Kondwani Munthali -Malawi

Since December 2012, for reasons beyond political logic I have opted to live in quite rural areas. There are two places that I have stayed quite long, Mzimba boma but daily travelling 40kms into rural village, where I would with a group of 45 or 60 villagers enjoy bonya lunches, bananas and sugar cane while working on a certain project. These villagers, who are so hard working and spirited took me as their own and even when my employers would bring me nice lunch, they always wanted me to share their "mmemo". But behind all the jokes and smiles and talk, there were signs of pain. Food was running out and they kept asking if I could extend the project until "we harvest". Everytime I prayed for that to be true. God answered that each time my boss visited the project he would demand more work, therefore at least 50 or so families really did not hit the lowest of food shortage. I could ask for maize in lieu of payment, my employer, even when maize was selling at K10,00...

I told you so, is a new song after the kwacha appreciated, well as expected marginally. Swiftly fuel prices have been adjusted downwards, forget that it was imported at a higher kwacha value. Of course maize which leads to inflation have all gone down. Thanks to the magic wand of economic reforms by Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, chiwongolero dziko lonse, Forbes most influential African woman.... the list is getting longer everyday. But for  a patriotic Malawi, desperate for good news, let us celebrate and hope that we get a breather until somewhere in September when we start importing fertilizers and all other small items. May be we should ban importation of all materials locally found, or Dr. Ken Lipenga who is expected to become a long serving Finance Minister in the multiparty era can just introduce high taxes on imported toothpicks and a litany of useless Chinese materials that are all over Lilongwe and other cities. Of course it feels bad everyday to see the youthful M...

Congratulations to winners of the Misaa-Malawi Press Freedom various awards. Unfortunately after participating in that lively march from Blantyre Old Boma, I had to rush to a wedding and then the Northern Region for private assignments. I could not celebrate with Phillip Aphillo Pemba, Dumbani Mzale, Wisdom Chimgwede and all other NPL Lilongwe Newsroom winners in various categories. Including a Chief "Bvuto". Finally there is something for everyone in that great newsroom for everyone to smile at. But it was a walking conversation that I had with someone whose business and social intellect surpass multi-decorated professors of Universities that got me thinking as I left Blantyre for Nkhatabay that afternoon. She asked me: Have you thought of what would it be if the current presidential candidates win? Where are the young people of today? They cant take up the challenge! Obviously I pride my label as a Youth Worker not Activist, but I had no answer. Embarrassingly for...

Well, today is World Press Freedom Day, I am a Journalist and I am supposed to be celebrating. But today, many colleagues competent and qualified enough lost their jobs a few days ago at the Blantyre Newspapers Limited. With that others are still searching on what to do next. Of course personally I was subject of an article, that sounded strange and well cooked up. I am glad many who know the truth called to laugh with me over it. I always say, dont force me to speak, I will speak when my time comes. After all, I have spoken through all past and present political leadership without fear or favour. I do not hide behind anybody to give out my opinion. If I have information that I believe the public should benefit from, then I created this forum or I will join a media house of my choice. But today its about press freedom, specifically here at home in Malawi. Are there issues to celebrate for in Malawi. I would say yes, there are many issues including the vibrancy of our media. The vig...

Well, tomorrow Misa-Malawi on May 3, 2013 will announce Malawi's blogger of the year. I wish to congratulate the winner as I was ineligible in the preceding year and more importantly as it was an inaugural award. Interestingly it is the only award I received locally despite the many prestigious certificates and awards of merits on different topic. I have always been proud of my award as the blog was a personal initiative, of the few after my youth work that I got from my own personal effort. After a few false starts in January, many of my blogger followers, whom now directly number 16,000 across the World and with my all time peak of 200,000 hits a day during the July 20, 2011 demonstrations asking me to return to writing. Today I am proud to announce my official return to writing after a break of nine months and more importantly to make this blog, your blog, guide and decision making process for 2014 general elections. I am proud to say that I have, through my work in the pa...

The series analyzing current political strength of political parties in individual districts on @kondwamunthali twitter have been temporarily suspended until next Monday 14 but you can still enjoy many series on current political situation like how other parties have reacted to Atupele Muluzi being invited to Uhuru Kenyatta inauguration. Enjoy the blogs wit on twitter and read politics from a humour side. Follow @kondwamunthali now . 

The online jokes about Governance are back. The one that starts with Joyce Banda, Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth all went somewhere..... they reminded me of days just before July 20, 2011 and much later the days before Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi's third president collapsed and died. These texts always have one meaning, somewhere people are getting angry, somewhere things are not happening the way they are supposed to meet our expectation. But somewhere the music is louder, some are mourning the passing of Late Bingu, remembering his good side, his colour dreams, his contribution to Malawi. The other side there are celebrations, marked by military parade and another a political rally. Along Chilambula road, oops Paul Kagame Highway as our Leaders would want us to believe and call it, a woman is breast feeding her two twins, sitting on a dusty pavement on a queue to Admarc to access at least 10 kilogrammes of staple food-maize for her to survive for another week. A sad memori...