Embassy Highlights
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United States Wants Zimbabwe Talks to Express Popular WillState Department waiting to observe “the evolution of this process”By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer Washington -- The Bush administration will be closely watching talks between Zimbabwe’s political factions in Harare, according to a State Department spokesman, who also voiced U.S. support for a negotiation process “that leads to a result that expresses the will of the Zimbabwean people.” The leaders of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a framework for power-sharing talks in an effort to resolve the political crisis marked by violence and intimidation by government supporters against their political opposition after the country’s March 29 elections. State Department deputy spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said July 21 that the MOU provides “a vehicle for undertaking talks,” but that power-sharing discussions have yet to take place. more
U.S. Congressional Delegation impressed with Malawi projects
Congressman David Price of North Carolina led a six member congressional delegation to Malawi on July 5 and 6 and met with senior Parliamentarians and visited health related projects. Congressman Price was particularly interested in the HIV/AIDS activities being undertaken by the University of North Carolina (UNC), which is located in his district. While visiting Dzama, a rural village outside of Lilongwe where UNC has assisted with water and education projects, he said he was impressed with the University’s interventions. He said, “I have known some of the people involved in this work for 20 years and I have heard about their work and how they are excited to be in Malawi, doing very rewarding work here.” more
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Latest Headlines From the
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U.S. Supports Antiretroviral Treatment for 1.73 Million Worldwide Through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Washington, DC – The U.S. Government, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), announced that it is supporting life-saving antiretroviral treatment for approximately 1.73 million men, women and children worldwide, including nearly 1.68 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. This represents a dramatic increase from the roughly 50,000 people on treatment in all of sub-Saharan Africa in 2003, when President George W. Bush first announced PEPFAR. This accomplishment, along with the similarly successful prevention and care programs supported through PEPFAR, is a testament to the commitment of the people of the countries in which the U.S. Government is privileged to serve. more
Malawi relegated to Tier 2 StatusThe United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report released June 8 has relegated Malawi to Tier 2 status. According to the report, the Government of Malawi does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but it is making significant efforts to do so. Full report Malawi is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. The incidence of internal trafficking is believed higher than that of cross-border trafficking, and practices such as debt bondage and forced labor exist. Children are primarily trafficked internally for agricultural labor, but also for animal herding, domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, and to perform forced menial tasks for small businesses. Trafficking victims, both adults and children, are lured by fraudulent job offers into situations of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation within Malawi and in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. In 2007, a Malawian man was allegedly trafficked to Uganda under the pretense of attending vocational school, but was instead forced to perform agricultural labor. Women and children from Zambia, Mozambique, and possibly Tanzania and Somalia are trafficked to Malawi for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. more
Malawian Students Attend 2008 Competitive College Program Workshop Twenty two Malawian students successfully completed the 2008 Competitive College Program (CCP) Workshop on May 23rd 2008. This workshop is run under a grant from the Public Affairs Section and is operated by The Education Advising Center of the United States Embassy. The Students were chosen based on their academic qualifications, their written applications and their interview. The students come from all regions of the Malawi and from varying socio-economic backgrounds. The four week workshop is designed to prepare Malawian students with the essential knowledge and skills for applying to colleges and universities in the United States. The syllabus of the course includes: understanding the American educational system, selecting appropriate colleges, understanding financial aid system, preparing for the standardized tests, learning to use the computer, understanding the application process, and specific elements of critical thinking, reading and writing. The CCP Workshop is the first stage in the Competitive College program. The Educational Advising Staff continue to work with these students throughout the year on the various components of their applications, testing, and acceptance and financial aid.
USAID Provides Flood Assistance to Malawi
The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided $USD 455,943 for the purchase of emergency seeds for flood-affected populations in Malawi. Heavy rains from December 2007 through February 2008 led to flooding in southern Malawi, particularly affecting Chikwawa and Nsanje districts. The Government of Malawi and UN Flood Task Force reported that the floods affected nearly 190,000 people. The floods displaced people, and destroyed or damaged crops, roads, houses, and schools. USAID’s emergency funding will be directed to the non-governmental organization Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for seed fairs for the winter cropping season in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts. Seed vouchers will be distributed to 11,500 flood-affected households that have access to the lower Shire River flood plains, which are traditionally used for winter cropping. The affected households lost seed supplies and other household effects during the floods. Through the assistance provided by the people of the United States, Malawians will be able to obtain maize, beans, and vegetable seeds through the seed fairs.
U.S. Embassy Lilongwe Hosts Digital Video Conference on Covering Presidential Elections The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Lilongwe hosted a Digital Video Conference (DVC) on “Covering a Presidential Election” on May 13. With Malawian presidential elections coming in less than a year, it is opportune to introduce to local media practitioners techniques used by a U.S. journalist with much campaign experience. Veteran journalist and American University in Paris journalism professor, George Kazolias, addressed an audience of nearly 50 people composed of practicing journalists from public and private institutions, government officials, civil society representatives, and journalism students from the Malawi Institute of Journalism and Blantyre Business College. more
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