MFUWU

The Department of Forestry says deforestation and charcoal burning has escalated in Dzalanyama forest reserve since Malawi defence force soldiers stopped conducting patrols in the reserve. Deputy Director of Forestry Francis Chilimampunga has told Zodiak that, one effective forest patrol for a week cost K10 million for fuel, allowances and other logistical requirements . Chilimampunga said, the department through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change is planning to request MDF to open their own camps in Dzalanyama for sustainable management of the reserve. He said currently, less than 30 forest guards are manning 98,000 hectares of Dzalanyama forest reserve against a requirement of over 500 forest guards.

  South Africa's Parliament has requested a report into how Enlightened Christian Gathering Church Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and wife Mary escaped the Rainbow nation. Bushiri’s 'great escape' has been likened to that of Nissan boss Carlos  Ghosn  from Japan. The Bushiris allegedly left South Africa for safety reasons after being given bail over allegations of money laundering, fraud and theft and have since asked the Malawi government to intervene for a fair trial. South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Mostoaledi admitted South African borders are porous and the department has been working on these issues asking Parliament to put into effect a law on border management. The Minister said it has taken 10 years to have the issues passed in Parliament and that there is papework that still needs to be signed. He disclosed the Bushiris has five passports each, all issued in Malawi and the South African government have their numbers. "The system indicated the Bu...

  A 40-year-old lady named Thoko Mabaso said that it was time for her to find a right man for her life, a man that won’t demand sexual satisfaction. She decided to marry a nine year old boy who is still young, and Thoko hopes that her marriage will last. The family of the boy were speechless when they heard that their son is getting married, especially at age nine, the parents of the boy are the ones who said yes on his behalf because he is not yet 18 years of age to make his own decisions. The attendance of the marriage was the whole village because everyone in the village wanted to know if it is true that a nine year old boy is marrying a 40-year-old woman. In another story the age of the lady was mistaken to be 59-years-old but her real age is 40. The village didn’t believe their eyes when they got to the venue and it was true that there was a very special marriage taking place in the village. Okay let’s be realistic now, how will a nine year old boy be able to handle a 40-year-...

  Police officers in the wildlife and enviromental crime investigation unit received a tip-off that a man identified as Zakeyu Lingison Pitala, 35, a business man at Lobi trading centre was offering the animal for sale at the said market.   After following up on the information provided, police officers then succeeded in apprehending the suspect and confiscating the pangolin.   The suspect is expected to appear in Dedza Senior Resident Magistrate’s court to answer a charge of possession of a listed species contrary to section 86 subsection (1) as read with section 110 B of National Parks and Wildlife Act of 2017. The scaled mammal is listed under protected species, as numbers have dwindled due to poaching.   A charge of possession of a listed species attracts the maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment with hard labour.   The suspect hails from Mtengowagwa village in traditional authority Kachere in Dedza.   According to the National Geographic, Pangolin ...

  Estranged Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey has responded to her recent dismissal by the party president Peter Mutharika, saying she joined the party at free will. Jeffrey said the remarks yesterday at Bangwe Desert ground in the commercial city of Blantyre where the party’s vice president for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa held a rally. According to Jeffrey, she joined the party in 2005 when the founding president late Bingu Wa Mutharika formed the party. She further said that they are not in bad terms with the party’s president who is also the former head of state of Malawi, but she said the future of the party matters hence the call for Mutharika to step down as the party leader. According to Jeffrey, Mutharika will never stand again in 2025 and a convention is the only solution to give ample time to the party to thoroughly campaign for another candidate. Jeffrey added that she has not picked any side, adding that she is attending the rally a...

  Balaka First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Monday sentenced an 18-year-old boy, Wonderful Master, also identified as Miracle Kwenyani, to eight years Imprisonment with Hard Labour for robbery and theft of a goat contrary to Sections 301 and 281 of the Penal Code respectively. Balaka Police Publicist, Felix Misomali confirmed the development. He said the state through prosecutor, Sub Inspector Winily Chikhobiri told the court that on June 1 at Ziwoya Village, Master and his accomplice, who is at large, severely assaulted 80-year-old Peter Mpulula in the head before robbing him K34,000 cash, eight bags of maize weighing about 70 Kg and other items, all worth about K241,500. He said: “The accused further on August 5 broke into the kraal of Graciano Anderson, 45, and stole a goat worth about K30,000. He was apprehended by the community as he was trying to escape.” According to Misomali, Master, however, pleaded not guilty to both counts of robbery and theft of a goat before First Grade...

  A 36-year-old man is Salima is reported to have killed his two kids before killing himself after he found his wife enjoying another man in his matrimonial bedroom. The man is said to have been coming from a field work when he unexpectedly found his wife enjoying another man’s manhood in his own bedroom. The heartbroken man couldn’t take it hence he decided to end his two male children’s lives before killing himself. Salima police public relations officer ,sub inspector Wycliffe Pongolani has confirmed the sad development. The three are expected to be buried on Wednesday in Mtakataka in the area of Traditional Authority Kachindamoto in Dedza.

