Kwataine resigns as MEHN boss

November 4, 2015 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 64 Comments

Influential female human rights activist Martha Kwataine has resigned from her position as executive director of Malawi Health Equity Network (Mehn) and is heading to an international NGO, ActionAid.

Kwataine: Next move to ActionAid
Kwataine: Next move to ActionAid

She told a local radio on Wednesday that she resigned at MEHN, an organisation she founded nine years ago in October and was serving notice as her former organisation struggles to get suitable replacement.

Kwataine’s leaving of rights activism leaves Billy Mayaya alone in the struggle against injustices by the government as other activists are muted.

Other vocal fearless activists however are Timothy Mtambo of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation and Gift Trapence a gay rights activist.

“Am still an activist. Activism is not the position you are holding but it is in-born,” said Kwataine in the radio interview.

However, local commentators say she will now be bound by international rules that discourage members of staff from commenting on local politics.

Kwataine said she is leaving MEHN, reputable health issues coordinating local nongovernmental organisation, a happy person after grooming it from an unknown entity to a vibrant employer of 19 from just three nine years ago.

“This shows that every woman can deliver. I have taken MEHN from the unknown to where it is now. Am leaving an organisation that has grown from three employees to 19,” said Kwataine.

Kwataine had been one of the vocal voices during the Bingu wa Mutharika regime but kept a low profile during the Joyce Banda administration that offered her chairmanship at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.

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64 replies on “Kwataine resigns as MEHN boss”

  1. He who was with you at MHEN Will be with you at Ationaid, the Health Sector will continue bearing the fruits of your labour well done.

  3. but for the whites to pronounce kwataine eeeh pakavuta bola kungoliikiratu mchingerezi all the best Adona

  5. KuActionAid ukakanika kuba ndalama monga umapangira kuMEHN umangotapa opanda kukufunsa.

    wachita bwino MEHN umangoyitenga ngati yamnyumba mwako. Koma ukupitako kumafunika mwambotu. osangoti chilichonse usakuchidziwa wayankhira ngati wodziwa zonse. all the best!

  9. I always like your hair style. Natural!!! That means you believe in yourself, not those who copy from white, chinese, Indians etc hairs.

  11. ALL THE BEST BOSS, AMBUYE ADZIKUDALITSABNI, NTCHITO ZABWINO ZOMWE MUMAGWIRA KU [MHEN] TIZISOWA.

  15. Martha, I like your hair style, all the best, where you are going, But remember to remember your creator, because tikukhala mudziko loipa

  17. Malita watoonjeza zingw’enyengw’enye kumasoko. Tione tintedi. Tione earings. Tione mano. Shii ami yendani bwino ku action aid. We know Action Aid is not a political entity and that marks the end of you. Bully Mayaya ndi Malita Kwataine nonse agulewamkulu. Achewa mwationjezatu tsono.

  18. my aunt! may the good Lord Bless and Remember you. you have saved many lives of poor people and loved it, we love yu, I love yu!

  20. We have always known you to be a brave woman. Keep it up regardless of where you are going. Be the voice of the voiceless as you have been. Bravo Martha.

  21. She was quiet during JB’s administration because JB gave her position of MACRA Board Chair. Seeing that APM has not considered her, she resurrected with her noises. Greedy woman! Good riddance.

  23. The lady anasamala tsitsi bwino uyu enanu mutingerepo lesson osamangomanga zosaziwika bwino zi maweave zina za blue yellow pink etc zimakhonje madreads abale inu ife axibambo zimatinyasa nchifukwa timamafuna ta nchito for natural beauty

  24. everything has to end one day or another,undule mwakasungula ali ku,just wait and see,mwadya za ma donor zambiri,tap closed

  25. koma dzinalo mukanasintha,kwataine sidzina lopeleka ulemu,ndinu m’mayi waulemu wake

  27. CHOKHUMBA CHANGA NDICHOTI AMAI ONSE AKUMALAWI AKHALE ACHIMALAWI OSATI COPY & PASTE WACHULUKAYU, CONGRANTS MARTHA!

  28. Beautiful woman ever! always in natural and beautiful hair osangoti ma weave full time isaa. Mayi wa chi Malawi ndi wokongola! All the best in your new assignment.

  32. Jumping a sinking ship, huh Martha? Ma donors aiwonela patali kuti these are useless BOGs so they have closed their taps ndiye mayiyu akuthawa asanayaluke!

    Useless woman!

