By Leonard Masauli

Lilongwe, September 29, Mana: The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has assured stable fuel supply in the country, clarifying that so far, no financial transactions have taken place between the two proposed fuel deals with G.E.T Global and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi of the UAE.

This was said during a press briefing held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Sunday to clarify how fuel is procured in the country.

NOCMA Chief Executive Officer Clement Kanyama said since covid 19, the country has not been able to generate forex for critical imports including fuel.

 Kanyama said as a country coming out of covid 19, the country is failing to generate adequate forex to pay for the critical imports.

“We are benefiting from a situation where all the four suppliers have agreed to waive a contractual requirement. In this, we are required to establish letters of credit with these suppliers, when they supply on open credit and the amounts are due, we are also not able to pay the amounts on the due dates.

“As a result of that, there have been times when the volumes of fuel in the strategic fuel reserves have been depleted, and there have been some instances where we've run out of stocks in the retail outright,” said Kanyama.

Kanyama said with such a scenario, NOCMA examined the situation and concluded that in addition to engaging local banks to secure increased Forex, they also decided, such as one, where the suppliers are paid in Malawi Kwacha.

However, he said to do that, there is a need to follow the processes, such as open tender, restricted tender and single sourcing.

“Now allow me to indicate that Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi who then came up with an offer that they are willing to be paid in Malawi Kwacha. Now, this Malawi kwacha will not be taken to UAE, but shall be used by this office of the sheik in implementing the activities which they intend to implement in Malawi under the MOU.

“So, I can assure you, and I can assure the country that, as NOCMA, we have not seen anything which is suspicious to us. This is a single sourcing of a supplier because there is an advantage, where they are going to pay in Malawi Kwacha,” he said.

Concerning the contract between the Ministry of Transport and Public Works and G.E.T Global which is on concessionary terms, NOCMA CEO said the Ministry of Transport and Public Works is yet to be issued a license by Mera and a hospitality agreement is yet to be signed.

He said this includes verification work with entities storing the product, which he said has also not been carried out by NOCMA, which among others is to obtain confirmation on the bank accounts that will receive payments for onward processing to the supplier.

By Tione Andsen

Lilongwe, September 29, Mana: Centre for Solutions Journalism (CSJ) has appealed to government to expedite the enactment of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill.

The Chairpersons for CSJ, Josephine Chinele made the appealed Saturday in a statement in Blantyre where Malawi joins the rest of the world in commemorating the global day of action for access to safe and legal abortion on September 28 every year.

She said the National Assembly need to allocate adequate resources to support the prevention of unsafe abortion by scaling up the provision of contraceptives and to continue scaling up post abortion care services.

“The Executive, the Judiciary, the National Assembly, state human rights institutions and civil society organizations to use their power and mandate to protect the realization of sexual and reproductive health rights,” Chinele added.

Board member of CJS, Rev. Martin Kalimbe said religious and community leaders to vigorously promote abstinence among their members and subjects so that unwanted pregnancies, some of which result in unsafe abortions are reduced.

“All the citizens to remain steadfast in claiming their sexual and reproductive health rights,” he said. 

This year’s International Safe Abortion Day, statistics from medical facilities regarding the number of women and girls experiencing complications from unsafe abortions show that the nation's abortion law, which was passed in the colonial era in 1930, is not only out of date but has utterly failed to lower the number of unsafe abortions.

As seen by the rising number of women seeking post-abortion care in government health facilities, the current law has only succeeded in pushing over 141,000 women and girls seeking abortions in the country to herbalists, witchdoctors, and certain traditional birth attendants where they suffer grave complications.

The Statistics for the first half of this year show a persistently high number of women and girls experiencing complications from unsafe abortions. In Lilongwe, from January to June, 1,041 women and girls required treatment for complications related to unsafe abortions.

In Dedza, 830 women and girls sought post-abortion care during the same period, while health facilities in Dowa provided services to 381 women and girls.

This alarming trend of women sustaining injuries from clandestine abortions and subsequently arriving at hospitals in critical condition, some with ruptured uteruses, is evident across all districts and cities in the country.

