Former social and political activist Ben Chiza Mkandawire has expressed interest to join frontline politics and contest in the 2019 tripartite elections by running for a parliamentary seat in Rumphi East currently held by firebrand politician Kamlepo Kalua. Chiza Mkandawire, currently residing in Dubai, a frequent user on social media took to Facebook to announce his intentions. The […]
Social and political activist Ben Chiza Mkandawire who has been in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) fold took off the gloves on Tuesday in his upstart challenge to the the ruling elite that he can “take down” DPP government. Chiza Mkandawire gave his hard rhetorical punch to President Peter Mutharika’s trusted aides Ben Phiri […]
There could be oil and also gas both inside and outside the Lake Malawi as United Arab Emirates’ Hamra Oil Holdings Limited (HOHL) has hinted after its oil exploration using a full tensor gravity gradiometry (FTG) survey. The London-based company Surestream Petroleum was the first to be granted a licence to explore for oil in […]
It is barely just about four or so years ago when the abbreviation MDF startled me for a while. I have always connected this with the Malawi Defence Force or what some people erroneously refer to as the ‘army’ and some avid Tumbuka tongue as ‘wanyithu wa Arume’. That was not to be. And when […]
Malawi government has paid K15 million compensation to four human rights activists and a youth arrested in October 2011 during the previous brutal Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rule. Rights campaigner Billy Mayaya, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, lawyer Habiba Osman, politician Brian Nyasulu and Osman’s cousin, Comfort Chitseko, were locked up in October 2011 for a demonstration […]
Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chakufwa Chihana plans to move a motion that members of Parliament to adopt a federal system of government in Malawi once the House resumes sitting next Tuesday. Currently, Malawi is a unitary centralised state, one where there is one central law-making body and one Executive or government. But Chihana […]
Malawi’s London based law expert Allan Z. Ntata and social-political activist Ben Chiza Mkandawire have launched a citizen-led initiative to help build and ensure public accountability. The duo launched a watchdog called Independent Commission on Accountability and Transparency (iCAT). “ICAT is conceived as an independent Commission that will have the broad mandate and functions to undertake […]
Controversy prone Ichikowitz family, on record to be the publicity-shy “well-wishers” footing the bill for President Joyce Banda’s image sprucing costs, owners of the firm that recently supplied patrol boats for Lake Malawi and now reported to be flying Banda around in a jet that the Malawi leadeer “sold” and vowed never to use; ended […]
Malawi activists have respected and appreciated the decision of ruling People’s Party (PP) secretary-general Henry Chibwana to resign, hailing it as “a good example of responsibility shown by someone who did put his party into disrepute.” Chibwana resigned on Sunday over the remarks he made at a rally last week that Malawi would be better off […]
One of Malawi’s vocal social-political activists, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, has said he will on Saturday Mkandawire together with Lilongwe City Informal Settlements networks ISN, launch the self-help Social Development Fund (SDF) in the capital city’s squatter township, Ntandire. Mkandawire told Nyasa Times on Friday that SDF will support development projects at the local level. According to Mkandawire, […]
Malawi opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has accused the governing People’s Party (PP) of abusing the Police service into muzzling freedom of speech and stifling democracy by stopping whistle-stop meetings of its interim President Peter Mutharika. On Monday Police stopped DPP from holding whistle-stop rallies from Lilongwe to Kasungu, apparently because they collided with the […]
One of Malawi’s vocal social-political activists, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, has disowned a Facebook account under his name after High Court in Blantyre has ruled that he should pay President Joyce Banda’s son, Roy Kachale Banda, damages for a posting on the social media. Kachale filed the lawsuit in November last year, after a Faceboom Timeline […]
Government critic and consumer rights activist John Kapito, the man behind the planned January 17 2013 demonstrations in Malawi, has sharply denied that he has pocked money from government to suspend or cancel their protests. The allegations came about following a revealing mobile text (SMS) Minister of Information and Civic Education, Moses Kunkuyu purportedly sent to […]
Human rights activist and fierce critic of President Joyce Banda, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, has denied harboring intentions of contesting for leadership position in opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Mkandawire, who was quoted recently, that he was considering running for DPP vice president post at the party’s forthcoming convention, said on Wednesday that he is not joining the party. […]
Outspoken social-political activist Ben Chiza Mkandawire has threatened to organise mass demonstrations across the country against the People’s Party (PP) leadership if President Joyce Banda and her cabinet continue to abstain from declaring their assets. Chiza Mkandawire observed this through a local Radio-MIJ on Friday and on his Facebook page throughout the week that there […]
Two outspoken Malawian activists have taken to the social media to criticise the visit of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the country accusing him of “war crimes” like Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. Blantyre-based think-tank Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) executive director Rafiq Hajat argued that if Malawi could bar Bashir from visiting the […]
Malawi’s Attorney General who also doubles as Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Ralph Kasambara, has attracted wrath of activists for informing that President Joyce Banda will not declare her assets because she did that soon after she was elected as the country’s vice president in 2009. Civil society leaders, politicians and the general public at […]
All indications are that civil society activists left out in the cold without any appointment into Public Service Offices have had enough. The gloves have been coming out slowly and it now looks the battlefield is demarcated where revolutionary campaign to tarnish Joyce Banda administration is in an advanced stage. Leading the pack is a […]