Quantcast
Viewing all 50 articles
Browse latest View live

Lawyer Chalamanda to stand as councillor in Blantyre City

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Noel Chalamanda; Independent

One of prominent private practice lawyers in Malawi, Noel Chalamdanda has disclosed that he will run as a councillor for Blantyre City Central Ward Councilor on an independent ticket. Speaking when he announced his candidature in Blantyre,  Chalamanda said he decided to stand as councillor on an independent ticket because “I want all of us to work together.” He justified his choice of running in Blantyre city central ward, saying he is “born and bred in Blantyre, lives in and for Blantyre, itching to roll up my sleeves and break my back for this great city.” [caption id="attachment_63933" align="alignright" width="300"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Noel Chalamanda; Independent
Noel Chalamanda; Independent[/caption] “I have walked and driven almost every street of Blantyre. I have played on many playgrounds, gotten my education from a number of its schools, visited many shops, prayed in many churches and hang out with many a friend in countless joints, “said Chalamanda. “I have worked in a number of law firms in the city and finally opened my own law practice in the city because I believe in the spirit of Blantyre. I have interacted with people from all walks of life in Blantyre,” he added. “Like the back of my hand, I have grown to know Blantyre.  I love this city and want to serve it, and dare I say save it too from the current downward deterioration in a number of areas,” said the lawyer. Chalamanda said he has had a fair share of international travels which have been an immense eye opener where he has  cities younger than Blantyre growing, thriving and prospering faster than Malawi’s commercial city  in areas of health, education, business, infrastructure, water and sanitation, town planning, security, leisure and many others. The lawyer said he is driven by the burning urge of “we deserve better” and seething rage at the current state of Blantyre city that he wants to help develop the city as a ward councilor “Hand over heart, I am in it to transform the real life through actual work in the community. I intend to be here on the ground with everyone who is angry at this sorry state of Blantyre and is ready to put on his/her gumboots and overalls and is ready to get soiled for the sake of Blantyre. “I am in it because I believe Blantyre has the potential, the beauty and the people to become the one of the best cities in Africa.” He added: “ Together, With a safer Blantyre, we shall create opportunities for businesses, increase the number of business hours  thereby creating more income for so many more of us. Together we shall work on the infrastructure and fix the bridges, create more parking space, fix the road and pavements, city halls, theatres, recreation places and amusement parks.” Chalamanda promised that if voted he will deliver on his promise for “ a new brand of life to Blantyre “. Fact File Chalamanda is a lawyer of 13 years at the Malawi bar. He is a co-founder of Knight & Knight where  he is a Partner. He boasts of tremendous experience criminal and civil litigation, human rights law and litigation and commercial transactions He  previously worked for Sacranie Gow & Co and  Lawson and Co. Chalamanda was attached to the London Firm of Doughty Street Chambers where he worked with a number Queens Counsel in a number of  cases in various courts in England. Presently he is a member of a special commission on sentencing in criminal matters at the Malawi Law Commission.  He serves as Malawi Law Society’s Representative on the Board of the Media Council of Malawi.  He is o board of a number of non-governmental organisations and companies. Previously he has served the Vice President of the Malawi Law Society for two terms. For charity he has worked on part time and pro bono basis, for  Civil Liberties Committee (CILIC) where he helped  the poor with deserving cases get legal reliefs of various natures. At CILIC he served as President of the Lawyers Chapter for two terms. He was Member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Legal Assistance (CELA) where he also served  the poor seeking justice or legal reliefs on pro bono basis. Chalamanda has handled a number of high profile cases that have had a significant impact on the legal jurisprudence in Malawi including cases on the abolition of the mandatory death penalty, the right to hold demonstrations case, labour rights and retrenchment. He has Masters in International Human Rights Law from Strathclyde University. And a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Malawi. He attended Pius XII Seminary for secondary school and proceeded to Kachebere Major Seminary for Post Secondary School education in liberal arts. Chalamanda was the first recipient of the Umunthu Award by the Diversity Leader National Awards in 2006 for his outstanding acts of courage and compassion when he came to the rescue of a person attacked by robbers and a person at a point of death in a car accident.