The issue of unsafe abortion remains significant, and the establishment of Post Abortion Care Units in every government district hospital is one of the testimonies of this problem.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, September 29, Mana: Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have progressed into the semifinals of Airtel Top 8 Cup after defeating Bangwe All Stars 4-2 on post-match penalties after the game ended 1-0 in favor of Bangwe All Stars in regulation time making it 1-1 on aggregate.

The game played on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre promised to be a tough contest from the first whistle as both teams played a very physical game and the first half ended goalless.

At half time both teams made changes with the hope of finding the back of the net such that in their attempt to outshine each other, Wanderers brought in Wallace Adam and Thierry Tanjong Sama replacing Misheck Botomani and Gaddi Chirwa while Bangwe introduced Felix Dumakude in place of Lyton Chinong’one.

The host who looked a changed side in the second half, found their goal and the only one of the game in the 55^th minute through Temitope Ojeyinka Ebenezer who headed in Richard Lapson’s free kick making it 1-0 on the day.

With both teams searching for a goal to avoid going into post-match penalties it was Wanderers who came the closest to scoring in added time when their left back, Timothy Silwimba produced a powerful shot but Bangwe All Stars goalkeeper, Elias Missi responded with a fantastic save and the game went into post match penalties.

Wanderers goalkeeper, William Thole was the hero of the day as he denied Bamgwe side two penalties and scored one himself to help his team reach the next stage of the competition.

The nomads scored their penalties through Isaac Kaliati, Wisdom Mpinganjira, William Thole and Thierry Tanjong Sama while for Bangwe’s Innocent Msowoya and Clever Chikwata scored while Felix Dumakude and Temitope Ojeyinka Ebenezer saw their spot kicks saved by nomad’s goalkeeper.

After the game Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Head Coach, Meck Mwase, praised his charges for reaching another stage.

“We congratulate the boys for working very hard, we are happy that we have progressed to the semifinals,” he said.

On his part, Bangwe All-Stars Head Coach, Trevor Kajawa, accepted the defeat saying that penalties can go either way.

“It was like we won in 90 minutes and it come into penalties which is rotary and luck was not on our side so we have to congratulate Wanderers for winning the game,” he said.

Wanderers will face the winner of the semifinal game between Silver Strikers and Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos.                                    

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, September 29, Mana: Communities around Nalunga, Traditional Authority (TA) Chiwere in Dowa have hailed the rehabilitation of Nalunga Health Centre saying it will improve health service delivery in the area.

In an interview, Lines Faidon from Mawende Village, TA Chiwere said the old, small and worn-out structures challenged service delivery to the people.

"It was a challenge because the structure was not safe as it was too old. There was congestion as the number of service seekers was high compared to the capacity of the facility.

"Also to admit patients, and even expectant women, was a problem. As such some people used to travel to other facilities which was also expensive and time-consuming," she said.

However, she said the construction of the new structures has improved health service delivery.

"A lot of people can now easily access medical help when needed. We also expect to have enough health workers, drugs and equipment. This means a healthier community which can effectively engage in socio-economic activities," she said.

Through the Health Rehabilitation Fund, Dowa District Council has also constructed a new under-five clinic, out patient department and a modern maternity wing to replace the old structures at the hospital.

The maternity unit, amongst other facilities, has a delivery room, examination rooms, reception, offices, waiting room, drug store, sanitary facilities and also prenatal and postnatal services.

Chikondi Hamadi of Gooke Village said the new maternity wing will enable expectant women to access maternal services within their localities.

"On the other hand, the under-five clinic will also enable children to have their own separate section where they can effectively be helped by health workers," she said.

Carolyn Ignatious Maida, nurse and midwife technician at the hospital said the facility serves around 22,667 people.

"This is a considerably big number. We are happy that we now have these new structures which have improved our work.

"We also believe, once the new maternity facility is operational, expectant women will have the best services they can because it will have almost all essential equipment," she said.

Senior Group Mafika commended government, through the district council, for what he described as a significant development in his area which he said will help save lives and also foster development.