Muhara fired at State House

Newly elected President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has hired the services of Zangazanga Chikhosi, replacing Lloyd Muhara.

This has been disclosed in a statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet released on Monday made available to faceofmalawi.

According to the statement, Chikhosi will be deputized by Dr. Janet Chikata Banda SC.

Muhara has gone back to the Judiciary.

Recently Muhara made headlines when he wrote Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda to proceed on leave pending retirement.

More details to follow…

Jomo Osman arrested

Police in Limbe have arrested notorious DPP youth cadet, Isaac Jomo Osman.

Limbe police spokesperson Patrick Mussa confirmed the development last evening but stressed that details regarding the arrest were not readily available.

At the peak of the DPP regime, Jomo – a councillor for Mthandizi Ward in Bangwe once publicly assaulted an innocent young man in Limbe for wearing an MCP branded shirt.

Despite the video of the incident going viral on social media, the police never really probed the matter to its conclusion.

Kamlepo Kalua congratulates Chakwera for winning fresh Presidential polls

Former Minister of Lands and Housing Development Kamlepo Kalua who is also Member of Parliament for Rumphi East has congratulated Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his Vice Dr. Saulos Chilima for winning the fresh Presidential polls.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Saturday declared Chakwera as winner after defeating former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Peter Kuwani of Mbakuwaku Movement for Development (MMD).

Chakwera and Chilima were sworn-in on Sunday and the two have started discharging their duties.

Writing on his official facebook page, Kalua hailed Chakwera and Chilima.

“I would like to congratulate the state president His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera and Vice president Saulos Chilima on their Election Victory. In Unity we are all winners. May God bless Malawi,” wrote Kalua.

Kalua moved to DPP after being incorporated in the cabinet by the outgoing President.

Meanwhile it is yet to be seen if Kalua will remain to the opposition benches in Parliament.

Worst is still to come on pandemic-WHO chief warns

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the world that the “worst is yet to come” in the Covid-19 pandemic.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus would infect many more people if governments did not start to implement the right policies.

His message remained “Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine”, he said.

More than 10m cases have been recorded worldwide since coronavirus emerged in China late last year. The number of patients who died is now above 500,000.

Half the world’s cases have been in the US and Europe but Covid-19 is rapidly growing in the Americas.

The virus is also affecting South Asia and Africa, where it is not expected to peak until the end of July.

Dr Tedros told a virtual briefing on Monday: “We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is this is not even close to being over.

“Although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up.”

He also urged more governments to follow the examples of Germany, South Korea and Japan, which kept their outbreak in check through policies that included rigorous testing and tracing.

What are the worst-affected countries?

The US has reported more than 2.5 million cases and about 126,000 deaths with Covid-19 so far – more than any other nation.

US states that emerged from lockdown in recent weeks – notably in the south – have been reporting sharp increases in new infections in recent weeks.

The spike has led officials in Texas, Florida and other states to tighten restrictions on business again.

The country with the second-highest number of recorded cases is Brazil, with a total of 1.3 million, and deaths in excess of 57,000.

On Monday a state of emergency was declared in the capital Brasilia, following a surge there.

Like most Brazilian governors and mayors, the local authorities in Brasilia eased social distancing restrictions earlier this month and allowed shops to reopen

In the UK – the country with the greatest number of deaths in Western Europe – the mayor of Leicester said pubs and restaurants might stay closed for two more weeks due to a spike in cases.

Restrictions in the rest of England are due to be eased at the weekend, with pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and hotels allowed to reopen.

Source : BBC News

Iran issues arrest warrant for President Trump

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad.

It is also requesting that the International Police, Interpol assist in arresting the US President.Iran issues arrest warrant for Trump, asks Interpol to help.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasi Mehr said on Monday that Trump, along with more than 30 others Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 attack that killed General Qassem Soleimani, face “murder and terrorism charges”, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Mehr claimed Trump would be prosecuted as soon as he stands down presidency after his term ends, Fars reported.

Iran also said it had asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for these 36 individuals, semi-official state news agency ISNA reported, though it was unlikely that Interpol would grant the request.

CNN has contacted Interpol for comment.

Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike at Baghdad International Airport in January along with five others, including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

The strike, condemned by Iran and its allies as an “assassination,” raised the specter of further regional destabilization.

A spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Esmaili, announced in early June that an Iranian citizen had been sentenced to death for allegedly working for foreign intelligence agencies. Esmaili claimed that Seyed Mahmoud Mousavi Majd disclosed the whereabouts of Soleimani to US intelligence officials.

The Pentagon blamed Soleimani for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and US allies in the months leading up to his killing.

“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” the Pentagon said at the time, calling the strike “decisive defensive” action aimed at deterring future Iranian attacks.

SADC Congratulates Chakwera for Winning Fresh Presidential Polls

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has congratulated His Excellency the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera for winning the Fresh Presidential election.

A statement issued by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation commends the people of Malawi for turning out in large numbers to exercise their civic and democratic right.

The SADC Chair has also applauded the people of Malawi for the political tolerance and maturity demonstrated throughout the

electoral process.
The statement further hails the peaceful political and security situation that has prevaled in the country and also commends the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for the efficient and effective organization and management of the re-run of the Presidential Election in the face of the challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The regional block has also urged the candidates who took part in the election and their supporters to accept the official results as announced by the Malawi Electoral Commission, and to observe the national electoral and constitutional processes should they have grievances regarding the electoral process.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri has bid farewell to staff members at the Ministry.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri has bid farewell to staff members at the Ministry.

Principal Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development Charles Kalemba has confirmed the development

.

He, however, said it would be difficult to say Phiri's farewell can be considered as resignation in the absence of an official communication.

"OPC is better placed to answer that, as well as the Minister himself" he said.

But when contacted, Phiri told Nation Online to ignore the message.

Phiri, however, said in a message sent to his colleagues at the Ministry that he was leaving a happy man.

Reads the message in part: "I did my part and surely I couldn't do everything. To some, I was a bad Minister ... and to a few, a good minister . All those are just perceptions and opinions, which is ok . All I can say is, I am going a happy man filled with joy that I came and now leaving having left a mark in the Ministry.

"Today I bid farewell to all of you here . I may have made mistakes along the way. Trust me, it may have been an error of judgement and not intentional. Please accept my apology."

He further lauded staff at the ministry for their hardworking spirit.

JB visits Chakwera

Former President Dr. Joyce Banda who is also founder of the People’s Party (PP) has paid a surprise visit to President in-waiting Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at his house in Blantyre.
An eyewitness confirmed of the development in an interview with this publication.
While the aim of the visits is not known but inside sources say Banda went to Chakwera to congratulate him for coming out victorious in the fresh Presidential polls.
Unofficial results of the fresh Presidential polls conducted on June 23, 2020 by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) indicates that Chakwera of Tonse Alliance has outclassed President Peter Mutharika of DPP-UDF alliance with 58 percent against 39 percent.
According to the results, Chakwera has amassed 2,597,088 votes while Mutharika has amassed 1,742, 802 votes.
Official results will be announced by MEC any day this week.

Another MEC vehicle involved in road accident

Another Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) vehicle has been involved in road accident in Ntcheu District.
MEC Chairperson Dr. Chifundo Kachale disclosed this in a media briefing held at the electoral body’s main tally centre at College of Medicine in Blantyre.
The accident happened on Wednesday night.
According to Kachale, MEC van hit a stationary vehicle but the materials in the vehicle were not damaged.
He said the vehicle was not carrying results of the fresh Presidential polls.
Kachale said the materials arrived safely in Blantyre.

Coronavirus in Africa: 324,559 cases; 8,621 deaths; 154,386 recoveries

According to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 in Africa, the breakdown remains fluid as countries confirm cases as and when. As of May 13, every African country had recorded an infection, the last being Lesotho.
We shall keep updating this list largely sourced from the John Hopkins University tallies, Africa CDC and from official government data.

• Confirmed cases = 324,559
• Active cases = 161,552
• Recoveries = 154,386
• Number of deaths = 8,621

