While the secular fraternity longs for the showcase of Nigerian rapper Ice Prince of Superstar and Oleku hits this weekend, the gospel dome seems not left out as it anticipates the coming in of Nigerian gospel sing-jay Uche.

Uche is the man behind popular hits Double Double, My God is Good, Igwe and Big God.

Nigerian star Uche Agu

Uche whose songs are getting popular by the day is expected to have shows in Lilongwe on Saturday as well at Sheaffers Hall before giving Blantyre gospel fans a treat at Robins Park on Sunday.

Hewill be performing in the country through the sponsorship of Calvary Family Church (CFC) Radio and Television.

On the other hand Ice Prince who was slated to perform last month before it was rescheduled is coming in under the courtesy of Black Rhyno entertainment and will perform together with Lucius Banda and Tay Grin in Lilongwe on Saturday at Zanzi and Blantyre on Sunday at Limbe Country Club.

Ice Prince and Uche are coming the country just weeks after the theatrical sphere wined and dined with another Nigerian Nollywood superstar, Van Vicker.

And according to Black Rhyno’s CEO Tay Grin, Ice Prince will jet into the country on Saturday morning before a show at Sheaffers in the afternoon and then an after party in the evening. Ice Prince is being supported by Carlsberg Malawi.

Last month Tay Grin had to cancel the show to avoid it clashing with his old time music foe Dj Lomwe who was expected to have an album launch at Blantyre Sports Club on same day.

Although the two coming in artists do different type of music but in such circumstances those who love both of them are set to become victims.

It’s obviously the music enthusiasts will have one head-cracking decision to make on which show to patronize for, by a measurement, both Uche and Ice Prince’s songs are hard to be ignored by any ear, thus, making it tough though for one to decide which one to watch.

The President was speaking on Wednesday at her official residence in Lilongwe during an audience that she had with the national Chiefs steering committee on Presidential initiative on maternal health and safe motherhood.

Banda re-iterated her commitment to eradicate deaths that occur during birth but expressed worry on the lack of parents’ commitments to sending the girl –child to school.

The President said if girls are not educated enough they would easily be pre to men who would take advantage of their situation and marry them at a tender age thereby increasing the risk of death during pregnant delivery, adding that because the women do not know anything concerning maternal.

President Banda

“I am always worried when I see young girls failing to go school because of fees which in most cases is too small. Most of these girls can’t go to school because of K5,000 and many of us here in town spend more than that in a day, yet we fail to pick one or two children and pay their school fees.” observed the President.

The President urged some members of her cabinet to set the example by identifying girls within their communities and support them with their education needs.

“Imagine if all of us had picked one or two girls and support their education, where would we be in terms of education for our children?”Banda asked.

President  Banda disclosed that she is currently paying school fees for over two thousand girl-children country wide.

In his remarks, the committee’s chairperson, Chief Kwataine of Ntcheu said his committee, which comprises of ten chiefs from across the country will do whatever it can to help in achieving the objectives of the project.

“We wish to assure you, your Excellency that we are going to run (non-stop) to make sure that this project achieves its objectives. You have supported us before and we know with your continued support this project can never fail.” Kwataine said.

Chief Kwataine however, echoed on what the President said that the battle on maternal death cannot be won if the girl child is not educated.

“We want to establish benchmarks so that at the end of two years we should be able to stand tall and say here is what we have achieved. We will help to put in by-laws that will see parents punished if their children are not sent to school.” Kwataine said.

Other members of the committee are; Senior Chief Chapananga from Chikhwawa, T/A’s Mkanda of Mchinji and Khonsolo of Mzimba respectively. These are all male chiefs. The female chiefs are Senior chief Mkanda of Mulanje and the following T/A’s: Chitera-Chiradzulu,Thomas-Thyolo,Nyambi-Mangochi, Kulunda-Salima and Malengamzona from Nkhata-bay

As Argentinian Carlos Tevez was being reigned in for insulting Manchester United’s coach Sir Alex Ferguson after his new team, Manchester City, won the EPL 2012, a young Malawian soccer player was knifed to death in Balaka district. And as we read on, a student who was part of the fight between two secondary schools is now lying afresh in the grave.

Has Malawian soccer become a death trap for students and young soccer-wannabes alike?