Blantyre residents celebrates Christmas with dry taps

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Mateyu:  Accused of peddling lies

Water crisis that has engulfed most parts in Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre has adversely affected most households as instead of celebrating Christmas are seen running up and down searching for water as there is no water supply in their areas. [caption id="attachment_78044" align="alignright" width="457"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Mateyu: BWB engineers are currently working on the problem
Mateyu: BWB engineers are currently working on the problemya[/caption] Water users have now gone for at least four days without water, a development that has irked and dragged residents in awkward situation. According to Blantyre Water Board (BWB), a pipe that supplies water to areas in Soche Zone was washed away by rains at Nansolo river in Ndirande. Areas that have been affected include Manyowe, Sunnyside, CI, New and Old Naperi, Kamba, Zingwangwa, Chilobwe, Stella Maris, Green Corner, Mpempa, Chilobwe Chatha, Ginnery Corner, Baluti, Nancholi and Mandala. Heavy rains also washed away several houses, properties and three people along the river in the highly densely population of the commercial capital. A 64 year-old man and two children, aged 15 and 3, were reportedly washed away. Meanwhile, BWB spokesperson Priscilla Mateyu said their engineers are currently working on the problem to make sure that supply is restored at the earliest possible time. "Customers in Soche Zone are requested to close their water taps during this period and use water sparingly," said Mateyu. She said the Board regrets the inconvenience the problem has caused in the said Zone. The development comes barely a few days after President Peter Mutharika assured Malawians that government is doing everything possible to solve water shortage problems. Mutharika said his administration is determined to make BWB to be able to supply sufficient water to all residents. He also observed that BWB's infrastructure is aged and has out-lived its designed capacity, which initially meant for a population of 500,000 residents up to the year 1999 and today BWB has over 1 million customers. "Further due to inadequate rains in the year 2012/13, the Mudi Dam which produces 10 percent of the Board's water production dried up by October 2014. "We embarked on a total rehabilitation of the BWB production facilities and replacement of pumps at Walker Ferry and Chileka Pumping Sites and by March 2015, the BWB will be able to meet all the demand of 96,000 cubic meters per day up from the current 74,000 cubic meters production capacity," said Mutharika in national address last weekend. He also said in additional government will construct a water supply system from Mulanje Mountain at the cost of about $12 million to provide extra 8,000 cubic meters of water per day to Blantyre and surrounding areas.

Woman faking pregnancy steals baby, arrested –Malawi Police

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Woman waits in maternity as her baby is stolen

 Police in Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre have arrested 40 year-old Alice Namagoya for allegedly stealing a three-week-old baby. [caption id="attachment_40749" align="alignright" width="460"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Woman waits in maternity as her baby is stolen
Woman waits in maternity as her baby is stolen[/caption] Namagoya, who hails from Pongwe village, Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba, is said to be a friend to the baby's mother, Bridget Maxwell and is expected to appear in court Thursday to answer theft of child contrary to Section 167 of the Penal Code. According to Blantyre Police deputy spokesperson, Andrew Mayawo, the suspect is married to a Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital attendant and has a secret affair with a Malawi Institute of Tourism employee. "She had been lying to her secret lover that she was pregnant for him and gave birth on January 16," said Mayawo. Then the secret lover asked the suspect to bring the child on February 9 so he could see the baby and present it to his parents in Nkolokosa. This apparently exerted pressure on the suspect, who later thought of stealing her friend's baby to cover up her earlier pregnancy claims.

