NO MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR FREEDOM FIGHTERS-SHABA

By Blessings Kumwenda

It has been finally confirmed that the annual memorial ceremony to remember people who died during the 20^th July mass protests in 2011 will not take place this year.

This has been confirmed by Chairperson of the deceased families, Freedom Shaba who said no preparations are underway ahead of the day.

Shaba said no one has approached them on the issue like Church and Society who got primarily involved in the last year’s preparations. He further expressed that time has also run out for the preparation process of ceremony to be undertaken.

Shaba said as believed families they are not bitter with the failure in having the ceremony this year. He said all they are waiting for is what they presented to the president and a report from Malawi Police Service on the tragedy.

Despite the failure to have the memorial ceremony this year Shaba said he does not care as the ceremony turned out to be a political tool for politicians. 

He said he does not want anybody to politicize on the deaths of their brothers and sisters who died on 20^th July. 

It has also been learnt that money amounting to more than 200 thousand Kwacha that was raised during first memorial ceremony that took place last year at Mzuzu stadium in Mzuzu where the right president Joyce Banda was guest of honor has up to date not reached the families.

According to the investigation made, the money raised on the day was collected by Church and Society a civil society organization under Synod of Livingstonia.

Shaba told this publication that tombstones have not been built up to date on the graves of the deceased as the money that could have been used for the construction of the tombstones did not reach them.

He also disclosed with shock that other people who only lost properties during the mass demonstrations have already been compensated by government while them have not received any assistance.

As church, Livingstonia synod has also confirmed the failure in having the ceremony this year.  But it has been learnt that there were plans to make the ceremony a national event.

Livingstonia synod has since asked for an extended period to respond well on the matter since Church and Society Chairperson Moses Mkandawire is not in the country.

Anti government protests towards perceived poor economic management and poor governance by the late Professor Bingu wa Muthalika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) saw at least 18 people killed, 98 seriously injured and 275 arrested.

NORTHERN PARTIES TO FORM ALLIANCE

By Blessings Kumwenda

Loveness Gondwe-NARC President

Political parties from the northern Malawi are expected to form an alliance that will take them to May 2014 general elections aiming at bringing unity and development in the region.

The idea of bulding an alliance was agreed upon Wednesday in Mzuzu during a workshop on “Economic and Political Development Solidarity for the north” aimed at addressing inequalities in political and economic participation. 

The alliance is said to bring back the kind of unity that was brought in the region by Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) under the late Chakufwa Chihana’s leadership.

 

The alliance which is expected to bear Alliance for democracy (AFORD) name during forth coming general elections has been attributed by Honorable Loveness Gondwe, President for National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) as being a vehicle that will help the region to be united and strong.

Gondwe said AFORD has been suggested as a name that will head the alliance since the party name is familiar with a lot of northerners.

Gondwe said with the alliance northern region is expected to be less sidelined in terms of development activities as it has always been. She therefore said people will speak with one voice for one common goal.

She expressed the region problem of not benefiting from its precious minerals. She cited examples of Uranium and Coal mines that are available in the region saying they have profited the northerners peanuts.

Gondwe said the alliance will also make sure that those parliamentarians that will represent their respective constituencies represent the people’s views and not their own in the parliament.

She refuted remarks that the alliance intention is to bring regionalism amongst Malawians.

In his remarks Honorable Khwauli Msiska also Secretary General for AFORD, said the alliance is a welcoming development. Msiska said his party has bought the idea and is ready to sail in the alliance boat in order to develop the region and protect its precious resources.

At present NARC and AFORD have reached a consensus of cementing the alliance and an amount of about 23 million Kwacha has already been raised to help in running the alliance.

Other political parties like NASAF are yet to consult their executives on the matter.

Honorable Khwauli Msiska-AFORD Secretary General

The meeting was attended by political party representatives, religious leaders, Academicians, civil society and NGO’s representatives and Journalists.

Malawi is expected to host tripartite elections in the month of May 2012 and at present the country has a population of approximately 15 million people and it has more than 40 registered political parties.