The Maravi Post

'It nuh good fi stay inna white man country too long!'

Henry Mvula — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:58:41 +0000

This is the theme from the poem "White Man Country" by Mutabaruka - the inimitable Jamaican dub poet which has inspired this write-up.

News and reports that President Joyce Banda has re-invented “Theba”; after others before her had promised to deliver something similar and failed, is welcome news for the youths of Malawi.

It is good news because this seems to be a timely though somewhat temporary and unsustainable intervention with which to address the increasing plight of youths in Malawi.
The background, it should be written, is that there is increasing unrest and hopelessness amongst the youths in Malawi as a result of unemployment and scarcity of options.
The increasing unemployment can be narrowed down to roots:

· a shrinking job market (the industry can no longer absorb school finishers) and
· insufficient training (some of Malawi youths just happen to be unemployable due to the archaic curriculum pursued by the country).

There are others. I could, for instance, make a case that some old people who should have retired sometime back are clinging to jobs, and hence denying youths their rightful role, but I will not go in this direction. For now am content to let Mlaka Maliro’s civic educate such veterans with his “Gologolo mu Mtengo” hit.

Whatever the root cause, this lack of gainful employment is resulting in increasing delinquency and crime. And both these, are high on the list of ingredients that cause social unrest, anarchy and chaos.

This “Theba” is therefore, for the time being, a good (but temporary) solution as the country waits for a miracle that will see Malawian youths leaving the country out of their own volition; not obliged by dire circumstances.

Having said that, there is need to pause and reflect why the poet Mutabaruka – someone who knows about life in the diaspora more than all of us, having been born there - courtesy of the slave trade that ravaged Africa – is advising against staying in foreign lands for too long.

To be more specific: what are the hidden traps in this expedition to the east?

This is the question that Wise One, having some experience of life in the east, seeks to answer, to forestall surprises for the prudent of the Malawian youths who will be making their maiden oriental voyage.

East, West, East is Best
Of course this is total baloney; the real proverb says east, west, home is best. There are basically two categories of difficulties that anyone venturing beyond the borders of Malawi for a while has to ponder and come to grips with. I will call the first, “psychological” and the other “physical”.

Both these, have a bearing on one’s state of bliss or despondency in the diaspora. And while there are studies by “experts” on this subject, I will not make any reference to research because I have been there and have seen people contented or miserable, depending on how prepared or unprepared they were when they set out to embrace the “American Dream”.

On one hand, we have many Malawians who have quit well-paying jobs in the diaspora because of failing to adjust and come to terms with the psychological detachment from the mother land; and on the hand we know many Malawians who are living in abject poverty in the American Dream, making the Biblical prodigal son’s suffering look like a picnic.

Whenever I meet Malawians that have stayed years and years in foreign lands, I lift my hat to them. Why?

Because even after years and years, and even when I am enjoying spectacles, functions or happenings that in Malawi I could only watch on TV, my sub-conscious inevitably wanders to thoughts like: “had this been back home....?” “If so and so were here….?” etc.

This is just one of the things that require a lot of effort and inner strength to surmount. Failure to overcome means you will be on the next plane home, or worse you will fall sick.

You have to remind yourself constantly why you happen to be where you are, how hard you worked to get where you are, and move on. To someone who has never been away from mother Malawi for over a year, what I am describing here is difficult to comprehend.

But believe you me, those who have been there, and are there, know what am talking about. And you know what? This psychological torture happens to be the easiest to handle because all it requires is you to stay focussed and goal minded.

The second psychological torture comes about when you think in terms of the African (Malawian) extended family and in diaspora you realize what the song “Some guys have all the luck means” when it says: a person can be alone in a crowd. In fact when you come to think of it, even for a whole family in the diaspora, time comes when they feel alone in a crowd!

The overwhelming feeling of isolation that can swallow you when you are – for a long time – in a crowd of people on their homeland; celebrating and living their own culture can only be understood by a diasporan.

The family, the immediate family and a few Malawian or indeed African friends surrounding you; can never replace the feeling of belonging that one feels when at home in Malawi celebrating let’s say a joyous family gathering or even when mourning.