A Mzungu’s view of living in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Blantyre

When I arrived from the UK on a blistering, arid August afternoon the first thing I noticed was the vibrant sunshine and searing heat as I stepped off the aeroplane. Obviously I was shattered after a twenty four hour journey but nonetheless excited at finally arriving in Blantyre albeit a little anxious about what to expect. I had never been to Malawi or Africa for that matter. I am embarrassed to say that most of my prior knowledge of the country was from watching the news on British TV, knowing that Madonna had adopted a child from the country and reading some blurb in a couple of guidebooks. [caption id="attachment_83601" align="alignright" width="600"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Blantyre
Blantyre[/caption] Yet, if I had read up on Malawi and studied a few heavy text books, would I have still ventured here? I’d like to think so. The airport was small, tatty and quite frankly uninviting. The Malawian officials herded people into an appropriate queue for passport control and as I ventured up to the desk I prepared to say my first phrase in Chichewa, “Muli Biwanji!” - “Fine” was the reply, as the women gestured me through. What a disappointment, to have spoken to my first Malawian, who replied in English! The airport porters swarmed around me, insistent that they take my luggage out to the waiting minibus. They unnerved me and I felt very protective of my belongings but eventually gave in to their persistency, only then to feel embarrassed that I had no kwacha to offer in recompense. Outside in the car park I was able to gain my first view of the country. A young girl was walking bare footed along the perimeter fence with a small child, about a year old, tied to her back with chijendi. She was beautiful with large doe eyes and glistening skin under the blazing sun. I guessed her age must have been twelve or thirteen and I immediately wondered if the small child was hers or if it was common for siblings to carry each other. Our eyes met and I felt uncomfortable but was not sure why; - did I reek of wealth with my luggage and clothes, or was it because I was white?I did not know it at the time, but this feeling of awkwardness was going to return many times during my stay. The minibus journey was both exhilarating yet terrifying. The words ‘God Hopes’, was ironically written on the bonnet: I was squashed in with four other passengers, together sharing two seats, feeling very claustrophobic. It seemed that there was no limit to how many people the minibus could hold. We spluttered along with no seat belts, a cracked window screen and only our bags to cling onto as we swerved around the traffic, pot holes and numerous pedestrians. I concluded that minibus travel was a luxury for most people as the road to Blantyre was heaving with people walking in all directions. I was acutely aware that I had broken into a sweat as I was unsure where I was going and how to get the driver to stop. We passed what I believed were the suburbs of the town: squat, sprawling, square brick houses with a mixture of corrugated and straw roofs. Outside there were women sitting using giant mortar and pestle vessels to pound maize, men transporting towering stacks of firewood precariously on a bike and so many children, playing football, sitting under the shade of trees or running around kicking up the dry dust. It was difficult to take the view as the speed limit of the minibus was either fast or extra fast. Eventually, accompanied by a fanfare of horn honking,we entered the town of Blantyre where I recognised the clock tower, an ugly, bent incongruous concrete folly. It was evident that some effort was being made to spruce up the main drag with attractive landscaped roundabouts but it could not detract from the cracked, almost non-existent pavements, the dark and uninviting steel clad shops and blue plastic rubbish bags strewn through the streets. The minibus pulled into a narrow alley and as all the passengers alighted, I assumed this was the last stop. Dragging my luggage along the kerb I headed towards my hotel and was able to soak up the bustling atmosphere of office workers, hawkers and shopkeepers going about their business. As people nodded or smiled at me, my spirits lifted. I asked myself if I had perhaps been too critical. It was a beautiful day, I was in a different country and was about to start an exciting new chapter of my life.

