By demanding that the results of last week's election be annulled, Malawi's president showed the electorate they would be much better off without her, says Simon Allison On Sunday morning, we were expecting to tell you who had won, and lost, the Malawi elections , and hazard a few guesses as to what this might mean for the future of the country. Instead, were trying to figure out whats going on in...
Singer accuses Joyce Banda's government of corruption in latest round of feud, as high court blocks president's call for fresh poll Madonna has seized on political chaos in Malawi to attack its president, Joyce Banda, claiming to have witnessed "the depths of corruption" in her government. Continue reading... ...
19 - 23 May: Been offline? Catch up on the development-related news, images, infographics and reports that matter José Mourinho, who has been awarded the role of UN ambassador against hunger . reproductive rights are human rights. great discussion Melinda Gates and panel #womenandgirls ; thanks @GuardianGDP for the opportunity Continue reading... ...
Three days after presidential poll, just 12% of votes have been counted, as claims of irregularities increase potential for violence Anxiety mounted in Malawi on Friday as the wait for results from the presidential election continued, with 12% of votes counted in the three days since they were cast. Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairman Maxon Mbendera said the delays were caused by results having...
UN Women's executive director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has outlined her vision of the role of women in Africa over the next five decades. Minna Salami picks out the key points Defining African feminism - our partner panel This week, more than 3000 delegates are at the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Kigali discussing new strategies to tackle poverty, underdevelopment, and put...
Polls in disarray as president calls for manual audit over claims of voting anomalies and tampered ballots Voting marred by riots and rumours of foul play The Malawi president has called for an immediate manual audit of this week's election results, alleging serious irregularities after the electoral commission reported its vote-tallying system had collapsed. Continue reading... ...
Polls seen as test of Joyce Banda's rule delayed after voters set fire to polling stations and ballot papers are delayed Malawi goes to the polls amid climate of distrust Voting in Malawi spilled into a second day after riots sparked by the late opening of polls marred an election seen as a test of President Joyce Banda's scandal-tainted rule . The military was deployed on Tuesday after irate voters...
NGOs are working to offer young brides more choices, but complain there's a lack of political will to address the issue At 16, Christina Asima is responsible for raising three siblings. She also gave birth last year, delivering via caesarian section. But despite her dependents, Christina made the decision to walk out on her husband last year. "I started a relationship with a boy who lives here...
Incumbent still favourite but crowded field and administrative errors raise fears over possible post-election violence Malawians have voted in the most closely contested election since the end of the one-party state two decades ago, with the incumbent, Joyce Banda, southern Africa's first female head of state, facing no fewer than 11 challengers. There were chaotic scenes at polling stations in the...
A few years ago, Malawian democracy was in "terminal decline". Today, the country goes to the polls for an election no one can predict, writes Simon Allison There was a time, not too long ago, when Malawian democracy seemed to be in terminal decline. Then-president Bingu wa Mutharika had fallen into the age-old trap of believing that he was bigger than the state; that the state needed him more than...
Turbulent political environment is unlikely to deliver a robust government ready to implement much-needed reforms Preparations for the general election in Malawi on 20 May have been more organised and transparent than in previous years, due in part to the current leadership of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). The commission has taken on the state broadcaster, MBC, encouraging it to open up to...
This former Africa health worker values our international news coverage but would like more focus on what the UK has to be thankful for I work at the University of Chester. I grew up in Kenya, which had a huge influence on my life and shaped my ambition of becoming a doctor in rural Africa which I did for several years with my wife in Malawi. It was a brilliant experience and Malawi is a beautiful...
s services and citizens will continue to suffer A senior official has been shot, millions of dollars are missing and there are suspects at the highest level of government. It sounds like something from a spy thriller, but in fact it is the unfolding Cashgate scandal in Malawi , which has caught the imagination of the world's media. The hole in the country's finances and the suspension of donor aid...
organisation in Kasungu, Malawi, are also unaware of their government's plans to earmark 200,000 hectares of land for large-scale commercial farming, relax export bans on certain crops, reform its tax laws to make it easier for companies to do business in the country and enact a new land bill. What Chipeta and Mazibuko do know is that Monsanto offers the best seeds in town, but at a price. "The benefits...
loose'. Third, adolescents in many places have misconceptions about health effects of contraceptives, including their future ability to bear children. As a result, they tend to prefer traditional remedies or to use ineffective methods such as withdrawal. Fourth, many adolescents have poor understanding of how contraceptive methods work and use them incorrectly. Finally, sporadic and infrequent sex...
s suspension of sector budget support after 'cashgate' scandal will have huge adverse impact, warns expert A freeze on all direct British financial aid to Malawi after reports of high-level corruption could have huge adverse effects on health and education, an aid expert has warned. The Department for International Development (DfID) suspended aid to Malawi, where 40% of the national budget comes from...
s budget, have said they will withhold some aid until it is clear it is not being misused. "We are under extreme pressure [to prosecute]," said Bruno Kalemba, the director of public prosecutions. "There are lots of files on my desk that need to be dealt with. There are warrants of arrest and a lot of follow-ups. This has become an emotional issue." Donors have suspended pledged aid worth $150m until...
t turn a blind eye Every Wednesday, Shakira Yakiti gets together with a group of at-risk girls at the Nampingunja School in the rural Mangochi district of Malawi. Their Girls Club organizes home visits to girls who have dropped out of school to get married, works with teenage mothers to encourage them to return to school, interfaces with school headmasters to make sure the returning students are welcomed,...
says Yaweta, 15 Many girls in my community are viewed as a burden to their parents. People refer to girls as lower status people. Most people believe it's a waste of money to invest in a girl's education, they would rather marry her off to receive dowry from the husband. Most girls in my community end up becoming mothers, some as young as 14. Most school environments are not girl-friendly, with no...
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