Human rights lawyer Habiba Osman has been appointed Executive Secretary for Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) while governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali has got the hot at the same State-funded rights body as director. Osman, who currently works for UN Women Malawi office, replaces David Nungu whose contract has expired. She is expected to […]
Governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali has given President Lazarus Chakwera a critique of his first 100 days in office and cautioned the Malawi leader against giving a false hope. Munthali’s critique published in the Daily Times newspaper of October 6 2020 cautioned that that the nation has had before some largely good starts of […]
State House has yet again stirred debate for disclosing districts of origin for the people President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed to various portfolios on Saturday. Chakwera has appointed a number of people to take up salivating positions at the State House. And in an attempt to demonstrate that the appointments are impartial and beyond regional […]
A governance expert and socio-political commentator Makhumbo Munthali has observed that Malawi now has an empowered vice-president, saying the office holder Dr Saulos Chilima is indeed a functional second-in-command who has hit the ground to improve public service delivery. Office of the Vice-President in the country is a delegated one, an arrangement that has seen Vice-Presidents, including […]
As Malawi grapples with Covid-19 with virus cases continue to spike, President Lazarus Chakwera has said he is talking to UK-based Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa, who has promised to provide ventilators and investment. Chakwera disclosed this in quotes reported by The Guardian newspaper of UK. “This is a serious challenge,” Chakwera said, one […]
A renowned Malawi governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali has warned that government has no excuse not to fund K8.7 billion election budget deficit, arguing that matters of elections must be a priority to any State. During a media briefing held on 13th June 2020 in Lilongwe the newly sworn-in Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) […]
Give President Peter Mutharika credit: He’s positively responded to critics of his administration’s novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic response strategy by forming an inclusive Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus and the launch of an emergency cash transfer programme for about one million people and small businesses, social and governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali has told Nyasa Times. In […]
President Peter Mutharika’s removal of Commander of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) General Vincent Nundwe from his post has triggered reaction from commentators with governance expert saying it is politically motivate in the wake of forthcoming fresh elections. Muthatika on Tuesday replaced Nundwe with Major General Peter Andrew Lapken Namathanga without providing an explanation. Office of […]
Governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali has assessed the performance of Malawi on several governance and accountability indicators, saying “while there have been some positives in 2019, the overall picture on governance remains mostly negative.” In his analysis posted on Nyasa Times, Munthali said the country registered stagnation in terms of adhering to good governance principles, a […]
Social and governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali has warned that the federalism motion put forward by Mzimba North legislator Yeremia Chihana (Alliance for Democracy-Aford) has been rushed to Parliament and is likely not going to succeed. Munthali told Nyasa Times in an interview that the motion which was previously defeated in the same House, when it was brought […]
A governance expert Makhumbo Munthali has called on president of Malawi Law Society (MLS) Burton Mhango to step aside from election case and matters arising, saying MLS is facing collateral damage by virtue of him being a brother to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legal advisor Charles Mhango. Munthali told Nyasa Times in an interview that: […]
Commentators have questioned the authenticity of the letter purportedly coming from Hague International Criminal Court (ICC) which is a response to some Malawi rights activists who are demanding the induction of some opposition and rights defenders on post-election violence. The letter is signed by the court’s second vice president Judge Cuno Tarfusser but the current […]
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has made a frantic plea to Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to call off the scheduled by-weekly protests, saying they are turning violent. MHRC executive director David Nungu says the protests will negatively affect the country’s economy and greater suffering of the people. “These negative effects could be avoided if peaceful […]
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has announced the cancellation of the Tuesday demonstrations, but will instead hold them on Thursday. HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo made the announcement Monday afternoon at a news conference held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe “We delayed to serve relevant authorities with notices of our intention to demonstrate to state residences […]
Malawi Law Society (MLS) has called on political leaders to consider national dialogue over the state of the nation following the disputed May 21 presidential elections but governance expert has said there is need to be clear and specific on the agenda and objectives of the said dialogue. The call for dialogue was first sounded […]
A local governance expert and opposition leaders have hailed Malawi’s constitutional court for quashing an application by President Peter Mutharika and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to throw out the referral case by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and UTM Party leader Saulos Chilima who are disputing the May 21 presidential poll results. […]
A governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali has warned that the recently enacted Amendment to Corrupt Practices Act remains wanting in as far as meeting its objective of enhancing the independence of the office of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director. Parliament on Friday passed the amendment to Section 5 of the Corrupt Practices Act, where amongst other things […]
Governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali has called for wider consultations before tabling the newly gazetted controversial Non-Governmental Organisations Bill whose effects he said will be far wider than just on NGOs as it will shrink the freedoms of Malawians and allow the government to control them. The proposed amendments to the NGO Act seek […]