What can one do when faced with these psychological tortures of feeling “alone in a crowd”? The answer is = stay focussed. Although this is easier said than done; the youths trekking east need to learn to be mentally strong, very strong. And since I am as a brother warning them beforehand, they will have no excuse if after a month they start crying for Mama!

Failure to be mentally strong results in sickness which inevitably negatively impacts one’s productivity. When this happens to our footballers for example, this is when they spend more of their time warming the bench, before eventually being relegated to watching their clubs’ game from the stands; before being offloaded, one way or another.

I will now move on to the easier of the problems and this is the physical discomfort or risks. There are several catalysts and I will dwell on two: when you encounter racists or have financial problems.

I will, first, dispense with racism. Awareness about racism has been raised in almost all countries. And generally people are now accommodative of people of other races in their societies.

But no one should make a mistake about it: if any Malawian ever told you that in their life abroad: in America, Europe, the East or even South Africa they never once ever experienced racism of some sort, they were cheating you.

Once in a while, and when you least expect it, you come face to face with racism, either subtly or very violently.

How do you deal with this?

In most countries, on paper, there are laws. You can report to the police. My advice however, is that unless it is life threatening or becoming too frequent, you are better off learning how other people in your situation have dealt with these than reporting to the police. Once you report to the police, you become marked – I will clarify on this later.

If you attract attention in a country where your difference (skin colour) makes you stand out in a crowd of thousands, where by implication there are bound to be some hard-core racists, life can become unbearable if not outright dangerous.

I will dwell on this for a while because this involves physical danger although it is easier to deal with when compared to the mental torture.

They key, the way forward to surviving in a foreign land is to become anonymous. The question is how can an African become anonymous in South Korea?

The answer is by avoiding actions, speeches etc. or anything that makes you more prominent than you already are. The second is to learn the host language, as fast as you can so that you can be aware of what people around you are saying.

This is why on how to deal with racism I strongly recommend using the police as a last resort; and an option to use only when you are leaving or about to leave or when the racism is getting to life threatening proportions.

On finances, the one thing that living in the diaspora does is either to spoil you – with the credit cards, or teach you discipline.

While personal fiscal discipline means after a couple of years you can return home to Malawi much better off, financial indiscipline could see you deported or worse. I will leave this at that.

I know that I have not exhausted all angles; I will happily provide free advice via my Facebook or blog to those who want more or specific help or references.

When all has been said and done, the bottom line is that a stay abroad can be very rewarding, both financially and professionally and is worth taking a risk for.

How else would you know what you are capable of if you do not undergo the extreme test, in foreign lands? Come to think of it, the temptations of Jesus Christ, if I remember correctly, did not happen in Bethlehem!

A trek to the east is manageable and worth it’s while. Mungo Park did it, and before him the Biblical three wise men from the east did not go east, but rather trekked west and made it in a more hazardous era, on donkeys or mules or whatever.

Why should our youths fail to do it in the twenty first century when “home” and “friends” are within a Blackberry's reach? And more, why should they be intimidated when they have brother Wise One from the East to mentor them?

At your service, go for it Malawi youths! And welcome to the diaspora, “in the east”!

Flames forward Kanyenda back in South Africa’s top flight league as Ng’ambi, Mzava win awards

Henry Mvula — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:32:36 +0000

MZUZU(MaraPost)—Flames forward Esau Kanyenda has all the reasons to smile following the promotion of his team Polokwane to the South African top flight league Professional Soccer League (PSL).

MCP, DPP talks tough on Malawi Pres. Joyce Banda’s budgetary speech

Henry Mvula — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:21:40 +0000

BLANTYRE(MaraPost)—Debate on President Joyce Banda’s State of Nation Address rolled into life on Monday afternoon with former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) describing the budgetary speech as a ‘catalogue of wishful thinking”.

Lessons from the Sunday Times opinion poll for MCP: Embrace new blood or become irrelevant

Henry Mvula — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:53:41 +0000

OPINION

The outcome of The Sunday Times opinion poll published on May 5, 2013 speaks volumes about the aspirations and frustrations of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) followers that participated in the poll.