  A-35-year old man has been found dead in the forest of Mbula hill in the area of Traditional Authority Mwaulambia in Chitipa district. The man has been identified as Anest Banda. ”This occurred on September 9, 2020 at Chafunila village in the same area. It is reported that the deceased went missing from home in June this year.” Sub Insp.Gladwell Simwaka narrated ”On September 9 at about 11:00 a.m, hunters from the area found his body on the hill in a decomposed state.” Simwaka added. Postmortem results showed that death was due to starvation. It is believed that he went there for prayers and fasting. Therefore, police the district are advising people to always inform their relation or accompany other members when going out for prayers to avoid similar incidents. Banda hailed from Asayile village in Traditional Authority Mwaulambia in Chitipa district. Sub Insp.Gladwell Simwaka,PRO, Chitipa Police station.  

  DEDZA – Astray hyena has attacked a 33-year-old man in Dedza, leaving him seriously injured. The beast has since been killed by villagers. The victim, Henry Bazilio, met his fate Thursday at Kanyama village. “He is said to have gone to his irish potato farm for harvesting then the hyena emerged, prompting Henry to alert some women washing clothes in a nearby stream.” S ergeant   Beatrice Jefita Assistant Public relations officer narrated. “The women rushed to Henry and, in a sudden twist, the monster started running after Henry, leaving the women. While running, he fell down and the hyena pounced on him. A certain villager came to Henry’s rescue but the vicious beast turned on the rescuer.” She Added A band of villagers gathered and hunted the beast down until it fell into a pit. It was quickly speared to death before its victim (Henry) was rushed to Dedza District Hospital for treatment.  

  The baby has been abandoned at Nguludi hospital after her mother realised she had given birth to a baby of Asian decent yet her husband is black. It’s suspected she’s been having an extra marital affair with a Malawian of Asian origin in or around Mpingwe where she used to work part time.

  United Democratic Front (UDF) President Atupele Austin Muluzi has fired Lilian Patel as leader of the party in the National Assembly. This has been confirmed in a statement signed by UDF Acting Publicity Secretary Yusuf Mwawa made available to this publication. According to the statement, Patel has been replaced by Honorable Nedson Poya. Poya will be deputized by Ismail Mkumba See the MEMO below; NOTICE 8th September 2020 TO ALL :NEC Members :All Members of UDF We refer to our earlier announcement of 23rd August regarding appointments in the National Assembly from the Secretary General of UDF. The President has made the following appointments: UDF LEADER IN PARLIAMENT: HON Nedson Poya DEPUTY LEADER IN PARLIAMENT: HON Ismail Rizzq Mkumba UDF CHIEF WHIP : HON Rhodrick Khumbanyiwa DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP: HON Grand Ndecha COMMISSIONER: Hon Esther Jailoss Jolobala This notice supersedes all earlier announcements. Regards, Yusuf Mwawa Acting Publicity Secretary

Government says the on-going constructed Grand Business Park will help create 1500 direct jobs and 2000 indirect job opportunities to youths and local people in Malawi. Deputy Minister of Lands, Abida Mia said this on Tuesday when she visited the on-going Chinese project of the construction of the park which has estimated to cost K73 billion (100 Million US dollars) at Area 46, Western By-pass road in Lilongwe. “Youths who have completed their courses in different community technical colleges will be able to find jobs and business opportunities after the completion of the magnificent park,” Mia said adding that the development would also help Malawi economy and change the face of Lilongwe city. However, the minister appealed to the contractors to stick to original designs and ensure quality in the construction of the business park. She said the government is committed to protecting investments like the on-going grand business park and provide tenure security including ensuring propert...

  An angry mob at Goliati Trading Centre in Thyolo on Wednesday killed two people who were caught stealing a motorcycle. Thyolo police publicist Sub-Inspector Amos Tione confirmed the case saying the two pretended to be passengers and hired a motorcycle taxi. While on the way, one of them took pepper powder and spread it into the rider’s eyes. The motorcyclist immediately stopped and started struggling with the thugs before shouting for help. “People came out and apprehended the pair and took them to Goliati Police Unit. “But angry people from the market stormed the police and demanded that the suspected criminals should be released,” said Tione. The mob managed to get the suspects out of the police station and then stoned them to death. The two victims are yet to be identified.  

  Group Village Headman Tengatenga of Kawale Township has asked for support of basic needs towards the elderly during this COVID- 19 period. The Village Head was speaking on Saturday in Lilongwe after Ntunthama Lions Club donated food items and masks to assist the elderly in the area. She said the elderly face a lot of challenges in the society to find basic needs such as food because they have limited means of getting money to buy those items due to their age. She added that COVID -19 has made it worse for the elderly leaving them with no food in their homes. She therefore commended the club for the donation saying that it will help them a lot for the time being. Ntunthama Lions President, Veronica Ndalama said what pushed the club to have the donation is the COVID-19 pandemic which has put a lot of things to a stop as such people are not able to assess a lot of things. “Apart from the preventive measures set by the government one has to have a strong immune system to fight the pa...

  One of the leading network providers in the country, Airtel Malawi has scrapped off transaction fees when buying Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) units using Airtel Money. The development comes barely weeks after Airtel announced a 50 percent reduction in pay as you go following pressure from Malawians. Airtel Money Director Polycarp  confirmed of the development in a statement released on Wednesday made available to Mfuwu. According to Ndekana, the removal of the transaction fee is with effect from September 3, 2020. “Dear Customer, We have removed Airtel Money transaction fees when buying ESCOM units. Now you get to transact for free, save money and buy from the comfort of your home. Dial *211# then select 3 to buy,” reads in part the statement.