A LOOK AT TOURISM in MALAWIS ECONOMIC RECOVERY BLUE PRINT and THE PRESIDENTS' HOTEL

If it harms no one on government benches then i raise my hand and wish to put across a list of questions and concerns  that i think if my esteemed Government benchers are not asked  to have a look at them then 2014 will swiftly come knocking and Economic Recovery Plan  will be pronounced a white elephant. I might not afford to regret as far as my love for the country is concerned because am around and tourism brings my food to table.



HE JOYCE BANDA preaching Economic Recovery Plan



I congratulate patriotically with no strings attched the government of Malawi via Ministry of Economic planning the leading  vehicle on this convoy  to implement this BLUE PRINT.I have gone through this blue print and with my narrow thinking if not ignorant on how books of economics narrate the opportunity cost and its consequenses i commend the  brains that chose a few tools that may drive back our economy into the the right lane because we cannot have it all.

Choosing tourism into ERP under Medium Term Focus Areas will give Malawi the best eternal solutions to these economic woes.Here is what the ERP  statement reads on tourism ;

Tourism has the potential to generate revenue, employment, improve infrastructure, and promote Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as conserve wildlife and culture. The sector has direct linkages with other sectors of the economy. However, the industry faces a number of challenges which include poor supporting infrastructure, poor service delivery, uncoordinated and insufficient marketing of tourism products and inadequate purpose-built infrastructure.

  The ERP Emphasises to promote the industry, by implementing:

a. Product development

Develop support infrastructure (electricity, water, transport);

Restock game reserves and national parks and protecting animals; and Restore and improve tourism assets, including supporting the restocking of game parks.

b. Tourism marketing and promotion

Intensify marketing of the country as a preferred tourist destination and aggressively,

put measures to increase flights to Malawi, including direct flights from Europe; and

Enhance marketing of Malawi ’s tourism products.

c. Institutional reform and capacity development

Undertake a program to train more staff, supervisors, and managers in the

tourism sector;

Simplify the system of visa issuance for tourists; and Improve tourism investment climate.



Presidents Hotel in Lilongwe

• NEWLY BUILD PRESIDENTS HOTEL: This blogger thinks it can contribute massively in the ERP,This blogger is kindly  asking questions and more questions that if ERP is to explore and implement Short and Long Term economic remedies if you like then why are we holding jobs of about 1200-2000 or more (indirectly)Malawians because of "reading between the lines" issues yet we have learned Lawyers in this Country.Why is Government delaying such an opportunity if Malawians are to harvest from the sad April that brought this change of approach to thinking on economic recovery  plundered in 2009.
• Why are state Lodges paying salaries ,water and electricity bills from government purse if privatising will bring revenue to capitol hill
• Why is Government not interested in a fare package of  rates tailored for  NATIONALS visiting our hotels in this case we will increase the traffic and change the attitude we dread of having Malawians shun our tourism centres afraid of digging deeper in these hard times.
• I have not seen any VEDIO AD on the media giants like BBC,PRESS TV apart from a very short and ordinary documentary on  travel channel or ar we still marketing the old way,the way we used to do the things we did in Marketing.Witing for another Lake of stars.
• Malawi Broadcasting Corporation-STATE broadcaster runs no single documentary on rich tourism we have on our backyard
• Long term strategy-Introduce tourism in Primary School syllabus so that it should be known by the student that it is a clean and worthy career path to choose  and a big contributor to the economy let alone an industry that rejuvinates the mind of good citizen after hectic season of work comes a vacation to refreshIt
• Government stop talking about Tourism and prioritise this industry by simply shifting its focus from tobbacco to Tourism A,B and C Shall be  a walkover.Point C  is a significant ERP tool if we really want traffic into the industry increased.Human resource ,knowledgeable staff will see continued tourists and foriegn exchange flow.
• As it seeks to improve the climate of investors it leaves the employee in the cold beacuse hoteliers and other tourism staff are still recieving poor salaries ,this initiative should be spelt clearly in the ERP 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH SUNBIRD TOURISM LTD C.E.O

BRIAN BANDA TALKS TO ROGER GADNER ,C.E.O of SUNBIRD TOURISM LTD on CAPITAL FM.

KEY:BB=Brian Banda

RG:Roger Gadner

Good evening and welcome to yet another edition of Straight talk program, its coming to you under the auspices of Prominent Paint …… plays the advert.

