My Nest

Last week, social media and traditional media were abuzz over Flames player Dalitso Sailesi’s post-match interview. The majority of those who took to social media ridiculed the football star for responding to a question in the vernacular—Chichewa to be specific. Daliso Sailesi (Right) in action during the Cosafa Tournament  A lot has been said about the whole scenario, but what caught my attention was how many Malawians felt “embarrassed” by Sailesi’s decision to speak Chichewa at an international stage. Sailesi should have never ever spoken Chichewa because that is very “embarrassing” and somewhat “primitive” and showed how intellectually-challenged the player is, so they say.  This scenario made me realise that we still have many Malawians who are yet to embrace the cultural and linguistic diversity that exists in our country.  Many Malawians do not realise that people have a right to express themselves freely in any language. If one thinks they can...

Unruly drivers, many of whom manage to get a licence without appearing for a driving test, are a major menace on the roads. These drivers are reckless, change lanes to create traffic congestion on the road, over-speed and have no regard for other road users. Minibus drivers burn tyres in protest of the traffic laws There are many such drivers, but, minibus drivers top the list of most unruly, annoying and a-pain-in-the-neck-drivers. These drivers break traffic laws with impunity and when caught, they cry foul. These drivers pack people into their minibuses as if they are packing bags of Irish potatoes. When passengers try to protest, they have the audacity to tell them to go hire a car or to keep quiet. Minibus drivers do their trade as though the law doesn’t apply to them. Thumbs up to the road traffic authorities for reminding them that there are traffic laws that must be respected and adhered to. It’s either they abide by the law or ship out. The laws governin...

News flash: Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, Major One, Papa is in town. The Major one landed at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe on Thursday to an elated crowd of people, mostly his followers—we cannot completely rule out, though, some curious on-lookers and those who simply wanted to ascertain that the Major One indeed flew on his own aircraft. Bushiri has earned himself the ‘man of the moment’ title, thanks to the ‘capturing’ sermon and a reincarnation of one of the famous Biblical miracles—Jesus walking on water. But he was sensitive enough not to let people confuse him with Jesus, so he chose to walk in air. The social media is buzzing with talk about the “go deeper” famed prophet. He is being talked about in pubs, minibuses and homes too, of course, not for the good reasons, but because of the suspicious miracles and his flamboyance. I have no problem with those who cheer or jeer at the self-acclaimed man of God—they are within their right. However, my problem with ...

In the picture is T/A Mulolo's house. He said five of his 15 goats and six dogs have been swept by the raging waters.

The non-functioning of the Judiciary—one of the three arms of the government, has prompted some quarters of the legal society to call for the impeachment of the president arguing that the president has committed the “highest offence in the land”. The judiciary is in its second month of its indefinite strike. Among other things, the judiciary is demanding improved conditions and increased perks. Lawyer Ralph Kasambara says by failing to implement what is legally provided for, for the judiciary, President Bingu wa Mutharika is violating the Constitution from where he draws his mandate to govern the country. “What the president is doing is treasonous. He needs to be impeached,” he said. However Minister of Information and Civic, who is also government spokesperson, Patricia Kaliati, described Kasambara’s sentiments as “laughable and unfortunate”. However, Minister of Information who is also government spokesperson, Patricia Kaliati said that she was aware that some lawyers h...

They may not look that bright because of the dust and also the dirt clothes they are wearing but for sure these pupils captured at Chisitu Primary School in Mulanje, Malawi, know that education is the key to a brighter future.Carrying exercise books and pencils in a packet of sugar--an improvised schoolbag, the sky is the limit, everything being equal. However 17 years since Malawi embraced the multi-party system of government and 47 years since it gained independence, many government schools are an eye-sore.Pupils still learn under trees-- that is if trees which have been cut-down due to population increase and need for more farming land, are available. Everyone says that education standards have gone down, but no-one wants to act to change the status quo.

By Sellina Nkowani in Vienna, Austria Funding for HIV/Aids projects in Malawi largely depends on donor aid and the situation will remain like this for years to come, Zeke Emmanuel, Health Advisor in the Office of Management and Budget in the USA has said. This is also true for the National Budget which also carters for HIV/Aids response. Emmanuel added that at the moment there is nothing Malawi can do to avert the situation since it has no capacity to do so. “You just have to be efficient in what you do. Focus on what is working and stop wasting resources on what is failing. It is very important for HIV/Aids response to be result-based.” “One thing that governments are failing to do is to stop wasting resources on what is failing and direct them to what is working,” he said. Emmanuel made the remarks at the Reed Messen International Conference Centre in Vienna Austria, soon after Malawi representatives made their presentations on Global Perspectives and Insights—Elements of a country o...