Events surrounding the two deaths may threaten the development of soccer itself, as many youngsters, including parents, will fear for their life. The death of Lewis Mpeta, a form three student at Dedza Secondary School on Tuesday is one worrisome development to the fraternity.

Tevez

Two other students were badly injured and admitted to Dedza District Hospital and about twelve arrested earlier for causing mayhem as they destroyed Umbwi Secondary School property.

Dominique Nyasulu, an avid soccer fan based in Area 25 in the capital city, Lilongwe, said youth are supposed to coexist and dream ahead and not kill each other in the name of sporting competition.

“I suppose this will be a lesson enough for students to refrain from soccer and any sport related violence. Death is only a breath away and people must learn to respect each other,” he said.

Painful is also the fact that investigations are still underway, as Dedza Police Spokesperson Edward Kabango said no arrests have been in connection with the death. The dead boy’s school attacked victors Umbwi, in a show of protest over their match loss.

A number of students will, after the investigations, lose out on their all-important education prospects when arrest start to take place. All for soccer lunacy Kamuzu Central Hospital played route for the unfortunate departed.

The Lilongwe bred form 3 student from T/A Mazengera is a big loss to the family and the nation, not to mention the school. The injured, lucky but unfortunate, are Ken, Josie and Yamikani from Machinga.

They might have survived but their friend died in a ‘bout’ only their fellow school initiators can best explain why!

In Balaka a 21 year old footballer who refused to be cautioned for unruly behaviour and was suspended from a possible match, took matters in his hand and drove a knife into a team colleague, who died later.

There has been big outcry on the social media on the events, one saying his uncle was at Umbwi and the two schools were already fighting then just as was the case when he was also there about
eight-years ago.

“There is need to completely change the students at this school and bring in fresh ones. Let the schools start with a fresh form one intake next year,” he wrote on Facebook.

“This is bad. Sports exist to bring oneness between schools and not killing each other. I think school officials who know the history here should not have arranged this game in the first place. Now a life has been claimed,” lamented another.

Government should start turning one of these schools into an all-girls school and this violence will stop, suggested another.

But whatever it takes, lives have been lost and people will be arrested. Malawi’s soccer trends seem to be going the wrong way. Hooliganism, as may have been portrayed by the big screens of EPL, Latin America and Spain now seem to be fast catching up with peaceful soccer loving Malawians.

Last week will go down in the history of the country, whose team and flag bearers, the Flames, seem also to have lost much burning power, as the deadliest in local soccer history.

The question is, will Malawian parents let their children attend to secondary school sports games and or indeed join teams when they know it is fast become a death trap?

And as Tevez wrongly screamed on his placard ‘RIP Fergie’, I believe most Malawians.

Africa has for a long time been the most underdeveloped continent ever. This is so not because the continent does not have resources but basically because the wind of awareness and/or positivity has not yet blown onto it.

Looking at the natural resources available in Africa, one tends to wonder as to why most African societies still live below the poverty line. Isn’t it in Africa where we have fertile soil for agriculture? Isn’t it in the same Africa where we have gold, coal, silver and other precious stones? Isn’t it not in Africa where we have beautiful waters in lakes and rivers? Isn’t it in the same continent, Africa, where we have great and beautiful mountains? Isn’t it in Africa where we have scientists, philosophers, prominent psychologists and other great men? But why are we still poor?

I, for one, believe that the major problem lies in our thinking. Naturally, we, Africans, have low self-esteem in that we think that only the whites are blessed to bring about economic and scientific ideas in the world. We deliberately neglect the fact that we are just like the whites themselves. The only difference is that the white man has a strong belief and determination in what he does. No wonder that the white man and his continent’s economy is always stable.

Our negative thoughts deprive us of the opportunity to prosper once and for all. We limit ourselves way behind what we are capable of doing and/or achieving in life. Unless the whole of Africa connects to the rhythm of positivity in thought, we are way behind attaining economic independence. Arthur C. Clarke once wrote, “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is going beyond them into the impossible.” Africa has the potential to prosper. All what is needed of us to transform the continent into the land of milk and honey is to first change the way we perceive ourselves. We need to embrace the concept of positive mindset and a belief in our own capabilities.

Until we change our mindset and the way we look upon ourselves, prosperity shall always remain a dream way beyond our reach. This change in mindset will see Africa turning away from the mentality of asking for financial and/or material support from donors. This change will see Africa embracing a sense of high self-esteem thereby coming up with forums to maximise on the natural resources the continent is rich in.

