CDEDI Chief Namiwa shines at 2025 Human Rights Defenders Awards

Posted on by admin

Airtel Malawi

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Second Vice President Enock Kanzingeni-Chihana, on Tuesday evening arrived at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu to preside over the 2025 Human Rights Defenders Awards Dinner, an event marking this year’s commemoration of Human Rights Day.

The occasion brings together activists, institutions and leaders to reflect on the country’s progress in protecting and promoting fundamental freedoms.

Capital One

The annual awards celebrate individuals who have shown outstanding courage in defending human rights, often under difficult and hostile circumstances.

This year, two defenders were recognised for their contributions over the past twelve months.

Chairperson of the Independent Awards Panel, Justice Redson Kapindu, urged human rights advocates not to relent in their mission, stressing that Malawi must never slide back into the era of oppression.

He said the role of human rights defenders remains central to safeguarding democracy, justice and accountability.

According to Justice Kapindu, this year’s awardee is someone who demonstrated remarkable bravery and consistency despite facing significant challenges in the field.

The 2025 Runner-Up Award went to Silvester Namiwa of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), honoured for his resilience and outspoken advocacy on governance and civil liberties.

The Human Rights Defender of the Year Award was presented to Maggie Kathewera Banda, recognised for her exceptional leadership in championing the rights of women, girls and other marginalized groups.

Kapindu noted that Kathewera Banda’s work has been instrumental in pushing for equality and amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities.

Over the past years, the awards have highlighted notable defenders.

In 2023, CHREEA claimed the top award with Tusaiwe Yana as runner-up, while in 2024, lawyer Alexious Kamangira was honoured as Human Rights Defender of the Year.

This year’s ceremony reaffirmed the critical role defenders continue to play in strengthening Malawi’s human rights landscape, reminding the nation of the ongoing need for vigilance, courage and commitment.

Discover more from The Maravi Post

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

The Maravi Post

CDEDI takes on suspended Salima Sugar Chief Kossam’s incompetence, fraudulent acts: Demands urgent Mutharika’s Govt action

Posted on by admin

Salima Sugar Chief Wester Kosamu in trouble

Airtel Malawi

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has released a hard-hitting statement warning that Salima Sugar Company Limited (SSCL) has become a “ticking bomb” due to massive mismanagement, corruption and political interference.

Addressing the news conference on Monday, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa,accuses senior executives and politically connected individuals of siphoning billions of kwacha from the company through fraudulent contracts, irregular payments and reckless decision-making.

Capital One

CDEDI says the situation threatens the survival of the company and risks severe losses for the Malawian economy.

SSCL was originally formed as a joint venture between the Malawi Government through Greenbelt Holdings Limited and India’s AUM Sugar and Allied Limited. Its mandate was to introduce competition in the sugar market and provide affordable sugar to ordinary Malawians.

Instead, CDEDI says the company has been turned into a breeding ground for corruption.

The organisation links the current crisis to a 2023 directive by then Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, who instructed that all company matters be routed through Executive Chairman Wester Kossam. This position allowed Kossam to assume control over crucial operations of SSCL.

Although he appointed an acting CEO, Roy Apoovra, the CEO reportedly left Malawi for India shortly after his appointment, leaving Kossam to combine the duties of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer without oversight.

According to CDEDI, the consequences have been catastrophic. During the 2024–2025 crushing season, SSCL produced only 8,400 metric tonnes of sugar against a target of 20,000 tonnes, compared to 18,000 tonnes produced the previous season.

The organisation warns that this sharp decline puts the company on the brink of losing around K30 billion in revenue. With rains already falling, hundreds of sugarcane farmers now fear their uncrushed cane will go to waste.

The poor output has been attributed to chronic machine breakdowns and failure to maintain the company’s sugar mill, which has the capacity to crush up to 300,000 metric tonnes of cane annually.

CDEDI also reports that the drip irrigation system collapsed during the growing season, causing large portions of the crop to dry up before harvest.

Beyond operational failures, the organisation has raised serious allegations of personal enrichment. It claims Kossam authorised a K15 million payment for his private super-link trailer and awarded a lucrative K1.3 billion sugar import contract to ESTT Holdings, a firm linked to a politically influential individual, Ronald Mdoka.

