China Donates Medical Supplies To Malawi To Assist Health Workers In Fight Against Covid-19

The Chinese Government on Tuesday donated medical supplies to Malawi Government to assist health workers in the fight against COVID -19.

The medical supplies, which were handed over through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), include 150,000 surgical masks ,15,000 N95 masks, 7,000 protective clothing, 7,000 goggles, 7000 pairs of gloves and 300 pairs of show covers.



Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Deputy Chief of China Embassy, Wang Xiusheng said it was the hope of the Chinese government that the items will assist in the fight against COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of Malawians.

“Currently, COVID-19 is raging in Malawi, now there are more than 4600 confirmed cases and when Malawi suffers, we are also deeply affected.

“One philosophy that sticks out in the fight against COVID -19 both in China and Malawi is the people-centred government philosophy and I believe that with this philosophy, Malawi will defeat COVID-19 and realise economic liberation eventually.

Co–Chairperson of the Presidential Task Force against COVID-19, Dr John Phuka said it is very clear that the country continues to suffer from COVID-19.

“We have over 2000 active cases with some of those that are in the wards and for us to continue to fight this disease, it means we need to continue our surveillance, test, treatment and trace as well as protect our health workers,” he said.

He added that the donation will largely support the health sector as currently, there is about nine per cent of health workers affected, contributing to the total of cumulative numbers.

“This support that focuses on helping that group of our society who are the front line fighters of COVID-19 is very helpful,” he said.

Credit: MANA

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, picks Senator Kamala Harris as his choice for vice president

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, has picked Senator Kamala Harris as his choice for vice president, making her the first Black woman and the first Asian American to compete on a major party's presidential ticket in the United States.

The announcement on Tuesday capped a months-long search for a Democratic partner to challenge President Donald Trump in November.

Biden on Twitter called Harris "a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country's finest public servants".


"Together, with you, we're going to beat Trump," he said.

Harris, who ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination against Biden, said she was "honored" to join the ticket and would "do what it takes" to help him win.

Biden could "unify the American people because he's spent his life fighting for us", she wrote on Twitter

-Aljazeera-

Another Cohort Of Malawians Return From South Africa Amid Covid-19

Immigration authorities at Mwanza border have received another cohort 12 buses carrying 500 plus Malawians.

The group, which was escorted by officials from Malawi's Embassy in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique were handed over to Immigration and Health Personnel at Zobue Border, Mozambique.

Upon arrival of the buses at Mwanza border, health personnel gave health talk to the returnees before disinfecting buses.


Immigration assessment on the passenger's manifest indicates that each bus had 42 passengers and 2 drivers.

The buses will be leaving the border to a designated place where Covid19 test will be done.

It is expected that MRA and immigration formalities will also be done at the same facility.

4 buses will be heading to Nalikule TTC in Lilongwe, another 4 will be cleared at Machinga TTC while the last 4 buses will be going to Domasi TTC in Zomba.

Malawi registers 40 new Covid-19 cases

40 new Covid19 cases have been recorded today putting the total confirmed cases in Malawi at 4,714.

There have also been 47 new recoveries putting the total of recoveries at 2,477.

There have also been 6 new deaths putting the fatality tally at 152.

Active cases are now at 2085.

So far, 460 new tests have been conducted putting the total of tests in the country at 35,337.

Malawi Nurses Living In UK Donates 11 Oxygen Cylinders To KCH

Malawian nurses who are living in the United Kingdom have donated 11 oxygen cylinders to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in support of the treatment of Covid-19 patients at the referral hospital.
KCH hospital administrator Dr Jonathan Ngoma confirmed the development, while appreciating the generous gesture as oxygen is key in treating coronavirus patients. According to Ngoma, a cylinder that normally lasts 48 hours, lasts eight hours only when used to assist Covid-19 patients, hence the call for more help.
“Since we do not know how long Covid-19 will be around, and we do not know how many patients will come to the hospital very sick and in need of oxygen, we still need support from well-wishers.” he said.
In similar news, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (Qech) launched its oxygen plant last week, aimed at supplying enough oxygen to wards at reduced cost, hence ably attending to the Covid-19 patients. Qech Director, Samson Mndolo, hailed the oxygen plant, considering that the coronavirus pandemic calls for a constant supply of oxygen.
“Covid-19 patients need more oxygen than others. We need to supply more oxygen because Covid-19 patients always need intensive care. We also need more oxygen regulators to supply to all wards,” he said.

