MPHWIYO IMPLICATED IN CASH-GATE SCANDAL

 Leonard kalonga appeared before the acb for a recorded interviewon friday. where he heavily implicated Paul Mphwiyo on the cash-gate saga.

 Leonard told the ACB that it is mphwiyo who approached him to find companies that they could use to siphon out money.

He confessed that he  found the companies and disclosed that money was being siphoned out as a syndicate . He said Mphwiyo gave him the pin codes to ifms .

 ACB is expected to use the recorded revelation in court.

Presidency backed Zuma for insulting Malawi

 The South Africa government has backed its president, Jacob Zuma, for referring to Malawi as one of the poorest nations with bad roads infrastructure in Africa.

The presidency claimed on Tuesday said President Jacob Zuma’s remarks on Gauteng e-tolls were distorted by the media.

Zuma on Monday evening said, “We can’t think like Africans in Africa generally. We’re in Johannesburg, this is Johannesburg. It’s not some national road in Malawi.”

Zuma made the comments at the Gauteng ANC Manifesto Forum at the University of the Witwatersrand in the commercial city of  Johannesburg.

Presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj defended the address.

 In a telephone interview  presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj  clarified Zuma's remarks by  saying   what the president means is that Gauteng roads can’t be compared to roads in other countries or towns.

“The words have regrettably been taken out of context and blown completely out of proportion.”
Maharaj says Zuma means comparisons shouldn’t be made as Gauteng is “the heartbeat of South Africa’s economy.”

“The remarks were made in the broader context of South Africa.”

Zuma defended e-tolls, saying Gauteng motorists should bear the brunt of the extra costs necessary to keep the province running.

“The roads are to be tolled to pay back the money we borrowed to build the freeways – to make the economy flow in Johannesburg.”

MANDELA IS A FIGHTER - ZUMA

South African President Jacob Zuma has  described the world icon  Nelson Mandela as a “fighter” whose health was showing sings of improvement in an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 on Friday.

Zuma made the remarks in an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 TV network on Friday.

“He's a fighter. I think even the doctors admitted he is a born fighter because I think he has been able really to fight as he has done and really to a stage where you are able to see progress,” Zuma told the TV network in the capital of Pretoria.

“(Mandela) does things other people could not do, and I think even the doctors admit that he is an amazing kind of man,” added Zuma.

Almost 15 years after Mandela left the country’s highest office, Zuma has established control over the African National Congress and South Africa’s political landscape, despite drawing criticism over alleged authoritarianism and corruption.

MPHWIYO UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY

Shot treasury budget director Paul Mphwiyo has been pressed on protective custody pending the ongoing investigation on his shooting and casegate saga.

Recently Malawi president Joyce Banda told the nation that Mphwiyo will recover quickly and he will help to give answers as to what has been going on at Capital Hill

This comes amidst reports that most suspects in the cash-gate saga are trying their level best to interfere with the investigations.

An inside government source who chose not to be named for security reasons revealed that Mphwiyo is being protected by a team of Malawi police officers who are working together with their South African counterparts.

" He is withing Gauteng and he is being protected by a special team of Malawi police officers with a help from the South African police service". said the source

However the source could not disclosed the particular area where he is being kept saying only the police are aware of the place.

In an a Telephone interview South African police national spokesperson Lieutenant General Makgale confirmed South Africa government is helping Malawi to provide security to Mphwiyo saying he is in a safe place.

However Makgale could not give more details on the issue

"What I can say is that the South Africa police is fully in control of the matter," said Makgale without shedding more lights on the issue.

However when Malawi police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo was questioned on the issue she demanded a questioner but could not respond as we went to press.

New Malawi Cabinet List

Malawi president Joyce Banda has announced her new Cabinet; Ken Lipenga, Ralph Kasambara, Eunice Kazembe and Reen Kachere dropped.

Below is the new cabinet list.

1. Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force and the Malawi Police Service, Minister Responsible for Statutory Corporations, Civil Service Administration, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS, National Registration Programme, and the Green Belt Initiative.

2. Right Honourable Khumbo Kachali, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Responsible for National Relief and Disaster Management,National Public Events Office, Central Government Stores, and Department of Printing Services. 