Matter of factly, with a positive mindset, Africa can never be a subject of aid conditionings. Donors want us to abandon our sacred culture and embrace homosexuality in the name of getting help from them. We are selling off our dignity and sovereignty simply because we do not have the economic muscle to run the affairs of our continent. Had we had a positive mindset in our own unique potency, we could not have been subjects of hypocrisy in abandoning our own conscience simply to embrace the strings attached to donor aid. Had we believed in the strength of having a united Africa, there could not be such abyss levels of poverty in our beautiful continent.

A positive mindset, to borrow from Remez Sasson’s philosophy, brings inner peace, success, improved relationships, better health, happiness and satisfaction. It also helps the daily affairs of life move more smoothly, and makes life look bright and promising. Had Africa realised how powerful positive thoughts are, this continent could have been a better place to live in.

A change in the way Africa perceives the world begins at an individual level. There is need for every African to first transform his/her negative thoughts into positive ones so as to contribute effectively and efficiently to the development of the continent. Africans need to drop the ego that hampers them from working as a team. We have to realise that we have a core duty of contributing a little something, through our positive thinking and humility, towards the development of our continent.

Remez Sasson further argues that “positive thinking is contagious. People around you pick your mental moods and are affected accordingly. Think about happiness, good health and success, and you will cause people to like you and desire to help you, because they enjoy the vibrations that a positive mind emits.”

Why wait! Africa needs to develop a positive attitude toward life, we need to always expect a successful outcome of whatever we do, but also that we must take any necessary actions to ensure our success. Prosperity is something that can be attained only by embracing the concept of positive thinking and committing ourselves to seeing our thoughts and goals materialising through necessary actions and/or efforts we apply. It begins with you and me!

*The author is a student at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College

As the public is still reeling to recover from his revelation that the Malawi Revenue Authority (MR) borrowed K15b to support the infamous zero deficit budget after donors withdrew aid to Lilongwe; on Wednesday, during a pre-budget consultation meeting in Lilongwe, Lipenga told stakeholders that the Mutharika government rushed on the Nsanje world inland port which has stalled.

“As government we need to acknowledge that we may have indeed rushed with the project given the pressure that we have as a land locked country. But I think it’s not too late to look back and perhaps correct where we went wrong,” said  Lipenga.

Lipenga: Another confession

The project has seen relations between Malawi and Mozambique sour with Mozambique accusing Lilongwe of imposing the project on her.

Late president Bingu wa Mutharika championed the project on prospects without due regard to the fact that the Zambezi River flows in Mozambique and hence there were appropriate protocols that ought to have been respected.

resident Joyce Banda has since confirmed earlier reports that her government will shelve the Nsanje waterway, disdainfully referred to as the ‘Nsanje Slab’, and prioritize the Sena railway corridor.

The Sena corridor is a railway line that would connect Beira in Mozambique and Nsanje in Malawi in a bid to improve transportation.

“There is no harm in focusing on the Sena corridor as we wait for the Shire Zambezi waterway project,” said President Banda at a news conference in Lilongwe on Wednesday following her recent visit to Mozambique.

As the public waits with baited breath for Lipenga’s fate, it appears the journalist turned Finance Minister is bent on absolving himself of his sins, in the hope of salvaging his tainted credibility.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the Malawi government through the Ministry of Finance indeed authorized the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to borrow K7b only but MRA went ahead to get double the authorized amount from at least six commercial banks.

The borrowing was authorized by Director of Budgeting in the ministry of Finance Dr. Dalitso Kabambe on December 30, 2011 the same day MRA started borrowing.

The instructions are evidenced by a letter to MRA reference number CRD6331, dated December 30, 2011, in which the Director of budgeting in the ministry of finance Dr. Dalitso Kabambe authorized MRA Commissioner General Mr. Lloyd Muhara to borrow.

In the first paragraph of the letter, Dr. Kabambe refers to discussions MRA held with officials of the ministry of Finance regarding the need for authority to borrow from commercial banks to cover-up for MK8 b shortfall on expected revenue.

“I refer to the discussions the Malawi Revenue Authority held with officials of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning regarding the above captioned subject matter,” reads the letter in part.