DPP’s Jomo Osman questioned over Mayaya’s assault

Police in Blantyre have interrogated Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Councillor for Bangwe Jomo Osman over the assault of activist Billy Mayaya.

Police spokesperson for the South Ramsy Mushani has confirmed that Osman was interrogated in connection to the case.

Mayaya, a member of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) member Billy Mayaya, was assaulted during clashes between protesters and DPP supporters in Blantyre last year.

The protesters were demonstrating to demand the removal of the then Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Jane Ansah over her handling of the now nullified 2019 elections.

The two groups pelted stones at each other and some protesters run to a Malawi Defence Force camp to seek refuge while others fled to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital premises.

Mayaya who was leading the demonstrators suffered cuts to the head and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. He later wrote on social media that he was “attacked with stones and an iron bar.”

The DPP was a ruling party at the time but it is now in opposition after its leader, former Malawi president Peter Mutharika, lost the 23 June Fresh Presidential Elections.

Since Mutharika’s loss, Osman has been arrested on two occasions. He was first arrested for theft and malicious damage before being arrested again for the assault of a Malawi Congress Party supporter.

Russia Approves 'First Coronavirus' Vaccine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the approval of a coronavirus vaccine for use on Tuesday, claiming it as a "world first," amid continued concern and unanswered questions over its safety and effectiveness.

"A vaccine against coronavirus has been registered for the first time in the world this morning," Putin said on state TV. "I know that it works quite effectively, it forms a stable immunity."

 

"I hope our foreign colleagues' work will move as well, and a lot of products will appear on an international market that could be used."

 

The vaccine -- developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute -- has been named Sputnik-V.

 

The name is a reference to the surprise 1957 launch of the world's first satellite by the Soviet Union.

 

The treatment is yet to go through crucial Phase 3 trials where it would be administered to thousands of people.

Mayi Dinala of MCP dies

Death has been announced of one of the longest serving member of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Mayi Roseby Dinala.

MCP Director of Campaign Moses Kunkuyu has confirmed the death in an interview with the press.


Mayi Dinala died this morning at Adventist Hospital in the commercial capital Blantyre.

She was one of the oldest women who took part in the demonstrations organized by Human Right Defenders Coalition (HRDC) aimed at forcing the resignation of the then Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah.


Ansah was being accused of failing to manage the annulled May 21, 2019 Presidential polls which saw Peter Mutharika being declared winner.

Meanwhile funeral details are still sketchy.

Junior Prison Officers Threaten to Down Tool, Demand PPEs and Allowances

Junior Prison officers have threatened to withdraw some of their services effective August 14 2020 to force authorities to address their grievances concerning risk allowances and Personal Protective Equipment in the wake of Covid-19.

In a memo issued today and addressed to the Ministry of Homeland Security, the junior officers say they will not attend to suspects as well as convicts who are either quarantined or have tested positive for Coronavirus.


They further say they will be reporting for duties but will not get closer to any of the inmates.

“No new admissions will be allowed into prisons from courts. Entry into prisons by court officials, the police or any civilian personnel shall not be permitted,” reads the Memo in part.


However, they say, regardless of whether on duty or not, the junior officers shall be gathering in their large numbers in all entry points into the prison premises to make sure that security of the formations is not compromised.


“It is only when we shall have the allowances into our bank accounts and supplied with the much needed PPE that we shall resume our normal duties,” it reads.

The junior officer claim that they were told that government had secured about K100 million for the junior officers’ allowances in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and that all prisons will be supplied with adequate PPE within the shortest period “but up to now nothing has been done not even mass screening and disinfection of the prisons.”


Meanwhile, number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country’s prisons is at 118 for inmates and 21 for prison officers including a single death.

-Nation Online-

Malawi sex workers angered with government’s decision to close churches

Sex workers in Malawi have expressed their dissatisfaction with government over decision to ban churches amid Covid-19 partial lock-down.

Lucy Mtajili, chairperson for Lilongwe Sex Workers said that the banning of religion gatherings will have a serious mental impact on the sex workers who go to church every Sunday to thank God for their blossoming business, pray for protection and repent for some of the sins they commit while on duty.


“Its very unfair to ban the only place we go apart from bars. We go through a lot and when we seek God from churches, we are greatly relieved to continue entertaining Malawians.