A delegation sent to Brazil to inspect the purchased sugar reportedly found stock that was already destined for another country and the sugar has never arrived in Malawi. The payment remains unrecovered.

Further allegations include the use of a foreign currency account belonging to an honorary consul in the Middle East to facilitate the Brazil transaction and the issuing of unpaid credit facilities worth about K1 billion to politically connected individuals.

CDEDI also reveal scandalous fertiliser deals in which suppliers received hundreds of millions of kwacha upfront but delivered nothing.

On governance, CDEDI argues that Kossam’s recent suspension is meaningless because his term effectively expired when the Greenbelt Authority board was dissolved in August 2024 and again reconstituted in 2025 without his name.The organisation says government cannot suspend someone whose mandate ended long ago.

CDEDI has urged the government to ensure that all funds allegedly acquired unlawfully are refunded. It wants law enforcement agencies to summon all individuals involved, including those linked to the failed sugar import deal.

The organisation is also calling for an urgent audit of the entire company and for the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture to explore ways to rescue SSCL from a crippling loan that is costing the company over K1.1 billion every month.

CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa warns that unless decisive action is taken, Salima Sugar Company is headed for total collapse, leaving cane growers stranded and Malawians counting heavy losses.

Discover more from The Maravi Post

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

The Maravi Post

CDEDI wants Mutharika’s leadership to swiftly review Portland Cement mining activities in Balaka amid settlers discontent, Environmental laws violation

Posted on by admin

Airtel Malawi

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has renewed its call for a comprehensive review of all mining-related agreements and licences linked to Portland Cement Malawi Limited, citing alleged injustices, irregularities and possible corruption in the company’s operations at Chinkhumbe Hill in Balaka District.

Addressing the news conference on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in the capital Lilongwe Executive CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa applauded President Peter Mutharika for the decision to ban the export of raw minerals, but stressed that the move should be followed by a review of all Minerals Development Agreements (MDAs) signed under previous administrations.

Capital One

According to CDEDI, many of these agreements were questionable and not aligned with the best interests of Malawians.

The organisation claims the former administration was known for entering deals with “conmen and dubious investors,” resulting in communities suffering serious injustices.

The Chinese owned Portland Cement Malawi Limited, which bought shares in LaFarge Cement Company, is currently mining limestone at Chinkhumbe Hill in Senior Chief Nsamala’s area.

CDEDI says it began investigating the company after receiving complaints of unfair compensation, intimidation and lack of transparency from affected villagers.

A stakeholders’ meeting held on January 21, 2025 revealed that land compensation was not only meagre but had also been unlawfully reduced by 30 percent, allegedly due to the Ministry of Lands using Blantyre valuation rates instead of Balaka’s.

Balaka District Commissioner Tamanya Harawa later apologised for the misconduct.

Following demonstrations, Portland refunded the deducted 30 percent and added a 10 percent increase for the second phase.

CDEDI, however, noted that the Ministry of Lands, the Malawi Local Government Association and the Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority initially defended the unfair compensation.

CDEDI further claims to have uncovered fraudulent compensation payments, including MK16 million allegedly paid to individuals who were not affected by the project, facilitated by Group Village Head Mchenga, who was later arrested by citizens for his role in the scheme.

Meanwhile, Village Head Ng’onga is said to have reported receiving death threats linked to the compensation controversy.

The organisation expressed concern that senior officials at Balaka District Council and some bureaucrats at Capital Hill appeared to shield Portland from accountability, prompting CDEDI to use the Access to Information (ATI) Act to demand documents.

Requests submitted to the Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority on January 23, 2025 remain unanswered 10 months later.

CDEDI further alleges that Portland Cement is operating without conducting a mandatory Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) as required under the Environmental Management Act of 2017.

Balaka District Council reportedly approved the company’s project after Portland submitted an outdated Environmental Impact Assessment report belonging to LaFarge and conducted in 2011. No committee member objected to the anomaly.

The organisation has since urged the newly-appointed Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Jean Mathanga, to urgently visit the affected villages and ensure justice is served.

Discover more from The Maravi Post

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

The Maravi Post