Kabambe has not been committal on the matter but his letter to MRA adds:“I wish to advise that after thorough consideration and consultation on the matter, an approval has been granted by government allowing Malawi Revenue Authority to borrow funds from the Commercial Banks amounting to K7.0 billion for purposes of the agreements at the said meeting.”

However, the letter does not state the details of the meeting; neither does it mention officials present.

“This letter therefore should serve as consent from Government for the Malawi Revenue Authority to proceed on this matter,” concludes the letter.

MRA Board Chairman  Charles Mataya, who has since resigned, has said clearly that laws were flouted.

“Even the Public Finance Act stipulates how these should be done but even if we were in the board, we were not told of this matter,” he says.

The MRA apparently went into the borrowing frenzy on December 29, 2011, continued on December 30, 2011 and finally sated its craving for borrowing on January 5, 2012.

MRA management team led by Commissioner General Lloyd Muhara met the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament Tuesday and presented a paper indicating that their projected total revenue deficit at the end of the fiscal year would be K18 billion.

However, investigations revealed that the total shortfall is estimated to be K29 billion, as per Ministry of Finance papers presented to donors recently.

MRA boss Lloyd Muhara

The revelation has further put in bad light MRA with some members of the Budget and Finance Committee fearing that such continued lies by the revenue collection body puts the country’s image and economic future at risk.

“It seems all we are being told are lies, whatever the authority presented to us are lies too,” said a member of the committee in an interview after meeting the MRA team at New Parliament Building in the capital Lilongwe.

Interesting during the meeting Muhara and his team asked the committee chair to chase journalists covering the meeting despite the Parliamentary Standing Orders being clear that such meetings are open to the public and not to be held in camera.

At the meeting Muhara was accompanied by deputy Commissioner General Chrispin Kulemeka, Head of Finance David Loga, Director of Policy and Research Rosa Mbilizi and Head of Legal Services and Company Secretary Felix Tambulasi.

The presented paper showed that by the end of the fiscal year in June the authority has targeted to collect almost K211.7 billion but the actual figure expected to be collected would be K191.2 billion giving a collection deficit of K20.5 billion.

However, the figure presented by the Director of Budget Dr Dalitso Kabambe showed that the revenue body’s target  was K203.5 billion but instead it is expected that it will collect K174.5 billion which is K29 billion below the target.

Kabambe gave the overall deficit figure as K41.1 billion and an expected government over expenditure by the end of the fiscal year of K13 billion.

She has provided evidence to the authorities that she has had same sex partners since her arrival in the UK.

Mwafulirwa says that the Malawi Constitution makes homosexuality illegal in the country, and that the LGBT community in Malawi has often been subject to imprisonment, police violence, and exclusion from housing and health services as a result of their sexual orientation.

Mwafulirwa: Claims to be bisexual

Mrs Mwafulirwa further claims that, if the family is deported, then her children are at risk from her ex-husband and his family, who may attempt to take custody of them and that overzealous members will subject her two daughters to female genital mutilation (FGM).

The Home Office has refused to grant asylum to Mrs Mwafulirwa and she and her family were taken into custody at their house in Glasgow, Scotland.

Their deportation flight was cancelled last week.

Details of Mrs Mwafulirwa’s stay in the UK are sketchy. She first arrived there in 2006 with her husband. However, she separated from him after starting a relationship with a woman.

Mrs Mwafulirwa has three children aged 12, 10 and 2 years old. The first two were born in Malawi, while the last born was in the UK.

Two charitable organizations in Scotland, Unity Centre Glasgow and Waverly Care, are supporting Mrs Mwafulirwa in her asylum bid. The first mentioned organization supports refugees, while the latter is a leading HIV charity.

Recent developments, as reported by the Socialist Worker, are that Mrs Mwafulirwa was brought for an interview to the Home Office in Glasgow. Ten minutes later she emerged to cheers from a crowd of her supporters.

She said, “When I saw all the people who had come to support me I felt really relieved. The Home Office people agreed to look at my medical report and I hope they will decide favourably.”

Margaret Woods of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees said, “Today shows that protest works. We’re now organizing for a Scotland-wide march on Wednesday 6 June.”

Mwafulirwa’s case bears striking similarities to that of Florence Mhango, who was also a resident of Glasgow. She too separated from her husband in the UK, and claimed asylum.