BB:To day in the program we talk to the CEO of Sunbird Tourism Limited Mr. Roger Gardner.

Mr. R. G what a great opportunity talking to you tonight, many thanks we are meeting for 1^st time who is Roger  Gadner

R.G: Well I would like to take myself as a selfmade man when I was young man quiet a long time ago now the opportunity didn’t exist for the level of hotel studies training one can do, where I lived certainly so I have grown through this industries from a backing background funny enough to learn hand on the thing of hotel, I participating this industry gives me the opportunity to practice my skills, I love people and interacting with people but at the same time I have a statistical and financial background so putting them together gives the opportunity in the hospitality industry to practice all my skills.

BB:   How easy was it to blend from the making backing background to hotel back ground?

RG: Well I started in this business as a Waiter in the steak house while I was working in the bank, how to make extra money, one thing led to another and I went to club night, I worked for the Bs diamond mines for 3 years for the Recrational outlets, and it just led from there into the hotel because, it was a natural progression from Clubs , Rests into hotel business and Hired to leave it on one occasion out its in my blood – it came very strong when my family were begging to get branch into  into it , because I love the Hotel business.

BB:  Why do you love hotel business?

RG: People are the hotel business are guests, are staff both are equally important to me obviously the guests have the slide edge on the staff because the guests bring income into, our hotel and make it possible to pay staff but without two entities working together guests  and staff you have no industry at all it has always being my ambition to make people in this industry enjoy it.

TO BE CONTINUED,

RAIN FALLS,RAIN STOPS-COMES THE SUNSHINE

I forgot i typed  my phone number on the profile of this blog one day my keen follower of this blog called from the USA as she put it that she miss my posts and she is considering to visit the warm heart of Africa sooner than she thinks.I am honoured to recieve such a positive feedback.

The question :HOW far are you from the internet to keep months of not  dropping a line or two on this blog about  Malawi and Africa?

My Response was not honest enough but all i can say is am back and after the rain comes the sunshine.

Ghana Tourism Authority joins International Council of Tourism Partners, Travel Association News

Ghana Tourism Authority joins International Council of Tourism Partners, Travel Association News

CASA-ROSSA :HOME OF ITALIAN QUISIN AND CAMPING

                                                                                                                                                                       It  never dawned on  Mark Grilli,born in 1971 and his Italian wife that their love for travel will ever  make them stay in Malawi running a food and accommodation business  of Casa- Rossa in Zomba City.


MAIN RESTAURANT  AND  DECOR ABOVE THE ITS ATTIC INSPIRED by REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE THINK GREEN TALK


 

With his Finance and Arts background Hospitality 

Mark and me after a good laugh

business seems an easy task because the technical part of it like menu and preparations of dishes the wife takes care of them .She heads the kitchen.She has  worked in Italian Restaurants for many years.

"Seven years ago we were travelling in Africa especially Mozambique and we travelled to Malawi and we loved the country at first sight,then one day i happen to come accross the brothers,late kids of Mr Golosi former National statistics employee and we discussed the possibilty of renting their home" Mark told me.He giggles at the utter of every word.

The establishment consists of Main Restaurant,dome and two standing tents and serve Italian and other International Quisins.

'We regard ourself as a business without competitors because other managers of places here in Zomba they eat here from lunch to dinner and beverages.We are very unique hence no room for comparisons,"he emphatically said

We spoke alot and something on economic situation cameup.He buys his foodstuffs from Mozambique siting the reason of high prices.He gave me one example of cheese he uses to prepare his finger-licking dishes costs him k12000.00 and only found in Blantyre at one shop(name withheld)while  in Mozambique its K3000.00 equivalent of that countries' currency.He does his purchases in bulks and his figures still balance if a question about transportation and other costs popped up in your mind.

Next time you visit Casa-Rossa you will find Italian Pizza and more Italian dishes.This Place to me seemed a place where Zomba meets because there were so many clients by lunchtime and i was told that what i saw was part of the huge patronage they always have.

  


Me downing my drink after a good laugh with Mark

  CheesePlatter,Spaggette ,Orecchiette,Gncchi,samoosas,Chicken nuggets and Chips are some of the items you will get your mouth watering before its served on their well crafted tables.