English Premier League results final week

Author — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:12:18 +0000

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Man City 2 Norwich City 3

Tottenham Hotspurs 1 Sunderland 0

Wigan Athletic 2 Aston Villa 2

Swansea City 0 Fulham 3

West Brom 5 Man United 5

Southampton 1 Stoke City 1

Chelsea 2 Everton 1

Liverpool 1 QPR 0

Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1

Pupil,13, to highlight plight of Malawian girls at 2013 women conference in Malaysia

Henry Mvula — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:05:20 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost) — A 13-year-old Chichiri Primary School girl, Emmanuella Manjolo, will represent a cohort of adolescent girls in Malawi at this year’s Women Deliver Conference at Kuala Lumpur Conference Centre in Malaysia.

Pres. Joyce Banda to skip University of Malawi graduation ceremony

Henry Mvula — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:49:44 +0000

MZUZU (MaraPost) — The long awaited University of Malawi (Unima) graduation for those who completed this studies in 2011 and 2012 be held on Wednesday, June 19 at Chancellor College’s Great Hall, MaraPost has learnt.

Prominent Malawian islanders pen Pres. Joyce Banda over MV Ilala

Henry Mvula — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:18:14 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost) — Some prominent people from the island district of Likoma in Northern Malawi have written Pres. Joyce Banda expressing their concerns over the stoppage of MV Ilala which is their only means to and from the island.

Zikomo Matope believes Kamuzu was the devil incarnate

Henry Mvula — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:32:09 +0000

At exactly 3:00 am last Tuesday, which was also a public holiday in honour of Malawi's first president, "father and founder" of this nation, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, a thunderous knock was heard on my door.

Presidential aspirant Thoko Banda hits hard at PPs anti-‘Matchona’ propaganda

Henry Mvula — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:14:47 +0000

MZUZU (MaraPost)—Thoko Banda who recently announced that he will contest as president in the forthcoming elections has hit back at Malawi's ruling People's Party's (PP) campaign of discrediting Matchona (those who have lived outside the country for a long time).

PP says people who spent extended periods outside don't make good leaders as they lose touch with the people on the ground.

I, the Muckraker, present my state of the nation address in 1000 words

Author — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:23:59 +0000

President Joyce Banda was called to duty on Friday to deliver the State of the Nation address in Parliament where, traditionally, she is supposed to update her countrymen - yes, her countrywomen too - what the state of the nation currently is.

MUCKRAKING XTRA: Is Thoko Banda the new AKB?

Author — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:03:33 +0000

At 49 Thoko Banda, the dude who wants to lead the 15 million of us after the 2014 elections, is no “spring chicken”.

US praises Malawi’s ‘good democratic governance’

Author — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:46:18 +0000

LILONGWE (Mana) -- Malawi is a role model in Africa with a good democratic environment, the United States Government has said.

Cut the Chaff: Why is OPC dithering on Kalebe, Kutsaira?

Henry Mvula — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:55:02 +0000

Weekend Nation's award winning columnist Ephraim Munthali in ‘Cut the chaff‘ argues that politicians shouldn't masquerade as public servants implementing government programmes . Here's the full article as it appeared in Weekend Nation:

Not a hero! Give Malawians a break on tinpot dictator Kamuzu: Columnist Kasakula

Henry Mvula — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:35:17 +0000

Newspaper columnist George Kasakula writing in ‘My Diary’ published in Weekend Nation on Saturday May 18 says founding president Kamuzu Banda wasn't a hero but a tinpot dictator, who, for 31 years, terrorised his own people to serve his overgrown ego and those close to him. The column is re-posted below, full text:

Pres. Joyce Banda says Admarc to be restructured for efficiency

Henry Mvula — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:12:29 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost)— Pres. Joyce has announced that the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) will be restructured in a bid to make it viable and deliver on its mandate.

Mzuzu traffic accident death toll rises to 7, driver to face charges

Henry Mvula — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:35:37 +0000

MZUZU (MaraPost)—Another life has been lost at Mzuzu Central Hospital raising the death toll of those killed in a road accident that occurred in Malawi's northern region city of Mzuzu on Thursday to seven.

Horror! Body of girl, 18, found with head cut off in Blantyre

Henry Mvula — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:54:23 +0000

MZUZU (MaraPost) — An 18-year-old girl from Zomba believed to have been a sex-worker was found dead Friday in Ndirande, Blantyre.