She said that if she was returned to Malawi then her daughter, Precious aged 11, would be taken away by her ex-husbands family, subjected to  Female Genital Mutilation  and forced into marriage by the time she was 14.

The case attracted a lot of attention in Scotland, being backed by various politicians, celebrities, and charitable organizations. Eventually she lost her case, even after appealing directly to the Home Secretary. It is not known if Mrs Mhango was deported or remains in hiding.

ACB inside sources confirmed the arrest of Ngalande on Wednesday in connection with corruption concerning Youth Enterprise Development Fund (Yedef).

His arrest comes after the local media reported last Saturday that Ngalande used three students to access about K2 million loans from Yedef which was described as illegal according to Yedef director
Harrison Mandindi.

“I can confirm to you that the ACB picked, Mr. Ngalande today (Wednesday) for questioning in connection with the Yedef loans,” an impeccable ACB source said.

In October last year, Ngalande  used  Brian Kaunda a student at Malawi College of Accountancy (MCA); Doris Mangazi, another accountancy student in Blantyre and Pilirani Lita who was also a student at the time to access the second tranche of the loans.

Brian got K500 000, Lita K900 000 and Mangazi got K450 000.

The students confirmed getting the loans but handed them over to Ngalande to purchase two trucks contrary to the proposals of the loans which were for business according to the requirements of the loans.

Former deputy minister Billy Kaunda, whose son is among the students, confirmed he was aware that Ngalande used Brian to access Yedef funds.

Mangazi who said Ngalande was her uncle said: “I gave the money to my uncle, Mr. Lewis Ngalande who is running the business. He bought two trucks which were carrying government’s subsidized fertilizer. The trucks are registered in his name.”

But Mandindi said Ngalande – who has been behind terror campaign by DPP youth cadets – and the students were not supposed to get the loans.

Government introduced the Yedef loans in 2009 to empower the youth and address the rising unemployment in the country. It has so far spent about K2.8 billion on two loan disbursements and business equipment, leaving a balance of about K200 million out of the allocated K3 billion.

This comes as Finance Minister Ken Lipenga is expected to present 2012/13 budget to parliament, which will be officially opened this Friday, May 18, 2012 by president Joyce Banda.

Meanwhile, Lipenga is continuing with pre-budget consultative meetings to solicit input from stakeholders, who have so far asked for reduction in taxes.

Mlombwa: Take off bad taxes

IBAM president Mike Mlombwa said some taxes companies and business operators complained about should be removed.

“Instead of creating conducive environment, government pinned us down with numerous taxes. How do you expect one to roll and establish a business in the face of numerous taxes,” queried Mlombwa without singling out the taxes.

IBAM advance and fight for interests of local business operators in the country.

Under the Zero Deficit Budget, government troduced a standard VAT rate of 16.5% on several goods which were previously exempted.

Other goods that have also been taxed include water supply, ordinary bread, meat, residues and waste from food industries, saw dust and wood waste, hessian cloth, machinery and mechanical appliances and spare parts, and fees, charges, commissions, and discounts on financial services.

Mutharika was making his first public appearance since the death of his brother late president Bingu wa Mutharika, on April 5 2012. He sponsors the Southern Region Football League (SRFL) to the tune of K5 million.

His personal assistant Ben Phiri also expressed concern with the poor patronage on behalf of his boss.

Peter Mutharika with Ben Phiri at the prize ceremony

“If he had not come with our party supporters, there would have been only three people here at the stadium,” said Phiri.

Mutharika is currently the leading sponsor of football leagues in the country.

In the central region prize presentation, DD Sunshine and DD Sunshine Youth received K300 000 and K150 000, respectively, for finishing on first and second positions, respectively.

Abramo Queens and One Goal who finished third and fourth received K80 000 and K40 000 respectively.

In individual wards, DD Senior striker Linda Kasenda and Kamuzu Barracks goalkeeper Maria Banda received K10 000 and miniatures for being the top goalscorer and Player of the Tournament, respectively.

In media category, Elijah Phimbi of Star Radio, Mike Bango and Joe Mwase of Zodiak Broadcasting Station, were voted as best sport presenters in electronic media.

Nation Publications Limited (NPL) sports correspondent Frankie Kalilombe and Precious Msosa of Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) made it in print category.

Peter Mutharika trophy presentation

Peter Mutharika with Ben Phiri at the prize ceremony