The challenges of devaluation will not affect his business because he saw it comming and that this new government has done a good thing to busuness for making it official.Power failures are also a scare-scrow in this business and contingency messures are going to be put in place.They are closed on Mondays

Hey Mark "IWILL BE BACK" like Arnord Schwarsnegger in Terminator or the Beatles",i love this place.

                                                    For bookings : 0991184211
                                              email:infor@casarossamw.com
                                                   web:casarossamw.com

 

MAJETE RECIEVES BIG FIVE FAMILY MEMBER AND 2012 INDABA

MAJETE GAME RESERVE RECIEVES A LION

It’s been good news to learn that Majete Game Reserve is receiving a member of the big five.

On my face book status I stated that tourists come all the way from Norway , Germany or Israel to spot the Big 5 and the Lion is the member to this popular family.Sadly according to Malawi Voice a One day patrol has proved that only one lion is spotted.Possibilities are very high that a tourist who has invested in a package inorder to see the Lion might come and only to see footprints and not the actual Lion.This has been embarassaing to the tourism industry and a country as a whole.We have to put our house inorder if we are to sustain the flow of our clientel.We are not  doing a favour to anybody but we are doing business here.

This is good development to the forex shortage,this news restores the confidence that tourists had lost for Malawi as a reputable destination to potential tourist.

One last job to President Joice Banda is to merge the Ministry of Economic Planning with Tourism and Culture so as we change the face of economy tourism should be part of the products and service we export as we do with Tobacco.

Congratulations to Majete Game Reserve.

INDABA 2012 SOUTHAFRICA

IWas carried away with events a swiftly unfolding in my country and lost sight of world events that our tourism industry can be of benefit. In this blog post I wish to share a few things that highlight the INDABA EVENT. This information and details were sourced from :( http://www.indaba-southafrica.co.za/visitor/default.aspx#travel-tips)

VENUE: Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC), South Africa on 12 - 15 May 2012,

INDABA is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar. It showcases the widest variety of Southern Africa's best tourism products, and attracts international visitors and media from across the world. INDABA is owned by South African Tourism and organised by Witch & Wizard Creative (Pty) Ltd.

For two years in a row, INDABA has won the award for Africa’s best travel and tourism show. This award was presented by the Association of World Travel Awards.

INDABA is a four day trade event that attracts well over 13000 delegates from the travel tourism and related industries.

Participants at the Indaba 2010

THE REASON TO VISIT INDABA

·         Its Africa’s top travel and tourism exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere.

·         Keep abreast global trends and new developments within the in the tourism and travel industry.

·         Meet industry stakeholders and decision makers face to face

·         Conduct business with new and existing clients.

·         Gain competitive advantage with a view to becoming market leaders.

·         Meet with over 1800 exhibitors from a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors.

·         Opportunity to network with key decision makers and stakeholders on an exciting and informative platform.

TRAVEL TIPS

Here are a few valuable tips (by those in the know):

·         Make accommodation and car-hire bookings as soon as you can. There are a number of accommodation options in Durban and surrounding areas including boutique hotels, self-catering apartments, city hotels and even residential homes to hire, but you need to move swiftly.

·         Start setting up your appointments and making contacts as soon as the relevant details are available.

·         Ensure you have sufficient business cards for those many meetings.

·         Keep scouring this website for details of events and happenings; you really need to keep in the know.

·         Remember comfy clothing, and comfortable shoes and of course your bathing costume and beach hat for those extra sunny days in Durban.

·         Don’t forget to choose a tour from the pre & post tours available on the website while you are at INDABA and explore the surrounding areas (if you have the time).

LESSONS FROM SEYCHELLES';ON DEVALUATION OF KWACHA AGAINST TOURISM

Desclaimer:Unedited,My views

I hate the name they call it;devaluation of the Kwacha? i would rather put it as a CONVERTIBLE currency,free to float  and not a CONCENTRATED ONE which was  gluttony of foreign currency in the previous regime.Will people accept this or  framing my PHD on the wall and people  start believing in you  OH ! yeah, i will talk about the past because it is gone and i can ably rewind all of it at once but JBs regime give it time we shall see when we cross the bridge or should i just say they are wrong before we see one or two eggs hatch into monster   or  a good-chick.? tell me now.

