"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

Atleast 19 people have killed in DRC by rebels

There are reports that at least 19 people have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in attacks blamed on a notorious rebel group.
Officials say the bodies of nine people who were kidnapped on Friday have been found in North Kivu Province.
In the neighbouring Ituri region, the same militia known as the Allied Democratic Forces or ADF attacked the village of Bukaka on Saturday killing ten civilians.
The ADF - which has no clear political agenda - has been blamed for killing around five hundred people in recent months in retaliation for an army crackdown on their bases in the forests.

Drivers demand allowances from MEC at KIA

There was drama at Kamuzu International Airport as the last chunk of ballot papers for Lilongwe remaind at the site as drivers demanded allowances before leaving the premises.
This comes as ballot papers for other districts left the cargo site.
Meanwhile, one of the drivers who opted for annonymity said they agreed not to leave the airport until the Malawi Electoral Commission gives them their upkeep allowance.
The source added that MEC promised to give them allowances by 8:30 Saturday morning but the promise was not fulfilled.
When MEC Chairperson Dr Chifundo Kachale was contacted, he said the Commission was to hold a press briefing on the following day, and directed the reporters to director of communications Sangwani Mwafulirwa who did not pick up his phone.
Team leader for Tonse Aliance Howard Kachipanda confirmed to MIJ FM that 23 trucks were grounded at airport saying MEC officials said they had run out of money

Bayern Munich offers City £36 million ($45m) for attacker Leroy Sane

Bayern Munich have offered Manchester City £36 million ($45m) for attacker Leroy Sane, claims Sport Bild. City have confirmed Sane has turned down the chance to extend his stay at the Etihad beyond 2021.

Missing ESCOM director of human resource found alive

Director of Human Resources and Administration at Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Daphter Namandwa who went missing on Thursday in Mulanje, has been found alive.
ESCOM Public Relations Manager Innocent Chitosi has confirmed the development in an interview with the press.
“It is true that he has been found. Plans are that he sees a doctor for check up this morning as the police continue with their investigations,” Chitosi said.
According to a police report, Namandwa was found around 18:00 hours by a motorcycle (kabaza) operator at Thabwa along Nalipiri road,looking weak and desperate.
Meanwhile investigations are underway to establish the truth behind the matter.

Suspected armed robber shot in Mangochi

A suspected armed robber has been killed, two arrested, while two others are on the run after Police in the eastern region foiled their armed robbery mission in Mangochi Friday.

According to Mangochi Police Spokesperson, Inspector Roderick Maida, on the wee hours of Friday, the five suspected criminals attempted to rob one of the food processing companies in the district, Mother’s Food Company.
But Inspector Maida, said police officers were already alerted about the move by some members of the general public and were following them.
“The five robbers who were armed with air gun, panga knives and heavy metal bars stormed the place, attacked two watchmen before breaking into a house of the owner which is behind the company premises, but stole nothing,” said Maida.
He said the robbers then went on and broke the factory where police invaded them before accomplishing their mission.
Maida said sensing danger, the robbers tried to run away from the scene and in the process one suspect identified as Samuel Jeffrey charged towards a police officer and hit him with a metal bar on the right side before he was shot dead.
He said Ousman Kalinga, 50 from Mpindo village in the area of Traditional Authority Mulumbe in Zomba and James Misoya, 47 from Misomali Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chikumbu in Mulanje were arrested and are in their custody while other two escaped.
Police also managed to recover a motor vehicle, Toyota Corolla Registration Number BN 9692 and assorted breaking implements that were used in the operation, according to Maida.

David Luiz demands new two-year Arsenal deal

ARSENAL are set for crunch talks with David Luiz ahead of the defender's contract expiring at the end of the month.

Next Tuesday is the deadline for the Gunners to seal Luiz's future with reports suggesting he wants a new two-year deal.
The club can propose a temporary extension until the end of the season or activate an automatic 12-month renewal clause inserted into the player's contract.
However, according to the Mail, Arsenal do not want to pay Luiz his £120,000-a-week wages for another season.
The coronavirus pandemic is biting the club's finances hard, prompting a ten per cent pay cut agreed by the vast majority of the squad during football's shutdown.
A new contract on reduced terms may be on the table yet Mikel Arteta's side still favour a single year for the 33-year-old.
By contrast, Luiz reportedly wants a two-year deal having been a regular throughout the Gunners' turbulent season.
Kia Joorabchian, the Brazilian's agent, insisted on Thursday that the issue will be resolved in the coming days.

Blantyre DHO traces 16 Covid-19 escapees , 11 tested positive

Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) says it has traced 16 out of 441 returnees from South Africa who escaped from Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre last month before receiving their coronavirus test results.
Blantyre DHO spokesperson Chrissy Banda said 11 out of the 16 tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19).
She said all are from Blantyre.
She said the DHO has put the 11 on self-quarantine to ensure they are following necessary precautionary measures.
Last month, government started facilitating the repatriation of Malawians from South Africa and Zimbabwe following stiff lockdowns in the wake of the pandemic in the two countries.

Blantyre residents to experience water problems

Blantyre residents will today experience water interruption or low water pressure as the Blantyre Water Board’s (BWB) operations at Walkers ferry pumping station will be shut down.

 

This comes as the board intends to carry out maintenance works on the old main pipeline between Nkula and Chileka.

 

Following the development water from Walkers Ferry to Chileka will be supplied only through the new main pipeline, thereby reducing the amount of water into the supply area by 50 percent.

 

Therefore, the board is encouraging the public to store water for use during the maintenance period as the works may take the whole day to be completed.

Close to 4,000 school girls impregnated in Kenya during Covid-19 lockdown

Kenya has reported a sudden surge in teen pregnancies in one single county over a period of five months thus threatening to cut short the pursuit for education among school-going girls.
Machakos county, located in the north eastern province in Kenya is leading several other counties in terms of teenage pregnancies in Kenya according to Kenya Health Information System survey
The data shows that a total of 3,964 girls aged 19 years and below were reported pregnant within that period.

“During this coronavirus pandemic we do have 4000 impregnated girls. These are so many innocent girls,” she said.
She further reiterated that most of the cases were as a result of defilement by close family members
She adds that about 200 of these girls are aged 14 years and below.
“How can a 12 year old girl become a mother?” she posed.
“All the people who have impregnated these children needs be arraigned but it is becoming a challenge. We need special court sittings to address and deal with these cases,” Salome appealed.
She further blamed both the parents and the ineffective justice system for the prevailing crisis.
“Most of these cases you will find involve children who were taken from urban centres in the wake of Covid-19 and left in the hands of their grandmothers in the countryside as the parents returned to the towns,” Ms Muthama told reporters in Machakos Town.
Credit : Africanews

Ballot papers for fresh Presidential polls to jet in tomorrow

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has said ballot papers for the fresh Presidential polls will arrive in the country on Friday, 2020.
MEC Chairperson Justice Dr Chifundo Kachale disclosed this this today during National Elections Consultative Forum (NECOF) meeting held in the capital Lilongwe.
Kachale said this follows completion of printing works by the company that was contracted by the electoral body from Dubai.
He however disclosed that MEC is in shortfall of MK8 billion.
The fresh Presidential polls are scheduled for June 23, 2020.