Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – Do everything possible to clean up politics and administration in order to regain the confidence of international donors whose aid is needed to alleviate the suffering of the population. This is the meaning of the message delivered by Chris Chisoni, Secretary General of the Commission for “Justice and Peace” of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, at a press conference at the end of the meeting of the Commissions “Justice and Peace” of 8 Catholic dioceses in the Country.
“The Church cannot just sit and watch some of the challenges Malawians are facing now hence the need for us to speak out with one voice over these issues”, said Chisoni.
International donors (European Union, Great Britain, Norway and the African Development Bank) have stopped giving aid to Malawi following the discovery of serious fraud on the use of funds received. It is estimated that at least 185 million dollars have been stolen from state coffers.
So far, fifty officials have been arrested, including the Minister of Justice, Ralph Kasambara.
In relation to the so-called “cash-gate” Chisoni said that “we want the arrest of all those involved, sparing no sacred cow”.
Representatives of Justice and Peace finally ask donors to reconsider the suspension of aid that is having serious social consequences: food shortages in certain areas of the Country, with serious risks to people; drastic decrease of school attendance and risks for next year’s harvest. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2013)
Tag: Malawi
News and events Sector Malawi
Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – Do everything possible to clean up politics and administration in order to regain the confidence of international donors whose aid is needed to alleviate the suffering of the population. This is the meaning of the message delivered by Chris Chisoni, Secretary General of the Commission for “Justice and Peace” of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, at a press conference at the end of the meeting of the Commissions “Justice and Peace” of 8 Catholic dioceses in the Country.
“The Church cannot just sit and watch some of the challenges Malawians are facing now hence the need for us to speak out with one voice over these issues”, said Chisoni.
International donors (European Union, Great Britain, Norway and the African Development Bank) have stopped giving aid to Malawi following the discovery of serious fraud on the use of funds received. It is estimated that at least 185 million dollars have been stolen from state coffers.
So far, fifty officials have been arrested, including the Minister of Justice, Ralph Kasambara.
In relation to the so-called “cash-gate” Chisoni said that “we want the arrest of all those involved, sparing no sacred cow”.
Representatives of Justice and Peace finally ask donors to reconsider the suspension of aid that is having serious social consequences: food shortages in certain areas of the Country, with serious risks to people; drastic decrease of school attendance and risks for next year’s harvest. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2013)
Lilongwe, Malawi, CISA N0 092, October 15, 2013
Preparations to roll out Tuntufye FM Radio for the new Karonga Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church are at an advanced stage, the Research and Communications Department at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi has confirmed.
According to Nyasa Times, Malawi’s local daily, the development was revealed barely after ECM’s Research and Communications Department visited the diocese to appreciate efforts made to enhance communication in all the church angles.
Karonga diocese successfully negotiated for a radio licence with the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and this was gazetted on July 26, 2013.
So far a lot has taken place to have the radio station hit the air waves by January next year.
“There is quite a lot that Karonga diocese has done to have this radio station in place. The diocese is trying to put things in place as regards opening a radio station and one of the achievements has been the negotiations with MACRA for a radio license which is finally in possession of the diocese.”
The diocese is currently holding sensitization sessions with Catholic Christians on different level s and various forums as a way of initiating and engaging them in the radio project so that they can own and support it.
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga diocese is also working hard to have this radio station as evidenced from a number of written proposals that have been submitted to potential donors where the feedback has been positive and many have pledged funding.
“So far the diocese has receiving the first consignment of radio equipment from SIGNIS which is the World Catholic Association for Communication that brings together Catholic communications and media professionals from across the globe. Plans to renovate a building that will house radio studios are also there,” Research and Communications Officer at ECM, Prince Henderson said.
The Diocese of Karonga is a new one with 12 priests and over 65,000 Catholic.
The radio will primarily targeting Catholic Christians but still there will be an option for other denominations will be given a chance to interact and contribute to the radio station.
Apart from pastoral, the radio will also focus on development, economic, social and cultural issues that concern all groups of people.
Tuntufye FM Radio will add up to the already existing Catholic radio stations like Radio Maria in Mangochi, Radio Alinafe in Lilongwe and Radio Tigabane in Mzuzu.
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), has worryingly observed that the 2013/14 national budget, just like the preceding 2012/13 national budget, is not people centred. While acknowledging the fact that the current budget has been framed in the context of a stagnating economy that is struggling to emerge from a downturn, CfSC believes that government should have balanced the twofold equally important tasks of stabilising the country’s economy by giving incentives to the private sector (as the engine of growth) and also protecting the vulnerable through adequate social spending to reduce poverty.
