DPP SHOULD FIRST EXONERATE ITSELF FROM LOOTING, CORRUPTION, FRAUD – FND

Forum for National Development (FND) has asked Prof. Peter Mutharika and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to be the first ones to provide answers on massive plunder and looting of Government resources rather than castigating the current leadership.

Remarks were made on Thursday in Lilongwe by the FND National Coordinator, Fryson Chodzi during the press briefing in awake of Mutharika’s statements when addressing the issue of green card and his resignation as Member of Parliament.

Chodzi said FND agrees with the DPP leader that Malawians should not be diverted from the real issues of cash gate and massive theft of public resources.

But, Chodzi said FND felt that DPP should be the first to blame for the looting of public resources as evidence shows that the party through its former President late. Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was the architecture and the framers of the cash gate.

“The issues attest to our assertion that the DPP Members are the architects of the massive looting, theft and plunder of public resources known as cashgate. To be precise there was too much corruption during the DDP regime,” he said.

Chodzi expressed that Goodall Gondwe who was then Finance Minister has always acknowledged the degree of corruption during the Mutharika period.

“Gondwe who is the National Executive member of the Party…. acknowledged that during the DPP government corruption was just a mere one,” he explained.

MALAWI’S ECONOMIC GROWTH PROJECTED AT 6.1 PER CENT IN 2014 FOLLOWING JB’S ADMINISTRATION ERP SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS

President Joyce Banda continues to shine in her initiatives to develop Malawi and make it a better place. Much as she inherited a sick economy from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), her adminstration has gotten manifestation of its clue to revamp the economy.

Malawi Government says it expects the country’s economy to grow by 6.1 per cent this year, following significant progress of programmes under the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP).

Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Ralph Jooma, on Thursday told journalists in Mzuzu during a press briefing by the cabinet committee on ERP, that there is significant progress of Malawi’s economy following the implementation of ERP.

He said in 2013, Malawi’s economy grew by 5.4 per cent as compared to 1.8 per cent growth in 2012.

“[This] means the 5.4 per cent significant growth rate has actually been achieved because of what we are doing. It is not being achieved by accident.

“It is being achieved following the programmes that we put in place following the ERP. We are expecting that in 2014, our economy will grow by 6.1 per cent,” said Jooma, who chairs the committee.

He was franked by Minister of Information Brown Mpingajira, Minister of Tourism and Culture Moses Kunkuyu, Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Cornelius Mwalwanda and Energy and Mining Minister John Bande, among others.

Jooma also informed the journalists that the country’s inflation rate is not “very bad”.

“Inflation at the end of December was 23 per cent. This is also a… decline because in April 2013, inflation was at 34 per cent,” he explained.

Jooma partly attributed the decrease in inflation to availability of plenty food in the country despite the current lean period.

JB, JUDGES HONOUR CHIEF JUSTICE ANASTASIA MSOSA

BY BANTHU TIMES REPORTER 23/02/ 2014
President Dr. Joyce Banda and the Judges’ fraternity in the country have described Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa, as a phenomenal woman who has achieved great things in life both as a career and family woman.

Speaking Saturday at Bingu Conference Centre in Lilongwe during a special fundraising dinner organised by the Women Judges Association of Malawi (WOJAM) to celebrate the life and achievements of the Chief Justice, President Banda said Chief Justice Msosa was an inspiration to women and young girls in Malawi.

“Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa is one woman I have watched and followed for a long time and I have always been amazed at how much a woman can achieve in a life time,” said the President.

The Malawi leader said when she came to power in April, 2012 as the first woman President in Malawi, it was only proper to appoint Justice Msosa as Chief Justice not only because she was a woman, but also because she happened to be the most senior in the system and well qualified.

“When I look back, I believe that it was the will of God that come 2012, Malawi would have, for the first time, a woman President and a woman Chief Justice,” said President Banda.

She said as Malawi enters into the next 50 years, her government, through the transformation agenda, would mobilize special funds to ensure that the judiciary was well supported and that justice, equity and fairness were achieved.
Recounting the life story of the Chief Justice, Solicitor General Janet Banda, said Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa had carried herself successfully through the judicial system ladders and that she was a model and an inspiration to all female judges.