Police impound surgical medical drugs, Cannabis

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Divala: One person arrested

Four people have been arrested in Blantyre after being found in possession of surgical medical drugs and cannabis. [caption id="attachment_65352" align="alignright" width="389"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Divala: No constructive breaking
Divala: Tip-off[/caption] Police arrested Flora Salijeni 26, and Christopher Mikayele 20, who were in possession of 37 cartons of surgical medical drugs. Blantyre police publicist, Elizabeth Divala said the two have been charged with bringing in property dishonestly from outside the country under Section 331 of Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act. ''Our officers arrested the two while acting on a tip-off. They mounted a road block along the Magalasi road,'' Divala said. The law-enforcers have also impounded the vehicle the two hired to ferry the drugs. Investigations are underway on the issue. Both Salijeni and Mikayele hail from Madabwada village T/A Mabuka in Mulanje. Meanwhile, the law-enforcers have arrested Joseph Jimu 70 years old and Esther Tembo 30 for being in possession of two 5kgs and five 50kgs bags of Indian hemp locally known as Chamba. Tembo and Jimu popularly known as China in Chilobwe Township have been charged with found in possession of cannabis sativa under Section 4 (Regulation 19) of Dangerous Drugs Act. Joseph China Jimu  hails from Kalumbi village T/A Tengani in Nsanje while Tembo hails from Bilira village T/A Makwangwala, Ntcheu.

Malawi Police arrest pair ‘caught during sex act in car’ at Kamba

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sex in the car

A FedEx Express Limited employee and a prostitute have ended up in police custody after being caught having sexual romps in a car at the popular Kamba drinking joints in Blantyre. [caption id="attachment_95889" align="alignright" width="404"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sex in the car
Sex in the car[/caption] Blantyre police patrolling officers caught 29-year-old Timothy Bonzo and 23-year-old woman, Lizzie Banda in the wee hours of Sunday (October 11, 2015) making whoopee in a Toyota Sprinter BP4009 that was parked outside Pa Zodesa bar- one of the pubs at Kamba. Blantyre police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala told Nyasa Times the two have been charged with Idle and Disorderly contrary to Section 180 of the Penal Code. ”They were having sexual intercourse in his (Bonzo) car. They are currently in custody and will be in court Monday,” said Divala. Bonzo work as an officer in accounts department at FedEx Express Limited. He hails from Nsela village, T/A Katunga in Chikwawa district. Banda comes from Chifilama village, T/A Juma in Mulanje district. In March this year a married man and a prostitute were arrested having sex in a car at Chez Ntemba International Night Club in Blantyre. The incident happened just a day after Blantyre Water Board (BWB)internal auditor and his girlfriend were caught having a ‘car sex’ at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital parking lot.

Bangwe MP seeks assistance for rain devastated households, claims 600 people affected

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
FDH bank in flooded Limbe business town on Monday

Blantyre Bangwe MP Davie Kadzinja has sent an SOS to well wishers to help over 600 people whom he said had their houses devastated because of the Monday rains. [caption id="attachment_98027" align="alignright" width="600"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Limbe  was flooded Monday
Limbe was flooded Monday[/caption] Kadzinja said over 60 households wer eaffected translating into about 600 people. "The government is doing its part but I would like to ask other well wishers to come in as quickly as possible. The situation is not good," said Kadzinja. He said apart from food and other relief items, there was need to stock Bangwe clinic with medical drugs as the facility does not have enough medicine in stock yet the rain victims need medical assistance. Kadzinja, a clinician himself who runs Dalirani clinic in the township, said clinicians at the government run clinic do not have basic medicine and pleaded with well wishers both individuals and organisations to help the victims with the medicine. The Monday rains caused havoc in Blantyre blowing off roofs of Bangwe Catholic Church building and Makhetha Health Centre building and the flooding of Limbe stream caused extensive damage as FDH Bank and some shops were forced to close for business on Tuesday. Officials from Blantyre City Council and Blantyre District Council said Wednesday they were yet to cost the damage.  