Countries in alphabetical order

• Algeria – 12,076
• Angola – 189
• Benin – 850
• Botswana – 89
• Burkina Faso – 919
• Burundi – 144
• Cameroon – 12,270
• Cape Verde – 982
• Central African Republic – 3,051
• Chad – 860
• Comoros – 265
• Congo-Brazzaville – 1,087
• DR Congo – 6,027
• Djibouti – 4,617
• Egypt – 58,141
• Equatorial Guinea – 1,664
• Eritrea – 143
• Eswatini – 674
• Ethiopia – 4,848
• Gabon – 4,849
• (The) Gambia – 42
• Ghana – 14,568
• Guinea – 5,040
• Guinea-Bissau – 1,556
• Ivory Coast – 7,904
• Kenya – 4,952
• Lesotho – 17
• Liberia – 655
• Libya – 639
• Madagascar – 1,724
• Malawi – 803
• Mali – 1,978
• Mauritania – 3,292
• Mauritius – 340
• Morocco – 10,344
• Mozambique – 757
• Namibia – 72
• Niger – 1,051
• Nigeria- 21,371
• Rwanda – 798
• Sao Tome and Principe – 707
• Senegal – 6,034
• Seychelles – 11
• Sierra Leone – 1,347
• Somalia – 2,835
• South Africa – 106,108
• South Sudan – 1,930
• Sudan – 8,889
• Tanzania – 509
• Togo – 576
• Tunisia – 1,159
• Uganda – 797
• Zambia – 1,477
• Zimbabwe – 52

"this is most credible election ever held in Malawi"- Mkaka

 

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) General Secretary Eisenhower Mkaka has said parties under the Tonse Alliance treat this year's fresh presidential elections as the most credible one ever held in the country.

 

Mkaka was reacting to a question about how they rate the commission thus far, in terms of the general administration of the elections.

Among other things, Mkaka says that it is laudable for the commission for it has been addressing rising challenges as well as updating the nation time and again.

 

He has since condemned acts of violence that have been reported as the electoral process continued.

 

He has also revealed that they are following the unofficial results which apparently tip their leader Lazarus Chakwera to victory.

 

As of last night, results from about 8 districts have arrived at the National Tally Centre in Blantyre.

 

 

93 more Covid-19 cases in Malawi

Malawi has registered 93 new COVID-19 cases, one new recovery, and no new deaths.

Of the new cases, five work within the health care system: three

from Blantyre, one from Mzuzu, and one from Chitipa.

The other new cases are

distributed as follows: 42 from Blantyre (38 are contacts of cases identified at a work places and the other four were identified during screening at Mwanza Boarder), 25 from Mzuzu (all are contacts of confirmed cases), seven from Lilongwe (six are contacts

of confirmed cases and one was identified during screening at Mwanza Boarder), four each from Machinga and Mangochi (all were identified during screening at Mwanza Boarder) and one case each from Balaka, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Karonga, Mzimba, and

Salima districts (Other than Karonga case who travelled to Chitipa, all were identified during screening at Mwanza Boarder).

Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 941 cases including 11 deaths. Of these cases, 618 are imported infections and 303 are locally transmitted while 20 are still under investigation.

Cumulatively, 260 cases have now recovered bringing the total number

of active cases to 670.

The average age of the cases is 33.3 years, the youngest case is aged 1 year, the oldest is 78 years and 70% are male.

The country has so far conducted 11,883 COVID-19 tests in 34 COVID-19 testing sites

High Court nullifies Phalombe north parliamentary election

High Court Judge Rowland Mbvundula has nullified parliamentary elections for Phalombe North where Anna Kachikho was member of parliment.

 

The case was filed by Promise Salima against Electoral Commission and Anna Kachikho. 

 

The court has since ordered for a fresh election.

Mutharika casts his vote

President Peter Mutharika who is also torchbearer for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic front (UDF) alliance has exercised his constitutional right by voting in the fresh Presidential polls.
Mutharika was accompanied by the country’s first lady Getrude Mutharika at Goliati in Thyolo to casts his vote.
Speaking to the press after voting, Mutharika accused the opposition of perpetrating violence especially in central region, citing incidences in Dowa, Salima and Kabula.
Mutharika further commented on the withdrawal of some of the party monitors, which he described as sad, saying violence should not be condoned.
However, Mutharika said the will of the people will prevail

DPP monitor arrested for possessing 6 national ID's and 6 voter certificates

A Democratic Progressive Party-DPP monitor has been arrested at Mbalachanda polling center in Mzimba for allegedly being found with six national identity cards and six voter certificates.

Mzimba District Returning Officer, who is also District Commissioner Emmanuel Bambe has confirmed the development, saying police are still investigating the matter.

The woman has been identified as Mary Banda of Kajapi village in the area of Inkosi Chindi and is being kept at Mbalachanda Police Unit.