While acknowledging the troubling reality that Malawi is now back under the wings of the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and World Bank) CfSC believes that in engaging these institutions Malawi government should do so in cognisance of the lessons learnt from the recent past. READ MORE
Rural Basic Needs Basket Analytical report for January 2013 in Malawi shows that the majority of rural households are poor since they are living below a dollar a day.
During the month of February, CfSC’s Rural BNB project conducted a Rapid Rural Appraisal in its operation areas to assess the availability and prices of maize. It was found out that maize prices ranged between MK 7000 and MK 10,000 a bag of 50 kg. This was too much expensive for a rural household. Those who had no or too little maize and money resorted into consuming maize bran. Those who had completely nothing, slept on an empty stomach or could even consume leafy vegetables only. READ MORE
Press statement published in the Daily Times of 21st March, 2013
Press statement published in the Daily Times of 21st March, 2013
Lilongwe, Malawi (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Bishops of Malawi have expressed gratitude for the solution to a serious two week tug of war between the government and civil servants demanding a 67% pay rise. Protests caused serious social disruption. The authorities have agreed on a 61% per cent increase to the lowest salaries and 5% to the highest ones.
In a statement sent to Fides by the Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace, the Catholic Church in Malawi, tracing the roots of the trade union crisis, takes a position regarding the economic crisis which has afflicted the country for some time. The statement says the decision to devaluate Malawi Kwacha and continued floatation and the linkage of the fuel prices to the global market prices leading to automatic fuel price adjustments is worsening the economic situation of the people.
The Commission also criticises certain economic moves of the government such as the decision to privilege some investments over others.
These economic measures, say “Justice and Peace” have created a serious social fracture. “Malawi is seriously entrenching a two-tier society with over 80% of the population struggling to survive and depending on poor, over-stretched and quality-compromised public service delivery; while the 20% are affording privatized education, health and security services.” the statement affirms “This 20% of the population that is able is creating a section of passive and irresponsive citizenry that has become silent to the plight and cries of the majority poor”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/2/2013)
The increase in electricity tariffs is leading to Service Exclusion
Addressing poverty continues to be identified as a major challenge for Malawian society and has been a central topic that successive governments have attempted to tackle or at least pretended to do so. Commitments in Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS), pronouncements in the newly launched Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) and various key government documents underscore that view. However, in spite of all these attempts to address poverty the reality is grim: poverty in Malawi remains severe and widespread – a situation that leaves millions to grapple, on a daily basis, with the unabating increase in food and essential non-food commodities. The ever rising cost of living presents to the country an extremely serious challenge upon which all efforts must be concentrated so as to ease people’s daily suffering. (…)
– Father Jean Arnaud, French, Chezi Parish – Father Claude Boucher, Canadian, Kungoni Centre – Father Christophe Boyer, French, Lilongwe, CfSC – Father Michel Côté, Canadian, Lilongwe, Sector House – Father Richard Deschênes, Canadian, Mzuzu – Father Filiyanus Ekka, Indian, Chezi Parish – Father Ortega Julio Feliu, Spanish, Lilongwe, Sector House – Father Bonaventure Gubazire, Ugandan, Balaka, Lechaptois – Father Sebastien Kalengwe, Congolese, Mua Parish – Father Simeon Kalore, Ethiopian, Chezi Parish, Father Julian Kasiya, Malawian, Mua Parish – Father Willem Kerkhof, Dutch, Lilongwe, Sector House – Father Jos Kuppens, Dutch, Lilongwe, CfSC – Father Michael Mawelera, Malawian, Balaka, Lechaptois – Father Philip Meraba, Nigerian, Lilongwe, Kanengo – Father Didasio Mwanza, Zambian, Balaka, Lechaptois – Father Paul Namono, Burkinabe, Mua Parish – Father Brendan O’Shea, Irish, Mua Parish – Jacques Pallas, Canadian, Lilongwe, Sector House – Bishop Rémi Sainte-Marie, Canadian, Lilongwe – Father Michel Sanou, Burkinabe, Lilongwe, Kanengo – Father Robert Tebri, Ghanaian, Balaka, Lechaptois – Father William Turnbull, British, Lilongwe, CfSC – Father Piet van Hulten, Dutch, Mzuzu – Father Moïse Kombe Yébédié, Malian, Chezi Parish