Pres. Banda's SONA irks DPP for silence on university at Bingu's Ndata Farm

Henry Mvula — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:24:55 +0000

MZUZU (MaraPost)— Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) isn't happy that Pres. Joyce Banda didn't unveil any plans to open the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), which was championed by her predecessor, the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

Women denied the right to succeed to chieftainship in Lesotho

Author — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:41:18 +0000

JOHANNESBURG (SALC) – Lesotho’s Constitutional Court has struck a serious blow against women’s rights and gender equality by upholding a discriminatory section of the Chieftainship Act, which denies all daughters the right to succeed to chieftainship solely due to their gender.

South South Learning: Kenyan NGOs vow to block MPs pay demands

Author — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:21:05 +0000

NAIROBI (Africanseer) — Twenty two civil society groups are up in arms over the hefty pay demands by Members of the National Assembly saying they are misguided.

Pres. Banda touts successes, assures Malawians of free, fair elections in 2014

Author — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:07:41 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost) -- Malawi’s President Joyce Banda has said her government is committed to fostering the democratic process, governance, dialogue and rule of law.

Mzuni FC beat rivals Karonga United to wing into PIS regional phase

Author — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:26:55 +0000

MZUZU (Mana) -- Mzuzu University Football Club (Mzuni FC) needed two goals from Edward Mangani and Uchindami Nyasulu to beat their arch rivals Karonga United to reach the regional phase in the K120 million Presidential cup played at Mzuzu stadium Wednesday.

The game which was earlier abandoned after the two teams’ supporters violently clashed following a goal that Karonga United scored to level the scores at 2-2 had to be rescheduled after the tournament’s disciplinary committee fined Mzuni K15, 000 and Karonga United K5, 000 for causing the fracas.

Mzuni’s handful supporters who vocally out-numbered their opponents raised the tempo of the match from the word go when they cheered their team in a bid to intimidate the visitors.

The students controlled the early stages of the match through their tightly packed midfield of Edward Mangani, Junior Mkumba, Joshua Tembo and experienced Smith Kadawati who pinned United in their own half.

The students would have taken an early lead, but missed glorious chances when their blunt striking force of Pearson Sauzande and Innocent Mayuni continued to shoot over the bar frustrating their colleagues’ efforts.

Mzuni took advantage of a porous Karonga defence with piercing runs from Smith Kadawati who combined well with his captain Edward Mangani.

Mzuni drew first blood in the 20^{th minute when a well curled shot from Kadawati found Mangani who quickly turned round two stationery Karonga defenders before shooting a square ball which sent United goal tender, Donald Zgambo the wrong way.}

Karonga instantly responded to the conceded goal by piling intense pressure on the retaliating Mzuni team with on and off counter-attacks from Raphael Phiri and Fyaupi Kisyombe who was shifted to the midfield to help the engine room tick.

Despite the pressure, Mzuni hang on to their slender lead till half time.

In the second half, Karonga built on their first half offensive display in the scholars’ half with their attacking trio of Rivaldo Hamisi, Malumbo Mwenelupembe and Raphael Phiri. They nearly got an equalizer through Phiri who burst away from his markers, but was denied the score by the wood-work.

In the 54th minute, youngster Raphael Phiri scored the equalizer after collecting a loose ball that Mzuni failed to clear away.

Karonga United would have scored another goal 24 minutes after the equalizer when offensive Phiri ran past three defenders before being brought down just at the edge of the 18-yard box. This prompted the entire United bench to rise on penalty appeals, but referee Mabvuto Godoya waved a play on.

As finish time drew closer and the score sheet remained one all as both teams seemed contented and appeared looking forward to the deadly spot kicks.

Karonga United introduced Vilipo Simkoko in a move to bring expert penalty takers, but Mzuni unleashed a shocker in the 87th minute after a Karonga defense mix up between Fyaupi Kisyombe and Wakisa Ngana which left Uchindami Nyasulu unmarked.

"I am very happy for winning this game especially after the controversies that surrounded the match which led us into switching of a few players which in the end worked for us," Mzuni coach Alex Ngwira said.

His counterpart Rudoviko Nyirenda, however, blamed the loss on the organizing committee of the competition who arranged the replay without prior communication on where and when the game would be played.