3. Honourable Sosten Gwengwe, M.P. – Minister of Industry and Trade

4. Honourable Dr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba, - Minister of Finance

5. Honourable Fahad Assani – Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

6. Honourable Mrs. Catherine Gotani Hara, M.P. - Minister of Health

7. Honourable Mohammed Sidik Mia, M.P. – Minister of Transport and Public Works

8. Honourable Ephraim Mganda Chiume, M.P. - Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

9. Honourable Henry Duncan Phoya, SC, M.P. Minister of Lands and Housing

10. Honourable Mrs. Eunice Kazembe, M.P. Minister in the Office of the President and Cabinet Responsible for Good Governance

11.Honourable Mrs. Anita Kalinde, M.P. Minister of Water Development and Irrigation

12.Honourable Ken Edward Kandodo, M.P. – Minister of Defence

13.Honourable Uladi Mussa, M.P. - Minister of Home Affairs 

14.Honourable Mrs. Halima Daud, M.P. - Minister of Environment and Climate Change Management 

15.Honourable Enock Chakufwa K. Chihana, M.P. – Minister of Youth and Sports

16.Honourable Ralph Pachalo Jooma, M.P. – Minister of Economic Planning and Development

17.Honourable Grace Maseko, M.P. - Minister of Labour

18.Honourable Mrs. Rachel Patience Mazombwe Zulu, M.P. – Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

19.Honourable Dr. James Munthali - Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

20.Honourable Mary Clara Makungwa - - Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare

21.Honourable Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa, M.P. – Minister of Tourism and Culture

22.Honourable John Bande, M.P. – Minister of Mining 

23.Honourable Ibrahim Matola, M.P. - Minister of Energy 

24.Honourable Brown Mpinganjira, – Minister of Information and Civic Education

25.Honourable Dr. Lucious Kanyumba, M.P., – Minister of Education, Science and Technology

26.Honourable Ms. Rachel Kachaje, - Minister of Disability and Elderly Affairs 

27.Honourable Jermoth Ulemu Chilapondwa, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

28.Honourable Dr. Cornelius Mwalwanda, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Finance

29.Honourable Godfrey Jeff Kamanya, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

30.Honourable Ephraim Abel Kayembe, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

31.Honourable Chikumbutso John Hiwa, M.P. - Deputy Minister of Health

32. Honourable Agnes Mandevu Chatipwa M.P. – Deputy Minister of Education

Malawi President Joyce Banda axed 2 influential ministers.

With an aim to restore confidence among Malawians and the donor community Malawi President Joyce Banda has made a  crucial decision to fire two of her influential ministers following the recent increase of  corruption in Malawi government.

Amid mounting reports that some of her cabinet ministers were lining their pockets from state coffers in a country heavily reliant on foreign aid, Banda late Thursday made a surprise move by dissolving her entire 25 ministers packing.

Earlier today Banda appointed a new Cabinet where Minister of finance Ken Lipenga and  minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara were among the influential ministers which were shown the exit.

Banda also booted two female ministers Eunice Makangal and Reen Kachere

She therefore hired one of the country top lawyer  Fahad Assani  as minister of Justice, Dr Mawell Mkwezalamba  as minister of Finance, Mary Clara Makungwa minister of Gender, Luscious Kanyumba as minister of  Education and Rachel Kachaje as a minister of Disability Affairs.

The decision to dissolve her recent cabinet  came just hours after the European Union, one of the key donors to Malawi's budget, warned it would withhold its 29 million euro ($39 million) scheduled payout due in December until the authorities proved they were convincingly dealing with corruption.

I want to meet Mandela - Oprah Winfrey

The American  talk show host Oprah Winfrey came out to say that she would really like to visit ailing former president Nelson Mandela but respects the family's decision to grant him privacy during this difficult time.

Winfrey, who is in South Africa  wished the world icon a speedy recovery saying she prays for Madiba’s recovery every day.

"There was a time in July when he went to hospital again that I along with everybody was holding my breath and was relieved to find that he was able to go home".

Winfrey however  says that she does not have plans to visit because when President Barack Obama was in the country he was not allowed to visit the former president.

"I assumed that I would not be allowed to him but I will check in with Graca Machel before I leave though".

Winfrey has also brought with her a team of motivational experts to engage South African women of all ages on a positive mental attitude