We are in the business of offering pleasure to people including cabinet ministers and top government officials, our job is a serious one because we deal with an erect person. Spiritual orientation helps us stay in line and sex workers pray the most than everyone you can think of,” she said.


The Chairperson has asked government to reconsider the decision of face them in the streets.

“Government should do the right thing or face us in the streets. We will demonstrate against this decision until churches reopen. We need God to heal this nation,” she explained.

Mtajili has since asked Pastors to involve them if should there be other plans on how they intend to challenge government to reopen churches as soon as possible.-Akometsi

UNICEF donates 90 smart phones to Local Govt Ministry

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 90 smart phones and chargers to Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to be used for receiving feedback from the community on issues regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on Monday during the donation of the gadgets worth K30 million in Lilongwe, Chief Community Development Officer of the organisation, Matteo Frontini said the gadgets are loaded with bundles and COVID-19 responses.

“53 phone gadgets will be distributed to frontline workers such as Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), Primary Education Advisors, Child Protection Workers and Community Development Assistants in 13 districts,” he said.

He explained that among the districts in the country to benefit from the donation include Blantyre, Mulanje, Mangochi, Ntcheu Dedza, Mwanza, Karonga, Chitipa, Zomba and Lilongwe.

Frontini said the districts were identified as high risk districts of COVID-19 as most of them are boarder and urban cities with high population.

In his remarks, Principal Secretary for the Ministry, Charles Kalemba thanked UNICEF for the donation, saying it would assist the ministry to provide necessary help to community members on COVID-19 response.

“Our Health Surveillance Assistants will interact with members of the community about COVID-19 and record requirements so that the ministry can intervene easily,” he said.

He assured the gadgets would enhance community feedback and information flow between the ministry and district councils, specifically to ensure that there is real time data on COVID-19 pandemic for the ministry.

Kalemba said the ministry will be able to send and receive feedback on COVID-19 to and from frontline staff as well as other stakeholders.

“The data which will be coming from the 35 local authorities will feed into the ministry dashboard,” he said.

‘Sir’ Paul Banda to start offering music lessons

 ‘Sir’ Paul Banda says he is ready to impart knowledge to people interested in learning music through private music lessons.

His equally accomplished musician brother, Lucius Banda revealed this through his Facebook page when he praised ‘Sir’ Paul Banda.

Reads the post in part: “He taught himself how to play the guitar and sing in the 1970s. He is the man who has made a lot of us exist musically. He is our teacher, our mentor, our producer. He studied jazz in Bergamo, Italy in the 1980s. He can play and teach almost any instrument.”

He said with this background, he pleaded with him to teach others how to play musical instruments in Lilongwe.

Lucius said this will give a chance to people interested to learn how to play musical instruments.

He said dates for starting the lessons will be announced in due course.

Many people have since praised Paul Banda for the initiative.

Borussia Dortmund says youngster Jadon Sancho will remain at the club next season after Manchester United was reportedly close to signing the starlet.

 

Borussia Dortmund says youngster Jadon Sancho will remain at the club next season after Manchester United was reportedly close to signing the starlet.

Sancho, 20, is one of the hottest prospects in world football -- scoring 17 league goals and making 16 assists last season -- and had been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford

However, United has reportedly balked at Dortmund's valuation of Sancho, which stands at around $140m.

Sancho, who was pictured in the UK last week, flew back to Switzerland on Monday to join his team for pre-season training and the club's sporting director Michael Zorc says he is staying with the German club.

"We plan on having Jadon Sancho in our team this season, the decision is final. I think that answers all our questions," the Dortmund man told reporters on Monday.

"Last summer we adjusted Jadon's salary to match the development of his performances. So in context, we had already extended his contract until 2023 back then."

Man in custody for stealing money amounting to MK6.5 million

 

Police in Mangochi have arrested a manager at Agora Maldeco depot for stealing money amounting to MK6.5 million.

It is reported that the suspect, Patrick Nachuma, has been working as a manager of the company for 2 years.

On this material day (31st July 2020), Nachuma vanished without notifying anyone after an auditing film from Blantyre arrived to check the financial records at the depot.

Following an audit, the team discovered that MK6.5 million was not accounted for and that the money was transacted though the company's Mpamba and bank accounts without properly authorization.

Mangochi Police detectives initiated investigations which led to the apprehension of the suspect at Jali in Zomba where he was hiding and has since recovered MK5.4 million from the stolen money.