Mzuni will now take on super league rookies Mzuzu United in what would be a reminder of the tight race that these two teams competed in the TNM Super League promotion which the latter won.

Karonga United will have to forget the loss and start preparing for Jenda United at their own backyard in Karonga on Saturday.

2 MHC accountants arrested for theft by public servant

Henry Mvula — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:18:42 +0000

BLANTYRE(MaraPost)Police in Malawi’s southern district of Blantyre have arrested two accountants working with Malawi Housing Corporation for allegedly failing to account for over K10 million.

Professor Chijere Chirwa says Malawi has benefited nothing in the past 50yrs

Henry Mvula — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:48:31 +0000

BLANTYRE(MaraPost)—Malawi has benefited nothing in the past 50 years and missed opportunities to change the way things are done in the country, Chancellor College’s Professor Wiseman Chijere Chirwa has said.

MP Mnesa to press Malawi's ruling PP said to have bought 50 cars

Author — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:37:13 +0000

MZUZU (MaraPost) -- Opposition Malawi Forum for Unity and Democracy (MAFUNDE) president George Mnesa has vowed to take the ruling People’s Party (PP) to task for allegedly buying 50 cars once parliament reconvenes this week.

Malawi Super League: Blue Eagles still on top

Author — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:25:01 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost) -- Lilongwe based outfit, Blue Eagles, are still on top the TNM Super log table after Big Bullets failed to dislodge on Tuesday when they played to a goalless draw with resilient Azam Tigers.

Blue Eagles has so far bagged 10 points from four games while Bullets and Tigers have eight points each from the same number of games.

However, Tigers, popularly known as ‘Ana a Kumpanda’ are yet to concede a goal whereas Civo United, who are second from the bottom, have only managed to collect a single point from four games.

New entrants Mponela, who lost 0-1 to Mighty Wanderers on Saturday at Silver stadium, have conceded 8 goals in the league.

While rookies Mzuzu United and Envirom FC are lying fourth and fifth from the bottom with points each, respectively. Mzuzu United has conceded nine goals, more than any other team so far.

Following are the full TNM results for week 3

Saturday 11^th May, 2013

Evirom F.C 0 Big Bullets 1

Douglas Chirambo

Mafco F.C 0 Mighty Wanderers 0

Mzuzu United 3 Silver Strikers 3

Liston Sabuli Rodrick Gonani (2)

Khumbo Ng’ambi Ndaona Daisi

Madalitso Kawonga

Blue Eagles 0 Red Lions 0

Azam Tigers 0 Civo United 0

Sunday 12^th May, 2013

Moyale 1 Silver Strikers 2

Deus Nkutu Ndaona Daisi

Ndaziona Chatsalira

Blantyre United 1 Civo United 0

Muhammad Sulumba

Kamuzu Barracks 1 Red Lions 1

Pempho Chibweya Khumbo Mkandawire

Mponela United 0 Mighty Wanderers 1

Kondwani Kumwenda

Tuesday 14^th May, 2013

Mzuzu United 1 Moyale 2

Khumbo Ng’ambi Crispin Fukizi

Gastin Simkonda

EPAC F.C 2 Kamuzu Barracks 1

Tsanzo Dalio Victor Saidi

Jafali Chande

Azam Tigers 0 Big Bullets 0

---

(c) The Maravi Post 2013

UDF launches ‘Jubilee Movement’ to champion change as poor Malawi turns 50

Author — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:34:48 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost) — Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) says the ‘Jubilee Movement’, which seeks to make people’s aspirations and dreams a reality, will help create wealth and empower women to fully participate in all political, social and economic spaces.

Malawi High Court to decide whether Peter Mutharika perjury case should be tried by lower court

Author — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:35:17 +0000

BLANTYRE (MaraPost) -- Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Ruth Chinangwa has finally referred the perjury case involving Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Peter Mutharika and three others back to the Lilongwe High Court.

South South Learning: Chaos, corruption rock Zim’s passport offices

Author — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:14:06 +0000

The dust, dirt, long snaking queues and aggressive vendors just outside the main offices of Zimbabwe’s dilapidated passport office at Makombe Building in Harare make for a chaotic if not foreboding atmosphere.