Billy Banda of Malawi Watch—a popular social-political activist—was reportedly forced out of a meeting in which Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Goodall Gondwe, was meeting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) over the controversial K4 billion at Capital Hill for apparently “gate-crushing.” Nyasa Times understands that Banda was not among the invitees. Gift Trapence, a […]
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera—who is also leader of opposition in Parliament— speech in the House on Monday, in which he branded President Peter Mutharika as “a Prince of Thieves” presiding over the most corrupt administration in recent history, has prompted a barrage of reactions from several pro-government activists. According to Chakwera, President […]
Civil society organisation (CSO) leaders are calling on members of parliament meeting in Lilongwe for for a midyear budget review to have robust debate and scrutiny to the details of budget expenditure rather than political bickering. Speaking on Tikambirane programme on MBC, Executive Director of Malawi Watch Billy Banda urged MPs to focus on development […]
Human rights activist Billy Banda has advised opposition political parties, mainly Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to be more “constructive and organised” to offer possible solutions to the country’s economic challenges than just aimlessly critiquing President Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government. Banda’s call follows the arrest of two MCP top officials […]
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has appointed board members for parastatals, a move that has drawn a mixture of professionals, the clergy and ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP) politicians. According to a list from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) released on Monday . There are also some traditional leaders on the list. The […]
Malawi analysts have hailed President Peter Mutharika State opening of parliament’s speech, saying it was progressive and well-focused. Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) boss Dalisto Kubalasa said the speech was rich because it highlighted a number of commitments which would help better the lives of ordinary Malawians. “We are optimistic. We are seeing that quest, […]
Malawi Watch executive director Billy Banda has said the new President should be an office man not an explorer, saying it is high time the country has a president who dedicate much of his time deliberating on issues which can develop the nation unlike spending time travelling around the world. “The president should at least […]
One of the country’s civil society groupings, Malawi Watch has accused President Joyce Banda of playing double standards on Capitol Hill looting of public funds christened as Cashgate through which over K13 billions of tax-payers was stolen. Malawi Watch has since asked President Banda to stop blaming past regimes over the infamous corruption scandal and […]
Malawi Watch, a political and good governance watchdog, has said it would have been much prudent in the interest of ordinary Malawians if donors had released the executive summary of the forensic audit report regarding the cash gate scam to both Parliament and key stakeholders to debate it and make recommendations. Government declined to make […]
Malawi political scientists and human rights campaigners are looking back at 2012 as a year of both progress and setbacks. Over the past 12 months, Malawi gained its first woman president after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika. And, though the economy grew slowly, there was a return of donors who had withdrawn aid […]
One of Malawi’s human rights lobby groups, Malawi Watch says it is taking no sides on the planned demonstrations championed by the country’s consumers’ watchdog, Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) in January 2013. “We are not in denial of the planned demonstration neither we are in support,” says its executive director Billy Banda. Banda says […]
Malawi Watch, one of the country’s civil society organizations, has called for an immediate investigation into the awarding of fertilizer suppliers in this year’s fertilizer subsidy programme. Malawi Watch Executive Director, Billy Banda, speaking in Capital Radio’s Sunday Round-Table discussion programme said the way government has handled the awarding of contracts and registration of beneficiaries […]
One of the leading human and political rights campaigners has described the country’s politics being at a crossroads, saying what Malawians need is to redefine through thorough analysis about where they are coming from, where they are, and where and how far they have to go from now. “The greatest challenge is that we as […]
By Peter Makossah, Nyasa Times Malawi Watch says president Bingu wa Mutharika must get the US$20milion debt back from Zimbabwe and spruce down his bloated cabinet to size in order to address the country’s flagging economy. The watchdog’s Executive Director Billy Banda says Mutharika must move swiftly “in addressing our economic struggles so that we […]
By Green Muheya, Nyasa Times Malawi civil society organisations (CSOs) have denied accusation by President Bingu Wa Mutharika of having received funds from European countries to overthrow his government. Mutharika in a speech on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) radio on Sunday, accused ‘some’ European countries of funding protests to enforce “unconstitutional regime change”. “We know […]