The suspect will appear before court soon to answer the charge of theft by servant which is contrary to section 286 of the penal code.

Nachuma hails from Village Mwangala traditional authority Kadewele in Chiradzulu.

New Zealand confirms four new coronavirus cases after 100 days virus free

 New Zealand officials have confirmed the country has ended its 100-day virus free after four members of the same family test positive for the virus.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the cases of community transmission on Tuesday.

It comes despite strict controls on New Zealand's borders.

Malawi's Covid-19 Recovery Cases Exceed Number Of Active Cases

 Malawi’s Covid-19 recovery rate has surpassed the 50 percent mark as they have for the first time exceeded the number of active cases.

According to a statement signed by co-chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce John Phuka, the number of active cases currently stands at 2,098 with the recoveries at 2,430.

In addition to making progress in the recoveries, Malawi last night registered its lowest number new cases for several weeks.

Only 16 new cases were registered and no new death.

CCAP Of Nkhoma Synod denies obtaining injunction against new COVID-19 measures

 Nkhoma Synod of the CCAP has refuted rumours hovering on the social media that the church has obtained an injunction against new measurers set out by government aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus.

On Sunday, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda announced new measures aimed at fighting COVID-19 and some of the measures include restriction of public gatherings of more than 10 people.

Apart from that, Chiponda also introduced mandatory use of face mask among Malawians across the country.

On Monday afternoon, the social media was awash with reports that Nkhoma Synod has obtained an injunction over the said rules.

But Deputy General Secretary of the CCAP Nkhoma Synod, Rev Brian Kamwendo, the rumours are just mere fabrication.

Rev Kamwendo has since advised the church membership and entire Malawians to follow all Covid-19 preventive measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Meanwhile unconfirmed reports indicate that CDEDI Acting Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa is contemplating on obtaining an injunction over the matter.

Mtambo asks BCC to apologise to Muslims

 

Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, Timothy Mtambo, has called on Blantyre City Council (BCC) to apologise to the Muslim and Christian communities for the way it handled the billboard wrangle between the Islamic Information Bureau (IIB) and the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM).

In demanding the apology through a letter dated August 8 2020, Mtambo says his ministry is of the view that the council was supposed to engage both parties and “arrive at a common agreement amicably”.

The minister indicates that BCC failed to inform its client of its decision to remove the billboard and that the billboard was allegedly removed at night coupled with failure to communicate either to the public or its client.

The standoff between the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) and EAM started when IIB recently erected a billboard at Maselema in Blantyre.

Seodi White speaks out on her transfer rumours to Neno

 Human Right activist Seodi White has refuted rumours hovering on the social media that she has been transferred to Neno to work as District Commissioner.

On Monday, the social media was awash with reports that White has been kicked out of 

Capital Hill where she was working as Chief Director of Public Sector Reforms in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

The rumour attracted mixed reactions with many describing it as a fight back considering the fact that she attacked Dr. Saulos Chilima during the reign of former President Peter Mutharika.

It is said that White described Chilima as ‘Mr. know it all’.

Posting on her Whatsapp status shared on facebook, White refuted the rumours, saying the rumours are untrue.

“So far in one afternoon. I have received 62 messages. From Malawi and around the World. Thank you. Since I avoid malicious social media I hear once again discussions of my career prospects are buzzing. As I have said this before in our ever-changing times the worst we can be fearful. The fear I have seen thus far is of people agitating for my removal. Ladies and Gentlemen lets develop our country. Whether as Neno Woman or Karonga man. I’m still based at Capital Hill Lilongwe,” wrote White.

Meanwhile debate on the matter continues..

Suspected Ritualist Apprehended While Stealing The Manhood Of Children

A suspected ritualist has been apprehended by the Ogobiri vigilante squad in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa state.

He was caught in the act of using suspected diabolical ritual handkerchief to steal the manliness of little children.

Bodmas Kemepadei reports that he man was made to confess and he admitted to the act, he was therefore forced to return the children's manliness.

He confessed that he goes to rural communities as a trader and lures children with sweets and biscuit's into his home after which he uses the handkerchief to rub their faces in the pretence of cleaning sweats.

The man claims to hail from Anambra state in the Eastern part of Nigeria. He further claimed that they are many in number and have shared themselves into different parts of the state.

The vigilante had moved into one of their locations as at the time of filing this report and investigations and search are ongoing.

Parents becareful.