To Tourists and Volunteers The central Bank has allowed you  to settle your local bills in any convertible major foreign currency or in Malawi kwacha again. It was the same bank under former boss Perks Ligoya who came before the microphone and  said that all tourist operators shall ensure that foreign exchange obtained in the course of business is deposited into the Foreign Currency Denominated Accounts (FDA) or is sold to an authorized dealer in foreign exchange within the country.

Hotels Resorts and other related operators  maintained appropriate records on all foreign currency transactions and submitted monthly returns/Reports to the country’s central bank. This statement came with warnings that failure to comply with the requirements will result in withdrawal of licence or penalties in line with Financial Services Act which has been shelved for my homework ,aah LAZY ME.

Last Tuesday just like we expect more to change not only Ministerial positions , RBM under the new boss Charles Chuka before he even booked for a weekend room night stay along the lakeside Resort to celebrate his appointment has  announced the devaluation of the local currency bowing down to the World bank demands to  devalue the so called artificial overvalued currency,exchange rate from K168 to K250 per United States dollar.

 This comes in the wake of the proposed Comprehensive Plan  put in four areas:

•  Regaining macro balance,
•  social impact and mitigation,
•  Growth rebound – including where growth and jobs would come from, and
•  the medium term agenda for productivity and diversification. 

Last time kWACHA  was touched we were told that it was devalued by only 10% from MK150 to US$1 to MK165 to US$1. This was the time The Late President Bingu WA Mutharika was still under this plannet earth.

 The RBM Chief clearly indicated that this devaluation, the kwacha is now fully liberalised, which shall mean what? Demand and supply power i guess.

This is the opposite of what the former head of state would have loved to see.He wanted a concentrated Kwacha which swallowed alot of foriegn currency in turn (I love to repeat this part)

LESSONS FROM SEYCHELLS ON FLOATING CURRENCY aka DEVALUATION AND TOURISM

Sychelles Tourism is one of the sectors of their economy contributing about 16.6%  of GDP apart from fishing .Bingu just like the Former President of Seychelles Albert Rene wasted  energy talking about the effects of devaluation rather than the advantages of the free convertible currency which given time stabilises and the economy is brought to a recommended normalcy per world financial bodies.
Rene tied  the Seychells Rupee as if he is the only citizen in the country. In fact scholars do not have a conclusive answer on devaluation so alternative measures should always be given a try.When they lastly though very late ,The Minister of  Finance of African Development Bank Danny Faure  wrote at the nod of the USD20 Million loan for turning around the economy he said: The liberation of the exchange rate regime has lifted the severe constraints on the development of the economy and the government is committed to the floating of the currency.(Rupee).

The African Development Bank document of SEYCHELLS Appraisal in paragraph clearly paints  the spirit  of a country that sacrificed alot to bail its citizens out of the economic hardships., you can read on ,patiently AND Agree with Charles Chuka when he said its a big sacrifice,echoe with Goodall Gondwe when he fearlessly said it was long ovedue.Seychells sailed in troubled water for just a year and some months and we need this big patience  as JB requested us to  go through this period and 18 months seems good projection.This is the only price to pay.

The Seychells Appraissal by AFB-come-on read on please so that we understand this necessary evil.

You can personally check this site   article: 2.2.5 (www.afdb.com/seychellsappraissal)

As regards the government budget, the overall fiscal balance on cash basis (including grants) moved from a surplus of 1.7% of GDP in 2005 to a deficit of -6.2% in 2006, and stood at -9.7% in 2007. In 2008, although the fiscal deficit improved slightly, it remained negative at -3.7% of GDP. These deficits, associated mainly with high spending in the social sector and net transfers to the parastatal sectors (accounting for over 29% of total government expenditure and net lending in 2007), have been financed by external borrowing.

As regards the country’s external position, the current account deficit deteriorated to -32.1% of GDP in 2008 compared to -23.4% in 2007. Foreign exchange reserves dwindled so rapidly that import coverage fell to the equivalent of 0.1 month imports by end-2007, before increasing to 0.7 months import cover by end-2008.

  First review of the SBA in March 2009, the IMF concluded that program implementation was broadly satisfactory, reflecting the authorities’ strong commitment and ownership of the reforms. The exchange rate has stabilized and the parallel exchange market has disappeared. Interest rates have begun to ease from their peak, and inflation is declining rapidly. Implementation of the frontloaded reform program has led to early positive results.

