My Nest

Tumalisye Budalla (not real name) from Traditional Authority Bwananyambi in Mangochi is just 14 years old and on meeting her, one would expect that the conversation will centre on issues of education, adolescence, and her life ambitions career-wise when she grows up. But Tumalisye will surprise you with her indifference to such futuristic talk. For her, she is already in living her future though not her ideal one. She is young by age yes, but in terms of responsibilities and life experiences, she is as old as any married woman can if not more. Her tender head resting on her young shoulders is working overtime to solve problems her peers have never heard of: She has to look after her sickly child’s needs as a single mother; push her weak body beyond limits to do piece works to earn her living; and work her brain overtime to survive the pouring ridicule she gets from the community. Just like many girls her age in Malawi and the sub-Sahara African region, Tumalisye was forced in...

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...

The time was well past morning. It was cloudy and chilly but with no drizzles insight as is usually the case in winter. The dust was still billowing up—at least that is what Lilongwe is known for, dust. But on this day, Salima beckoned me and at the mention of Salima my mind started wondering in all directions. I pictured the blue waters, the white sands and myself taking a skin-dip into the water. I have never been to Salima save for the time I pass through the district when I am going to Mzuzu. On this particular day, I was lucky in that I was in company of other journalists who are familiar with the place and gave me a briefing on what a Salima had in store especially if you are fun loving With jokes here and there as Mlaka Maliro kept us entertained, the trip seemed shorter than I had expected. The trip to Salima was necessitated by Media Council of Malawi in conjunction with Unicef who were touring some sanitation facilities in the district. We arrived after lunch-time and got ...

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.

Pupils at Chisitu Primary School in Mulanje, Malawi. The picture was capture during an impromptu break the pupils had following the noise from a rally that one of the Members of Parliament from the area organized right in the middle of the school premises. Classes were disturbed to pave way for the function.

By Sellina Nkowani in Vienna,Austria As the world has converged in Vienna Austria, global leaders have called upon countries in Africa, Malawi in particular, to repeal its homosexual laws that criminalize homosexuality and laws that also criminalise prostitution. Malawi was one of the countries that have been asked to repeal their homosexual laws. On drug users especially drug injectors, the world leaders said countries in Africa and the rest of the world should stop spending money on the police chasing and arresting such people, but instead channel the money to treatment and care for them. This they said will help countries to respond positively to the fight against HIV and accomplish the Universal Access to HIV care, treatment and support. In her opening remarks on Sunday evening, President of the Austrian Aids Society and Aids 2010 Local Co-chair, Dr Brigitte Schmied sent a strong message to countries such as Malawi to respect the rights of such people. “Treatment, not persecution, ...

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...