Cdedi – Malawi Freedom Network

Jan202023 by Vincent GundeNo Comments

CDEDI invokes ATI Law on Grand Business Park

Stories

The Centre for Democracy and Development Initiatives [CDEDI] has invoked the Access To Information [ATI] Law demanding for an explanation on the glaring artistic impression and the actual structures of the would-be Grand Business Park in Area 46-Lilongwe.The CDEDI says it is demanding a copy of the building plan and designs that were presented before the Lilongwe City Council for approval, accompanied with complete minutes of service committee meeting that approved the same.The organization says the Grand Business Park is a product of the inaugural Malawi Investment Forum that was held in Lilongwe in May, 2015 to construct the largest business Park in the whole Southern Africa Development Community [SADC] region.In a letter to the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Lilongwe City Council with c...

Oct312022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Tonse Government Using Police To Intimidate And Silence CSOs

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A consortium of Civil Society Organizations-CSOs under the banner Action Against Impunity-AAI has described the latest arrest of some of their leaders, Joshua Chisa Mbele and Levi Luwemba and some people who were holding demonstrations in Lilongwe yesterday, as a sign that the Tonse led government is a failed state. Mbele, Luwemba and 31 others have been arrested following a fracas that erupted as people were marching to State House to deliver their petition. In a statement signed by Sylvester Namiwa of CDEDI and Leonard Chimbanga, a human rights activist, they are dismayed to note that the arrested individuals have not been charged formally yet some people who got arrested previously were charged upon their arrest. It further claims that police assaulted Mbele; destroying his ph...

Sep142022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

CDEDI Wants Lowe Summoned As His Deadline Expires

Stories

Amid uncertainties surrounding the Affordable Inputs Programme-AIP, Centrer for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives-CDEDI wants the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture to summon Agriculture Minister Lobin Lowe to explain this including availability of fertilizer as rainy season approaches. In a letter, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa says they want government to come out clearly if it is proceeding with the AIP and the prices farmers will contribute towards purchasing the farm inputs. Again, CDEDI has cautioned the Committee against its alleged sit and watch approach on how government is handling the issue of ADMARC. The Committee is yet to comment on the matter. But a few days ago, Committee’s Chairperson Sameer Suleman observed that nothing was working a...

Sep92022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Cdedi Rebuke The Tonse Alliance Administration

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Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) has rebuked the Tonse Alliance administration for the deteriorating socio-economic environment which has adversely affected many people. In a statement yesterday, Cdedi executive director Sylvester Namiwa said they have given government a 14- day ultimatum to address the situation, failing which the group will mobilise Malawians to call for an emergency meeting of Parliament. Namiwa: We are worried with job losses“Cdedi will be prompted to collect signatures to force the Speaker of the National Assembly to call for an emergency meeting of Parliament to save the country from complete destruction,” he said. Among other things, Cdedi outlined impending job losses at Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (...

Aug302022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

CDEDI Given Malawi Police Service 14 Days To Provide Update On His Abduction Case

Local

Sylvester Namiwa, Executive Director for Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative - CDEDI has given the Malawi Police Service 14 days to provide an update on his abduction case. According to Namiwa, it is a month now since he was abducted, but the Police has not released any update on how far they have gone with the investigations despite him sharing with them names of the thugs as part of the evidence. In a letter directed to Malawi Police Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu, Namiwa says he suspects that the Police are deliberately dragging their feet on the matter in an attempt to protect the suspects' masters whom he allege are connected to ruling MCP. "As I’m writing you, millions of Malawians would like to see to it that this matter is brought to its logical con...

Jun232022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Cushion The Poor CDEDI Tells Govt

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Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives-CDEDI describes the Tonse government’s announced austerity measures as mere mockery on the agony of the marginalized and vulnerable Malawians in the absence of tangible cushioning measures amid the high cost of living. The local governance institution further says the Wednesday fuel increase is “unacceptable, insensitive and an outright attempt to squeeze lives out of millions of poor and ultra-poor Malawians.” Its Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa claims the government is working hard to please the International Monetary Fund (IMF), thereby conveniently crucifying millions of vulnerable and marginalized voters who are already struggling to make ends meet due to the ever skyrocketing cost of living. “Coincidentally, thi...

Jun232022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Fuel Hike a Blow To Malawians – CDEDI

National

Human rights advocate Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives, has said the recent fuel hike will further negatively affect people's livelihood in the country. In a statement signed by Sylvester Namiwa, Executive Director for CDEDI, the fuel increase has come at a time Malawians are already feeling the pinch of the 25 percent devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha. The rights advocate has since described the hike as insensitive. "CDEDI's immediate reaction is that the fuel price hike is unacceptable, insensitive," reads part of the statement. On Wednesday, night, the country's energy regulator- Mera announced of an increase in fuel prices effective Thursday, June 23rd, 2022. According to Henry Kachaje, Chief Executive Officer for Mera, Petrol prices have been in...

Jun152022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Govt Given 48 hours To Flush Out All Illegal Chinese Nationals

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Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives-CDEDI claims their independent investigation reveals the Chinese national, Lu Ke who abused Malawian children in Njewa, Lilongwe has left the country. Its Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa further observes what he calls lukewarm response from police authorities on the matter. He adds they have requested the Chinese Embassy in Malawi to bring back Lu Ke to face the law. The local governance institution further demands authorities’ action in seven days. Addressing journalists in Lilongwe, Namiwa has threatened to stage endless demonstrations if authorities fail to act on their demands of flushing out all illegal Chinese nationals in the country within 48 hours and that the Chinese Ambassador should apologize within the sa...

Jun92022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

National Intelligence service rebuffs Cdedi

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Namiwa rebuffed National Intelligence Service (NIS) director general Dokani Ngwira has rejected Centre for Democracy and Development Initiatives’ (Cdedi) request for information about Zuneth Sattar’s visit to Malawi. Cdedi executive director Sylvester Namiwa gave Ngwira seven days from May 30 2022 to furnish them with information on how Sattar travelled to Malawi from March 16 to 25 2022 without their knowledge. But in a letter addressed to Namiwa dated June 6 2022, Ngwira says it will be unethical for the spy agency to provide the requested information according to the National Intelligence Service Act. Ngwira: We cannot share security information Reads part of the letter: “In light of the foregoing, it is important to point out that most transnational organised crime, in...

May232022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

CDEDI TELLS RBM GOVERNOR TO RESIGN FOR INDECISIVENESS, BRINGING RBM INTO DISREPUTE

National

By Iommie Chiwalo The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has expressed worry over indecisiveness of the country's central bank under the leadership of Governor Wilson Banda. In a letter to Banda CDEDI observes that RBM has run out of ideas, under his leadership and that in the interest of transparency and accountability, the noble thing the Central Bank Chief can do, is to resign on grounds that he has dragged the RBM into disrepute. Alternatively, RBM Chief has been given a chance to exonerate himself, by publicly explaining to the Malawian taxpayers on why they should continue paying him as the RMB governor, when the writing is on the wall that he has failed to perform, and miserably so. "By virtue of being a public entity, the RBM should have ...