To major investors’ devaluation is bonus for tourist visitors, compaired to their  home currencies and this might increase tourists’ traffic than before.

They devalued by 33%  in Seychelles and it paid off in the tourism industry at last. 
The  the number of kwacha a tourist can buy for  foreign currency eg Dollar, the affordable the destination it becomes.Then one thinks we might be so cheap ,no not at all The turnover of such development will or forever turn around the economy because of  lot of forex and the growth of revenue .However Tourists operators should see this as  a longer term solution because some of the supporting industries rates of commodities' like for upgrades of property construction/refurbishment  might jump but in line with the liberised exchange rate.

 Sunbird Tourism the biggest chain posted 6% loss attributing to the poor Macro-economics environment which detered the usual good business they enjoy  the year ended 31 Dec 2011 according to Nation 07.05.12 published their financial statement.There is a ray of hope though.

This is another direction that should start with swallowing a bitter but energy packed pill.

Malawi can also get there like Seyshells

LABOUR DAY LAMENTATIONS FOR THE HOTELIER

This pension bill 

The least on the thrill

He toils,in the burning Mangochi sun

In hope of having fun

Guides them in bare foot to far places of pleasure and joy

They think hes robot or walking toy

He greets them and grins

Gets ridicules in turn ,”go back to xool and learn English”

The  shift  around the clock  keeps smiling

For bookings they keep dialing and calling

                                  The tips he gets an insult to labour laws

                                               He smiles  when they call him stupid and follows

                                          Has a monthly deficit in the miniatures budget

                      Hence he works on a bill racket

                                                She laughs and he thinks shes single and available

                       In pretence he poses as  lovable

                          in the biting cold of Mzuzu,Zomba

                                                     rises to serve breakfast at six ,from  a good slumber

SILVER LINING IN BINGU WA MUTHARIKAS' 8 YEAR REIGN IN PICTURES

 I was patiently waiting to wrap up the mourning period and probably waiting for the anger of many who did not share Bingus expertise in running the country simmer down.
Bingu might have offended malawians in someway or the other,he was not ECONOMICAL with his words when pursuing his econimics agendae.

This time he was holding a fort on behalf of Malawians he did a few worrisome errors in the Tourism industry but some must go to his credit without ommission.
The hereunder structures remains in the history books his success story whether you like it or not;

Karonga Chitipa Road

He did not approve of Gay rights,putting culture of Malawi first than anything Material

Parliament Building -Lilongwe

5 Star InterHotel

Maker of first Female President  in Malawi  in pursuit of 50/50 Campaign

Kayerekera Mines for the First Time in History

University of Science andTechnology

Kayerekera Mines

Driver of Change Award regarding Food Security

Zero -Torelance ,Mwawa was a Minister when he was fired after a fraudulent special client account at Mount Soche wedding Reception

Abundunce of food through subsidy Programme

Rest in Eternal Peace,the dead have no unfinished job,you did your part.

JBs NEW CABINET & WELCOME BACK COCKTAIL PARTY FOR OUR TOURISM MINISTER;DANIEL LIWIMBI

Hon Minister Daniel Liwimbi ,MP, Profile
Diploma in Dairy Technology
Masters in Business Adminstration
Worked as a CEO at Dairy Company
CEO at Ethanol Company

He is no stranger in the cabinet ,He once served in the previous cabinet of Prof.Bingu Mutharika.Hon.Minister i should announce to you that you will not only enjoy this cocktail but you also have a beautifully turned down service,a full BODY massage (you can only choose if you want a boy or girl to proffessionally(ofcourse) do the job.If you smoke let us know so that the waiter should bring you an ashtray.

On behalf of friends,followers of my blog ,critics, regular tourists and everyone  i congratulate every one who has won the trust of our JB to list them on the new cabinet group.My  heartfelt cngratulations goes to those that have returned to the cabinet table after the death of Bingu Wa Mutharika,alot has happenned so count your blessings or ask Henry and Yunusu Mussa if am a shrewed lier.

I would like to welcome back Hon Daniel Liwimbi MP,for being given the opportunity to finish what he did not accomplish under this Ministry.

We still remember what he promised us during the tourism week that during his rein;

• 20% contribution of tourism to the GDP,you forcasted sir!

