Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani has laid a foundation stone for the construction of a telecommunications tower for three isolated fishing communities in Mangochi. The areas to be covered are Mbvunguti, Zambo and Chizale in Monkey Bay in the district. The minister said the initiative is part of government’s Last […]
Former president Joyce Banda has come under fire following her remarks that there is no coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Malawi. Banda made the remarks few days ago during one of Tonse Alliance campaign rallies in Nkhatabay district. Reacting to Banda’s sentiments, Information, Civic Education and Science and Technology Minister Mark Botomani described the remarks as […]
Treasury has released K7.4 billion to government ministries to arm them fight the raging coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani said the money is from Covid-19 pool money. “If you can remember, stakeholders in the fight against the pandemic put the figure to fight the disease at K157 billion. This […]
Two senior Cabinet ministers facing stinging attacks over hefty coronavirus allowances say they will not resign despite growing pressure to do so. Minister of Health Jappie Mhango and minister of Information Mark Botomani on Tuesday faced renewed pressure to resign when they faced rights activists, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC). The two powerful ministers […]
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) ON Tuesday met two Cabinet ministers – Jappie Mhango (Health) and Mark Botomani (Information, Civic Education and Communication Technology) over allegations that members of the the now dissolved Secial Cabinet Committe on Covid-19 received K450 000 each per day in risk allowances. The dialogue meeting was initiated by Mhango following […]
Two Cabinet ministers Jappie Mhango and Mark Botomani are resisting calls to resign despite a growing backlash against their attempts to cover up the pocketing of Covid-19 allowances by the ministers. Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) had demanded that the two Cabinet ministers abdicate from their offices following the revelations that they lied when they claimed […]
Government has called on the media to be objective in its political reporting ahead of the crucial presidential election on July 2. Minister of Information and government spokesperson Mark Botomani said in an interview on Sunday as journalists commemorated World Press Freedom Day. “Journalists should not provoke the situation. They should be responsible. We need […]
Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani has said the operationisation of the Access to Information law is almost ready. Government spokesperson Mark Botomani said the meeting on the operationisation of the law was put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. Botomani has said this as the country commemorates World Press Freedom […]
Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani, has rejected calls to quit over revelations that taxpayers are financing travel allowances for the Cabinet ministers and their entourages for coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic assignments, when he had publicly denied the same. Botomani was also filmed talking to Minister of Health Jappie Mhango before briefing journalists on Covid-19 […]
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has called for an imediate resignation of Minister of Information Mark Botomani and Minister of Health,Jappie Mhango for abuse of Covid-19 funds and trying to cover-up the same. The ministers have been given a seven-day ultimatum to resign. A letter signed by HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence, National Coordinator Luke Tembo […]
Malawians have learnt with relief that government has rescinded its decision to give a whooping daily allowance of K450 000 to ministers and K350 000 to MPs just to visit the councils to assess the state of preparedness to deal with Covid-19. Thanks to the public and other interest groups who have challenged this outright […]
President Peter Mutharika is under intense pressure to fire two Cabinet ministers following a leaked video clip exposing them on issues of allowances. Health Minister Jappie Mhango and Information Minister Mark Botomani attempted to lie on hefty allowances they receive on a daily basis. The two were unaware that the microphone was on when they discussed how […]
Some people in the country have always wondered why government has, strongly and repeatedly, resisted every call for an all-inclusive approach in managing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Well, this is it. The revelations that ministers and selected members of Parliamentary Health Committees will, each, be pocketing a hefty K450 000 and K350 000 respectively is […]
Cabinet Ministers Jappie Mhango and Mark Botomani lied to the people of Malawi that top government officials including members of Special Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus do not get allowances when on duty, as it has emerged they have been pocketing “tokens” financed by the tax payer. When Vice President Saulos Chilima raised the issue, the […]
Lilongwe-based human rights activist Allie Mwachande has warned Cabinet ministers against reckless speeches in the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Mwachande issued the warning in an interview with Nyasa Times. “They [Government] must learn to respect Malawians and they should know that they are serving those positions because of us Malawians. Without us they are nothing,” said […]
Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani, who is also government spokesperson, gave a very evasive answer when asked about the cushions put in place to protect the poorest and most vulnerable of society during 21-day coronavirus lockdown period. Malawi’s government was expected on Friday to announce support measures for the poor during the […]
Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani has said government is ‘dismayed’ by High Court Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda’s decision to issue a court order blocking coronavirus nationwide lockdown for at least seven days. All non-essential businesses and services were to cease operating during the lockdown, which was due to end on May […]
Government says President Peter Mutharika holds the prerogative over the choice of the place to be, saying the country’s vice-president Saulos Chilima cannot dictate to the Head of State to leave Sanjika Palace in Blantyre and relocate to Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe. Minister of Information and government spokesperson Mark Botomani was reacting to Chilima’s call […]