Chisomo Ngulube Writes

I was at one of the ATMs in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial city; the man in front of me appeared to be struggling to transact, although he did not seem like one of those who have never used the machine. To cut the story short, he was trying to make a cashless withdrawal but was miserably failing. It appeared he was expecting to transact by just pressing the cardless button on the machine, while the machine was asking him to enter some code/token. In case you're wondering, I did help him out! But I've seen a lot more people struggle, like I initially did.  The cardless service is convenient when you've forgotten your ATM card or you have like me waited for two months to get a card and find cheque books antiquated...So I decided to write, just in case... Here is how it works: You first need to download or have the MO626 Digital+ app from whatever app store you use. Once logged in to the app, select the Cardless Withdrawal Request icon. It will then give you two options: R...

  Malawi’s Ombusdman Martha Chizuma had just released a damning report into unprocedural, nepotistic, tribalistic and irregular recruitments at the Malawi Communications Regulatory (MACRA), ahead of her confirmation appearance before the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament for the job of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) director. This report was not a first, she had previously made hard-hitting revelations into abuse of office at the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority and the abuse of COVID-19 funds, to sample a few. In the reports, she recommended strong action that in some instances included firing of the officers involved. To sum it all, she stole the hearts of most Malawians who have been dying to see government take a strong aim at nepotism or any sort of favouritism in offering employment, promotions in government departments and institutions that draw from the public purse. Malawians were clearly placated by her nonsense approach to dealing with m...

Grace Kaudzu and I were in the same year at St. Mary's Secondary School back in our day. I must say she was really quite but loud with her exam marks! Our school had the 'bad habit' of posting everybody's end of term marks in a secured notice board! So we pretty much new who was what. Anyhow, Grace went on to study agriculture all the way to PhD level. In this article that first appeared on a USAID website, she talks about why women should have a prominent role in Malawi's agriculture. Some very impressive stuff really. According to Dr. Grace Kaudzu, Team Leader for the Seed Certification and Quality Control for the Ministry of Agriculture’s Seed Services Unit (SSU), the answer is simple.  “Women are the ones who put food on the table every day.  They also represent 40 percent of Malawi’s farming community and are willing to grow neglected crops that men ignore.  When it comes to agriculture, women should not just be sitting at the family table, but be a heard voice...

The appointment of 38 percent women into Malawi President Lazarous  Chakwera’s 31-member cabinet a first for the Southern African country, though slightly shy of the 40:60 prescription, gave gender rights activists what they thought was a glimpse into a new world of greater inclusion. But the announcement of new board compositions for state-run entreprises, took them aback as an analysis of the appointment showed that women had been grossly underrepresented . So I, Chisomo Ngulube (CN) sought a reaction from University of Malawi senior lecturer senior lecturer of Political and Administrative Studies (PAS) Dr Tiyesere Mercy Chikapa (TMC) .  By the way Tiyesere and I were in the class of '98 at St Mary's Secondary School in the cool city of Zomba, Malawi which also happens to be my home district; both my parents are from there. I call Tiyesere prof. regardless of the fact that she's yet to be made one by her university!

  The appointment of 38 percent women into Malawi President Lazarous   Chakwera’s 31-member cabinet, a first for the Southern African country gave gender rights activists what they thought was a glimpse into a new world of greater inclusion. But the announcement of new board compositions for parastatals, took them aback as an analysis of the appointment showed that women had been grossly underrepresented.

  On September 23, 2020, Government terminated the contracts of Chief Director responsible for Public Sector Reforms Seodi White, Director of Information in the Ministry of Information Mzati Nkolokosa and his deputy Deogratius M'mana. In a media interview on Wednesday, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako confirmed the development and said the appointments of the three had been irregular. Kazako said the dismissals were not witch-hunting but were meant to realign the Public Service towards delivering the development that the country needs to inch forward. He warned of more job terminations for those who secured employment in the Public Service via the back door that was political party colours. But reacting to her departure, White, never shy of media attention took to social media to say good bye. What I liked about her way of stepping off the scene is her effort to ensure what she claimed she had achieved was not lost to the banter around her firing. You see social m...

Malawi's Ministry of Health has provided the following guidelines for managing mild COVID-19 symptoms at home.

President Lazarous Chakwera's first 31-member cabinet has 12 women and Malawi's gender rights activists who had been pushing for the inclusion of more females in decision making positions have commended the decision. This is despite the numbers falling short of the 40 percent minimum for either gender as prescribed by law. But, they are not amused by the decision not to have a clearly stipulated Ministry of Gender and Disability and the fact that most of the women appointees (eight) are deputies.  