We need a quick redress of issues in this ministry if we are geared at replacing Tobbacco with Tourism.The pressing issues that Hon.Minister should look at before downing your wine glass are as follows;

• We need a deliberate marketing strategy not only when  dates of Lake of stars are approaching but even in times like these BBC,CNN,PRESS TV or Aljazeer to mention but a few global market oriented media houses can sell Malawi and change this talk about uknown Malawi into a popular and most thronged destination in Africa
• Marry the Malawi Institute of Tourism/Teveta syllabus with Mzuzu University Syllabus  so that there should never be void of sort when students decide to further their education.This concern come amid my observation that Malawi Institute of Tourism Diploma curricullum has no Bisiness Maths or Statistics  and Operational reseach which whether we like or not becomes a tool of a Manager in Business and Tourism isone of them.(i need a stand alone post on this subject )
• Lifting the Lakeshore conference ban with immediate effect,alot of households are denied of putting food to table if this ban still stands,GOD knows i hate everything about this ban because it was done without analysing its consequences.
• The removal of service charge was/is not a solution to garner for more traffic of tourist in the country or this should have been replaced with better perks in the industry,the majority recieve less that K10,000.00 yet i believe this is the driving seat of the so much needed  forex in Malawi.
• Zomba should be identified as the second best place from lakeside in the tourism industry,the scenery of the plateau and its history makes best packages international clients would bet their dollars on.
• other regional cultural villages like Kasungu for Chewa and Rumphi for Tumbuka/Ngoni

Thanks for Cultural village,the 5 star hotel and the grading excercise that happened in your tenure.
With those few remarks sir i welcome you back to your office and i propose a  toast before you show us your dancing skill.

HISTORICAL TOURISM:CALLING FOR AN OFFICIAL HEROES ACRE, WOULD MUTHARIKA DESERVE THE PLACE?

IF MUTHARIKA cannot fit in to be called a HERO  and  because he chose Ndata as a final resting place  over a neutral state chosen place, lets deliberatey find a place,suggestively named  National cemetery for Great Sons and Daughters of Malawi if the word hero is too strong to use .Now that every leader and great citizen might want to be buried  under their home soil.We might not be fair to our history................What happens to history of great sons and daughters of Malawi if  every reputable citizen and all great leaders their families insists on having them buried in their home areas?.

In my previous blog i think and know that i was among a few Malawians who were deemed as rather being in celebratory mood upon the death of a leader than mourning.I respect the views of any soul because antagonism of political views is a sign of progress in this inventful wheel called democracy.I do not agree that i  jubilated a second.Matter of factly,i am only happy that we have changed a leader whose fruits we are yet to reap as i mourn the fallen H.E as a human being not a president because to me he died long time ago as a reputable leader so to say.I am mourning him as a father but as i justify that am doing the Malawian way i must admit his policies for me were a bitter pill on my bedside.

Having said that ,on my walk back to my place i call home a drankard who called himself "Peter " as he staggered before me,i thought how come this guy can  still afford a tot of kachasu(local brewd spirits) and yet i walked home that day to save a penny for a box of matches and a candle due to the intermittent power supply.He shouted "ambuye koma mukudziwa kuti Bingunso anali ndi Mbali yabwino...........er...err........phuu" he caughed and showered his spittles in the air.I gave it a thought and i realised what Joyce Hilda Mtila Banda had said upon recieving a sword of reign was true .Lets remember the good things he did for Malawi.History will still keep these things in our library.

His drunkard skull  had aired out something that struck a cord in my opposite political view(ers) brain in me.Two sides of acoin and if i loathed his head i have to acknowledge the tail.

 EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING?

• Bingu was that leader who wanted to bail Malawi out of dependency syndrome,he said this in his first term that Malawi is not poor but the people are. He encouraged you and me to think and dream in colour.Ofcourse this is a long walk to such destiny but it never harms to start with a step by now.
• He advocated the zero-deficit Budget which meant a stop to begging  funds from donors purse.
• He openly fought against the gay issue which later became a bait by donors aid or a trap into aid cut and all sorts of end of economic and relations ties.This was a price to pay for defending the spiritual and ethical belief of the cultural fabric that has been wooven since slavery.
• availability of ARVs to the rural poor

All the above choices of how Mutharika made in the effort of building Malawi should never die with him. I may be wandering  about to break the news that Mutharika is a hero in his making because i know the July 20 killings of protesters,the two term presidency without vice presidents and the bad laws will emerge and ridicule my argument for hero song .However,we must choose the words on his epitaph and here i am let me just call him the GREAT SON OF MALAWI.