  34. I always thought the captain must go down with the ship, it’s seems most are willing to abandon the ship

  35. If most of the women in malawi were humble, interigent, constructive, well brought up and none beer drunkards especially those from ntcheu, a 50:50 gender campain could have been fast approaching.

  36. Martha Kwataine mayi wadyera uyu kusiya bungwe lake atachiwonela patali chithumba cha ma Donor chikupita ku ACTION AID/WORLD VISION,what a shameful woman,the whole EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,shame…shame

  37. The health sector will continue going down following your move. You really defined what nursing is, in other part. All the best my good nurse.

  39. No worries.She is not the only person in Malawi.Many more vocal ones are coming up with the failed current leadership of wamutharika.If she has been fed a Chibanzi then that is not our problem.Go well with your funny name of Kwataine.You played your part.

  42. Above all she wants to settle down and enjoy family life osamangoti ngo ngo basi banja limakoma a kwataine mwamva azimai ama ngo mwamuona mnzanu martha wazisisa afuna asamale banja sopano

  44. It is ridiculous for Ms Kwataine to believe that some people are born activists (“… but it is in-born, …”) She couldn’t be farther from the truth. Activism can be learned; and she has demonstrated that she is quiet a study, arguably a quick study, in this area. And leadership too; it can also be learned, as it is NOT royalty. She should be urging the younger generation to step forward, LEARN and make an impact.

    Also on the “This shows every woman can deliver…” suggests her operations were female-centric. Which is too bad because she is a model to many boys and young men also. So, what are they to think now? Were they not part of her circle? Now, they feel “used”, no less.

    Notwithstanding, all the best in the future. But perhaps she could tone down her extreme partisanship, going forward. It only alienates many others! Note: she seemed lost there for a while, following the political humiliation of her “patron”, Joisi Banda. Who is NOT coming back anytime soon.

  45. kodi ndalama ndisatana,onse opanga phokosowa kungwati chibanzi bunyitseni, basi akhala ali ziii, si yawo anakhala chete mwata atawapatsa udindo. Kaya zanu izo .ife ndi amwanapiye osowa manthu ndi kholo yemwe.

  47. Best wishes Martha Kwataine at the new place. Phuma muchepetse Mayi. Izi zomati lero mwalalikira kutchalitchi tsiku link mukutikwana president sid zabwino.

  50. Mama you are a great woman this nation will always remember you as a fearless woman, very strong but humble. Critic with substance and not being arrogant like those other activists. You are the woman this nation will always cherish. But one thing remember the need for campaigning about equipment for cancer treatment. That’s the only mission you have left in the pipe line. Congratulations in your new appointment. Hope you will come back to where you belong to after this job. But who will be suitable for your shoes.

  51. nay be am so dumb but i rhought the success of an organisation is measured by its contribution to society and not increasing number of employees from 3 to 19. when I hear these kind of arguments I always wonder if the ppo we call our heroes have substance up stairs.

  52. MEHN is “struggling to get replacement for Mrs Kwataine”? These kind of things should not happen. Why was there no suggestion planning or some arrangement for seemless ttransition.

  53. Kusiya bungwe lomwe adayambitsa yekha? Aaaaaa. Kapena mwina ndalama zoyendetsera bungwe zikuvuta kuzipeza? Kalipokalipo!

  54. So proud of you Martha. You have delivered and taken this MEHN beyond the bar. I am convinced beyond doubt that you are not a product of quota system that has sadly brought our country on the brink of collapse. You have demonstrated that if this country pursued meritocracy this country could have developed. MEHN is a clear testimony. If Martha was in government employment I know she could never been promoted to such prominence because she not mlakho. Martha I wish you well and success in your next assignments. Malawi will only develop if people who deserve get the right jobs not because kwathu ndi CZ, TO, MJ, ZA, or PE.

  55. Get lost, you used to talk rubbish about health issues, what is your background? Surely not health related.

  58. It would be nice to know what position she is going for, which ActionAid it is, is it Malawi or in the UK and…. you said her leaving only leaves Mayaya as the sole activist…I think that is not fully true. But again, I wish this woman all the best in her pursuit of a better world.

  59. thanx Martha for the good selfless time you spent fighting for a better Malawi..congrats for the new challenge, God bless you.

  60. Nyasatimes get your facts right, Martha is not a founder of MHEN. MHEN was founded by a group of scientists working at TB Equity Project, Prof. Muula and Kapito team etc. Martha was a second ED for MHEN, the first Director was Paul Nsoma.

  63. Malawi is dead now I remember what she said “aMalawi kungoyang’anila bwatoli likugwela kudyenje now because of money you leave us alone. Hoo amangwetu

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