Voters Asked to Bring Own Pens Due to Covid-19

Chairperson for Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Justice Chifundo Kachale has recommended voters to bring own ball point pens to prevent the spread of deadly Coronavirus.
Justice Kachale said this on Monday during a press briefing at the National’s Main Tally Centre, College of Medicine, in Blantyre.
Kachale stressed that voter should bring ball point pens to be used for voting and not pencils that can easily been rubbed off.
So far the country has at least 793 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus out of the 11,074 conducted tests.
Out of the confirmed cases, 11 deaths have been recorded, 258 people have recovered leaving the total of active cases at 534.

FPE: Mbakuwaku Presidential Candidate Peter Kuwani votes

Presidential candidate for Mbakuwaku Movement for Development (MMD) Peter Kuwani has cast his vote at Matimba Primary school in Mchinji Central constituency.
Speaking to journalists after voting, Kuwani said he is hopeful that his party will succeed in this election because it’s a unique party.
Kuwani commended Malawians for flocking to various voting centres, saying it shows the seriousness Malawians are attaching to the election
He urged Malawians to avoid engaging in violence and vandalism and let the electoral process take its course.
Matimba Primary school center has 1452 registered voters.

FPE: Malawi Veep Saulos Chilima, Wife Vote

State vice president Saulos Chilima and his wife Mary Chilima have cast their vote in Lilongwe at St. Thomas polling Centre in Lilongwe City Constituency.
Chilima who is also Tonse Alliance running-mate and United Transformation Movement (UTM) after voting said he is impressed with the who process as it only took him less than five minutes to exercise his constitutional right.

“I have voted. I have been here for less than five minutes and am done. So, that’s impressive. So far so good based on what I have seen,” said Chilima.
The constituency is among five in Lilongwe city. Lilongwe has a total of 22 constituencies.
Voting is underway across the country as citizenry is voting for a president following nullification of May 21, 2019 presidential elections by the constitutional Court in February this year.

Peter Mutharika torchbearer for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – United Democratic Front (UDF), Lazarus Chakwera Tonse Alliance Torchbearer and Peter Kuwani of Mbakuwaku Movement for Development are racing for the presidency position

Coronavirus in Africa, 306,390 cases; 8,116 deaths; 146,337 recoveries

According to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 in Africa, the breakdown remains fluid as countries confirm cases as and when. As of May 13, every African country had recorded an infection, the last being Lesotho.
We shall keep updating this list largely sourced from the John Hopkins University tallies, Africa CDC and from official government data.

Major African stats: June 22

• Confirmed cases = 297,112
• Active cases = 151,937
• Recoveries = 146,337
• Number of deaths = 8,116

Countries in alphabetical order

• Algeria – 11,771
• Angola – 183
• Benin – 765
• Botswana – 89
• Burkina Faso – 903
• Burundi – 144
• Cameroon – 11,892
• Cape Verde – 890
• Central African Republic – 2,808
• Chad – 858
• Comoros – 247
• Congo-Brazzaville – 883
• DR Congo – 5,826
• Djibouti – 4,582
• Egypt – 55,233
• Equatorial Guinea – 1,664
• Eritrea – 143
• Eswatini – 635
• Ethiopia – 4,532
• Gabon – 4,428
• (The) Gambia – 37
• Ghana – 14,154
• Guinea – 4,988
• Guinea-Bissau – 1,541
• Ivory Coast – 7,492
• Kenya – 4,738
• Lesotho – 4
• Liberia – 626
• Libya – 571
• Madagascar – 1,596
• Malawi – 730
• Mali – 1,933
• Mauritania – 2,984
• Mauritius – 337
• Morocco – 9,977
• Mozambique – 733
• Namibia – 55
• Niger – 1,036
• Nigeria- 20,244
• Rwanda – 728
• Sao Tome and Principe – 698
• Senegal – 5,888
• Seychelles – 11
• Sierra Leone – 1,327
• Somalia – 2,779
• South Africa – 97,302
• South Sudan – 1,892
• Sudan – 8,580
• Tanzania – 509
• Togo – 569
• Tunisia – 1,157
• Uganda – 770
• Zambia – 1,430
• Zimbabwe – 489

Malawi police assures Malawians of maximum security during elections

The Malawi Police Service has assured people that all necessary security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of people during voting and after voting.

This is contained in a statement signed by James Kadadzela national police spokesperson.

According to the statement, police officers ,MDF soldiers and lmmigration officers have been deployed across the country to ensure the safety of people.

The statement has also urged voters to go to their respective homes after casting their ballot saying it is a crime to loiter around polling centers and tally centers without accreditarion