in.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Nyasa Times, Fr Tamani who is also a member of Presidential Advisory Council urged the Catholics to take stock if they are really living their faith.

He also said Lent was a time of sadness as church members recall the passion of Jesus Christ, but also a time of great joy with the resurrection.

“Lent is time when we reflect the suffering of Jesus Christ. It is time of conversion,” the Catholic priest said.

He disclosed that seminarians at Kachebere would clean the Mchinji District Hospital on Wednesday as part of the Lenten action.

Fr Tamani urged Catholics to fast saying Lent is the 40-day period of fasting before Easter Sunday that represents Jesus’ wandering in the wilderness.

“Catholics should fast to make sure that we experience our own emptiness and to be more united with the Lord,” the outspoken cleric pointed out.

Besides fasting and prayer, Catholics also focus on alms giving and acts of charity during this season, he said.

“We fast to share with the need. It is important for Catholic youth and students to demonstrate the spirit of sharing to those in need at this moment,” he said.

He also urged Catholics to “live to the gospel of love and penance so that when we are at Easter, we can resonate with the Lord and we are born a new.”

The Lenten season, which has its roots deep in Catholic history, runs six weeks or 40 days. It begins on the Wednesday six weeks before Easter, a day normally referred to as Ash Wednesday.

This year, Ash Wednesday was held on February 17.

Lent officially ends on what is called Holy Thursday — the Thursday right before Easter. Of course, Holy Thursday is followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday and then Easter.