  On a bright, sunny morning of Sunday June 28th, Malawi's sixth President Lazarous Chakwera was sworn in after a landmark and historic battle by Malawians to reclaim their destiny. Following the announcement of the May 2019 presidential election results in favour of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Peter Mutharika, Malawians took to the streets to demand electoral justice.  Chakwera who had run on a Malawi Congress Party ticket and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima contested the matter in court. On February 3, 2019, the Constitutional Court nullified Mutharika's win and their decision was cemented by a ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal that declared with a finality that the incumbent was unduly elected. As we congratulate President Chakwera, let us in a special way thank and remember the following:

  Malawi's new President Lazarus Chakwera and his deputy Saulos Chilima according to official presidential election results, will go into office with a huge load of expectations from Malawians to clean up the mess in the running of the affairs of the tiny southern African country and set it on a path to real growth.  The results clearly indicate how people in the urban and rural areas lost trust in the DPP administration led by Peter Mutharika as nearly 60 percent of them voted to boot him out of Sanjika or Kamuzu Palace whichever you fancy.

  Its  official, Tonse Alliance led by Malawi Congress Party president Lazarous Chakwera and his running mate Saulos Chilima are the new Government. Its official, Chakwera is moving from the pulpit to the State House On Saturday night, 27th June, 2019 Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale flanked by his six Commissioners announced official results for Tuesday's Fresh Presidential election to a pensive nation that had been agitating for change for a year.

  When Malawians vote for a President in a fresh poll set for Tuesday June 23, 55.6 percent of the 6,859,570 registered voters will be women. On the ballot paper is the incumbent, seeking re-election Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party, Malawi Congress Party President Lazarous Chakwera and Mbakuwaku Movement for Development president Peter Kuwani and their running mates, all men.

  Malawi's major political quakes begin at Njamba Freedom Park in its Commercial city of Blantyre. The crowds that gather there to welcome a politician will tell him/here whether or not victory is assured. Its why political parties and their flag carriers will go to the extent of ferrying supporters for remote areas just to paint that picture. It is here that, on June 20, 2009 UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and running mate to Malawi Congress Party President Lazarous Chakwera wrapped up Tonse Alliance's bid for a presidential mandate when Malawians vote of the June 23 polls.

  Malawians on whose taxes, employees at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) are paid have expressed how appalled, livid and enraged they are by the use of distasteful language in a story on the country's Vice President Saulos Chilima, in the 7pm Chichewa news bulletin. Even those who have ever worked at the state broadcaster and some who are still there are in disbelief and have been left dumbfounded by the unprecedented events that unfolded.

  Women and women’s rights activists have come out guns blazing to condemn President Peter Mutharika for insinuating that former President Joyce Banda is a woman of loose morals. Speaking in his native Thyolo after coming out of his cocoon to join the campaign trail, Mutharika sought to hit back at Banda for calling him a drunkard at an earlier rally. But Mutharika went beyond clarifying the drinking issue to describe Malawi’s first female president’s behaviour as promiscuous.

The 2019 Parliamentary, Presidential and Local Government elections will be remembered for the heightened campaign to see more women elected into higher office, through the 50-50 Campaign. While some progress was made on the parliamentary and local government fronts, attempts to see more women in the highest office of President were thwarted, as the only woman who had intended to contest, former president Joyce Banda withdrew her candidature to support the Malawi Congress Party. News that the May 21, 2019 presidential election results had been nullified by the courts offered a new window of opportunity for women who constitute over 52 percent of Malawians to actively participate. But when the final list of nine  political party and possible independent candidates for the July 21 election was released by the Malawi Electoral Commission, women were conspicuously missing. It means no woman will make it onto the ballot paper as a presidential candidate.

There have been reports on social media and from some of the COVID-19 patients, doubting the credibility of the positive results with some claiming the DPP government was bloating the figures. With the elections looming, the feeling is that the President Mutharika-led administration is deliberately trying to paint a gloomy picture to garner enough reasons to stop a presidential election re-run. This prompted the Ministry of Health to bring in its allies.

  The wording of the Malawi Constitution has on more than one occasion begged for interpretation from our learned colleagues in the judiciary. In the latest instance, the Constitutional Court in delivering its judgement that nullified Malawi’s 2019 presidential election result, interpreted the word ‘majority’ in Section 80 (2) of the country’s supreme law to mean securing 50 plus one percent of the votes cast. In doing so, they overturned an earlier ruling that said a majority simply meant the first one past the post. In 2009, Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi, seeking to spring back to Sanjika also petitioned the court to try and explain what  the Constitution meant by two ‘consecutive terms’. In his understanding, which I think makes sense, consecutive meant one after the other. To him, a person could serve as President for two consecutive terms, take a breather, put their feet up, probably on a ...