If he is not befiting a heroes song then lets call him the son of Malawi who did his part and departed the time we needed him most.We needed him to clean up  his own mess.We have no guiding principles that spells out a hero description as at now.If our constitution is silent then we need a deliberate bill now come the elapse of 30 days mourning period.Sons and daughters of Malawi need one secluded but special cemetery for the burial of their remains.Lets borrow a leaf from Kenya,Nmibia ,South Africa and Zimbabwe.

It is shocking to learn that Mutharika chose Ndata next to his wife Ethel when he was still alive.As per custom the ancestors though we believe in God might haunt Hon.Henry Mussa and the funeral committee if they go against his wishes.It is time to deliberately put in place a line in the costitution  that shall mean once you are in a public office or fall in the category of great citizens HEROES ACRE be a final home.

This is a historical tourism.As time sleeps they say history is born .Lets make our own history for the next generation.

Namibia for example deliberately passed a bill  and was enacted in their constitution on the conferment of heroes and the great people of their country.

Article 32(3) of Namibian constitution conferment of state funeral ,4(1) subject to provisions of section 3 and section 12 or 13 up to 1  that state funeral may be conducted  at Regional heroes Acre ,the Natioanl heroes acre or at any other burial place in Namibia.

• Those befiting a hero title must have ;had a significant contribution to betterment of Namibia
• noteworthy of service,any service it can be art,football or music
• veterans of war ,leadership, human rights activist and notable service

By the end of this article i still do not know if Mutharika was a hero or a Zero.All i can rightly say is he tried his best part to contribute to the cake of the Nation.

MALAWIS' PRESIDENT DEATH VERSUS KIM JONG-II DEMISE,FUTURE OF BUSINESS INDUSTRY

DISCLAIMER: CONTAINTs OF THIS BLOG IS A PERSONAL VIEW AS A CITIZEN OF MALAWI AND WRITER,MY FAMILY ,BUSINESS PARTENERS DO NOT SHARE THIS VIEW.

INVESTORS AND DONORS BOOKING THEIR FIRST FLIGHT ON TRIP ADVISOR BACK TO MALAWI COME MONDAY!
I am a decent citizen of Malawi and writing in the business point of view does not undress me the Malawian badge to mourn the death of Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika . I expect alot of changes on the business landscape.Starting with our stock market there should be some indication of increase  and willingness or actual buyers of shares and invest more.Given all the economic mechanisms on exchange rate and a few  investors policies looked at ,Malawi is the best place to invest now.

I have personally spoken to an investor who told me point blank he was waiting for 2014 to invest in Tourism industry and promised me  a car and a Managerial position at one unit of a hotel ......i was still waiting and am probably thinking about the kind of car i will be given and the perk keeps me thinking about this offer. 

Some hotel staff i know are also expecting something from Joyce Banda given the low wage they get ,the service charge that this Mutharika Administration removed  be brought back to reward staff as per business volumes

It is rumoured that The President had a lot of investments in shares of a few companies and we hope upon his death control of some of his companies will change a few policies to accommodate a new regime with new things in the offing.Mulli Brothers who had strong links to the President might  cease to be market leaders in the local business circles too.They might need new partners to shield themselves from the  new regime and this means new parteners might invest more than ever.

The Tourism industry should also expect a big jump of occupancies bearing in mind that the key donor countries and NGOs who had a strained relationship with Bingu led Government will  finally open doors for more aid,investments and this will mean business on track. We have been told that UNDP,Chinese Government and other dignitories went to see the Acting President.The lake shore conference ban might be lifted by Joyce Banda regime  provided Malawi Tourism Association  Chairperson Mr Stan Phiri volunteer quickly to start the talk over coffee.


Switching leaders of different ideologies is a good news in the eyes of investors because they know policies will also change.They definitely differ their grip of leadership handle come low or high waters.
Joyce Banda The Acting President,to finish the term Bingu started.

Such occurence of death of a leader will make automatic changes of foriegn policies and how governance on the ground.