Blantyre building owners ignore council directive

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
President Mutharika visited Blantyre buildings

Most buildings in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre still stands defiantly despite a red star symbol mark, a sign that the owners are defying the council order to pull them down. [caption id="attachment_101012" align="alignright" width="600"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Malawi at 51 , buildings in Limbe
Malawi at 51 , buildings in Limbe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_101011" align="alignright" width="600"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
President Mutharika visited Blantyre buildings
President Mutharika visited Blantyre buildings[/caption] President Peter Mutharika inaugurated the red star operation in Blantyre that would see some buildings being pulled down completely and others being renovated in a bid to make the city beautiful and meet international standards. However, two months before the deadline of March, there is little or nothing at all that has been down to demolish or renovate the buildings as ordered by the Blantyre City council. The scene in Limbe remains the same, an expensive posh vehicle parked before a dilapidated shop and tin like police houses dotting some parts of the city. Officials from Blantyre City Assembly said resources are being mobilised to start the demolition of houses earmarked for the exercise come March. They said residents were given enough time to improve their buildings.

14 pupils attacked by strange sickness in Blantyre

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Pupils collapsed

There was mayhem at Likhubula LEA School on Tuesday and classes were disrupted abruptly after 14 students were attacked by a strange sickness. [caption id="attachment_104319" align="alignright" width="176"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Pupils collapsed
Pupils collapsed[/caption] According to a Likhubula School official speaking on condition of anonymity, 14 students had fainted one after the other whereby causing panic and forcing School officials to end classes. “We have a few students who faint and most of the times when this happens we take them to the office for first aid treatment. However, today’s case was unusual as there were a large number of cases that we have never seen before,” said the school official. He said after receiving the alarming cases, they called a nearby police unit for help. “Luckily, the police came and provided us with transportation. We drove the students to hospital where they have been treated. As I am speaking, everybody is fine, the situation is calm and we are looking forward to resuming classes tomorrow,” he narrated. However, he said they are under pressure from concerned parents and other individuals inquiring what exactly had happened. “Until now we also don’t know how this happened. Even hospital officials are simply describing it as a case of  fainting,” he disclosed. Ironically, all the 14 students are in standard 8.

Mayhem in Mbayani over a boy’s death: Malawi Police arrest one

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Divala: One person arrested

There was pandemonium on Monday afternoon in Mbayani Township, Blantyre when an angry mob descended on one of the residents they suspected to have had a hand in the death of a 17-year-old boy who died of drowning almost three weeks ago. [caption id="attachment_65352" align="alignright" width="389"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Divala: One person arrested
Divala: One person arrested[/caption] During the fracas, the angry mob stoned and damaged a house of unnamed resident and a a local pub belonging to a man identified as Mr. Mangochi. The fracas broke out soon after the deceased, Brave Muha a student at Pact Private Secondary School, was laid to rest in Chilomoni Township. Blantyre Police spokesperson Elizabeth Divala confirmed of the incident, saying one person has been arrested so far in relation to the episode. “Details are still sketchy right now but one person has been arrested and we expect more arrests as our officers are on the ground handling the situation,” said Divala. Divala said the angry mob decided to take the law in its hands on suspicions that that the deceased’s death was masterminded by one of the residents in the Township. “It is reported that the deceased had an argument at one of the bottle stores in the area and it is alleged that those targeted by the angry residents had a hand in his death”. Chileka police Publicist, Grace Mwale confirmed of Muha's drowning. Nyasa Times visit to the scene of the incident, which is in Chemusa, Mbayani along the M1 road, found heavily armed police labouring to calm the situation. The situation had drawn mixed reactions from road users who were afraid of their vehicles being stoned by the angry mob.

Officer flirts with widow at funeral, puzzles bereaved family

Blantyre rings in 2017 with spectacular fireworks display: Malawians leap in new year with gloom

Lunzu Market upgrade to boost revenue base —DC Nkasala

Blantyre’s Old Boma building wears new face

Blantyre to host its first-ever city funfair April 29


Figures show fall in recorded crime in Blantyre

Blantyre on fire: Business grind to stand still as minibus operators protest

Man dies after falling from building he was painting in Blantyre

Blantyre District Council fails to reconcile its books since 2011

Use of sewage in irrigating vegetable gardens worries Blantyre residents

Viewing all 50 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>