She was born to Yao parents in the late 50s and consequently grew up in the early 60s. The prevailing expectation from family and peers at the time was that she would find a suitor just after puberty.

Many Malawians may have not heard about Mayamiko's ethically designed clothing lines woven in Malawi, but Meghan Markle, wife to Prince Harry of Britain has. The couple, referred to in their country as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in South Africa for their tour of Africa on Monday, with Meghan, decked in a printed black and white wrap dress named Dalitso (meaning blessing) which according to the brand's website, was ethically made "by lovely humans" from locally sourced materials in Malawi. The dress which has already sold out is by British royal standards quite affordable at about US$86 but at around MK67,000 is out of reach for most Malawians. The brand says on its website that their textiles are hand picked from the local fabrics market in Malawi. "We work with a local cooperative of women traders to source the most exclusive prints and they are only enough to produce a very limited number of pieces," says the site. The garment...

Journalists the world over inform and educate the public about events and issues and how they affect people's lives; journalists help set the agenda and shape public discourse; journalists are not supposed to make news. But on Wednesday two journalists Gladys Nthenda a senior reporter for Kulinji.com and Golden Matonga of Nation Publications Limited made headlines when they were attacked and assaulted while covering demonstrations meant to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson justice Jane Ansah to step down. The harrowing tale of how Gladys' phone was snatched away, her pair of trousers torn all the while showing her official identification card leaves us wondering about the level of moral decay of our social fabric in which the decency of a woman is no longer as respected. I fear that such misogynistic attacks serve to compound the pressure that women journal...

In 2008, Charity Salima left her job as a nurse-midwife after working for nearly 20 years to set up a clinic in the populous township of Area 23 in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe. Achikondi Women's Centre would help expectant mothers and provide basic medical care to the surrounding community she thought.

  A group of women calling themselves Forum for Concerned Women has vowed to take to the streets of Blantyre on Wednesday, 10 July 2019 to demonstrate against what they describe as the harrassment of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah in the calls for her resignation. Tearing up, the women led by Minister of Gender Mary Navitcha, human rights activist now a chief director in the DPP administration Seodi White addressed a press briefing in Blantyre on Monday having earlier written a blind statement.

  The 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census report launched last Friday has shown that nearly 23 out of every 100 of Malawi’s 17.5 million inhabitants save their money and that most of such savings are made with village banks (11 percent) and other means as opposed to commercial banks (7.4 percent). The census found that of the 4.2 million that have some sort of savings, the majority of them 54.2 percent use a village bank (VB), 30.3 percent commercial banks. The figures also show a rise in mobile banking as 11 percent of the people who keep their money use the service.

Campaigners for more female inclusion in positions of power have lamented the failure by some female political stalwarts to retain their Parliamentary seats. Preliminary results show that UTM General Secretary Patricia Kaliati who has served as Parliamentarian for Mulanje West since 1999 is among the unconfirmed casualties that also include former Minister of Gender and Democratic Progressive Party candidate for Dowa Central Jean Kalilani, former Malawi Congress Party spokesperson Jessie Kabwila, former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, outspoken Dedza East former MCP MP Juliana Lunguzi and DPP secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey.

The campaign period is over. Malawians vote in Tripartite Elections on Tuesday, May 21 2019. Fifty six percent of the 6,859,570 registered voters are women. There is no woman contesting for the presidency as was the case in the previous 2014 elections. But in the battle for Parliamentary seats, of the 1,333 contestants 304 are women representing 23%. If previous trends are anything to go by women’s success rate will hover at around 20-30%. This despite the 50-50 Campaign mounted to increase women’s participation in politics. I [Chisomo Ngulube (CN)] engaged Viwemi Chavula (VC) of the 50-50 Campaign Management Agency on the 2019 campaign. 

Malawians will vote in Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections in a few days time. Figures released by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) show that 55 out of the every 100 voters in the Southern African country’s May 21 Tripartite Elections will be women. In fact, in some areas such as the lake shore district of Mangochi, the number of women registered to vote far outweighs that of men as they comprise nearly 62 out of every 100 registered voters. Malawi 2018 Census figures that show that 51 percent of Malawians are women. The figures make women an important constituent of the electoral and governance process, although women remain at the peripheral even globally in terms of partaking of what is on the table; women are also remain grossly underrepresented in positions of influence including in the political sphere, prompting gender equality proponents to agitate for women’s inclusion.

                       by the shores of lake Malawi I've been quite, rather silent...it should not be the case. I was meant to write...I have to...I must...so I will...I hope you read..I pray you come with me as I explore the world (mostly of my country Malawi), particularly as it pertains women and children, may be the world of business too.. and my passion...sports...once in while politics...I'm not that much into it...though a necessary evil...