• Consumer confidence will return thereby invigorating investors will to invest for the first time or buy more share. We have seen this when Gadaffi died oil prices which soared from USD10.00 to USD20.00 per gallon fell back to normal as production restarted fast when the situation normalised.
• Aftter september 11 attack Americans dodged and completely backed down from investments,until Barack Obama announced that America has finally captured Bin Laden the Stockmarket dashboard started showing signs of improvement
• Americans love to celebrate when they feel better, Restaurant and Resorts started growing occupancies as well

The announcement by The Office Of President and Cabinet  on the Malawi President death and the commotion it created in the delay and uncertainity to the real issues brought  back the memories of Kim Jong Il the North Korean leader in me.I am thinking and spinning my head and say what happened to the leadership that has a good loyal following to keep Malawians in the dark.

Kim Jong II died on 17 December 2011,8:30 am of massive heart attack  known as cardiac and cerebrovascular disease  but the announcement was kept under wraps and finally done on 19 December 2011.The North Korean media downplayed the news that the leader has died.It took 51 hours for the state run media to announce to the nationals,finally echoing with other midia houses that the dictator is no more.This was a dictator to the tooth.A leader who allowed his citizens to emanciate due to lack of food as he capitalised on nuclear related productions.

This silence was curtained by the discussions that the innercircle underwent to quickly indorse the son of Kim Jong as their new leader of the party poised to inherit the leadership of the country as well.The question that some members asked was,"why do we choose another leader to take over if the current leader is still fit and mentally sound?

Answering that question propels me into this uncertainity  of events at play.The president of the Republic of Malawi Proffessor Bingu Wa Mutharika,78, felt unwell (am using fair launguage right...) at 11:00am and i take this as a matter of urgency to the first citizen of Malawi to be flown outside Malawi as soon as they discovered we are underequipped to hospitalise him.Why did it wait so long that only beyond sunset was the right time to airlift him to SouthAfrica?

THE REASON GOVERNMENT was SILENT ON THE DEATH OF H.E

They were drawing a few succession  ideas and they were in denial of the aftermath where it was loud in the section 87 of the constitution that the enemy in Joyce Banda shall now run the Government affairs.

They were devided on what to do next :to rape the constitution by allowing Peter to take over  or being the good citizen they were supposed to be. 

They were choosing good words to calm down the Nation and consult a good PR to draft the speech i hope.

The only reminder to government officials is that in this age and time of internet access Malawians had already known about death of H.E before he was flown elsewhere.

I am not going to compare  Kim Jong Il to  Professor WA Mutharika,i am, though i commend a number of efforts that he attempted during his time. .Alot has happened THOUGH during this last term.

Kim Jong II

• announcement of his death took 51hours
• endorsed his son during his mourning (whether its beforeor after he was buried or before or after his death was officially announced
• died of heart attack cardiac and cerebrovascular
• he studied economics
• Kim Jong Il was given the honorary title "Hero of the Democratic People's ,OUR Father,brother leader
• Its economy was/is under the impact of UN sanctions
• Loved SAFARI SUIT(was that his signature dress-code)

• North Korea has faced a tightening international sanctions regime since 2009

These charecteristics  can describe Kim Jong,...........i have not compared him to Bingu enough  yet!Thats your choice.Sankhawekha pa kaunjika.North Korea has faced a tightening international sanctions regime since 2009 after it conducted a series of illegal nuclear and ballistic missile tests, allegedly torpedoed a South KoreaNorth Korea has faced a tightening international sanctions regime since 2009 after it conducted a series of illegal nuclear and ballistic missile tests, allegedly torpedoed a South Korea 

However, i have heard that DPP has already indorsed kid Brother Peter Mutharika to lead DPP.I have not heard on state media that the President is dead despite as far as BBC did announce.I have also heard that he studied economics and have died of cardiac arrest.That we are being sanctined by other key donor countries that i have read and heard.

Bright Malopa,the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation,CEO  on  his blog under a post titled;POLITICS OF THE BRAIN TUMOR wrote:

"His main weakness, which grew more evident in later years, was self deceit - something which is a frequent temptation to politicians especially those who think that they are naturally and effortlessly cleverer than those around them. To his loyal supporters, he was a hero who laid the foundations of the new Malawi. To his opponents; he was a corrupt politician who exploited his position to enjoy an extravagant way of life." 

May Bingu Wa Mutharika rest in peace