The cry for water in Lilongwe

Lilongwe's water woes have recently pushed urban slum dwellers to unclean sources of water. These women were captured  queuing for water at a broken pipe at Tsabango Community Day Secondary School ground in Area 22 Township. 



Compounding the problem is that these women have to travel some kilometers for this little artificial spring of dirty water which is their only source of water during periods when the community water kiosk taps go for days without dripping a single drop of water.

Social life in Malawi: To tip or not to tip

While offering a tip is the norm in most Western cultures and in some African Countries like South Africa, in Malawi things are a little different. Hardly will people give tips for services such as being waited on at a restaurant.

It is simply not part of the culture.

In the advent of global media, technology such as social media and movies, Malawians have adopted many aspects of western culture such as dress and fast foods.

Tipping however is one of those things that are slipping into Malawian social life more slowly. A few people in Cities such as Lilongwe, the Capital and Blantyre will give a tip of say K50 an equivalent of a few cents for having their trolley pushed to the car park from inside a shopping complex.

However, most people don’t tip.

Some people, I talked to, feel that they do not have enough money to go around dishing for services they have already paid for.

Others feel tipping would be perceived as trying to bribe the service provider.

Rarely a waiter at a fast food joint will be told to “keep the change” of more than K350 the equivalent of one US dollar.

Simply put, in Malawi, you can tip whatever amount whenever you feel like it. If the service impresses you, go on and tip. It is not the norm but it is also not unacceptable. A tip, whatever the magnitude will always be highly appreciated.

Malawi loves President Obama: Obama victory frenzy jam Malawi social media

           

                           

Internet services briefly jammed Wednesday morning as Malawians raced to post their congratulatory messages and express their happiness over Barack Obama’s re-election on social media networks.

The mood was not as electric as it was when Obama took up the office as America’s first black President in 2008. The 2008 US election saw people taking the celebrations to the streets even in the remotest parts of Malawi, a small country in Central Africa that has greatly benefited from US aid in the areas of education and health among other sectors.

 However, it seems President Obama is still very much  a favourite among many Malawians as seen by the numerous Facebook posts on his victory. Little mention was made of his Republican opponent Mitt Romney, its like he never even took part in the same elections as President Obama.

The name Obama has now become synonymous with winning, success and everything that seemed impossible! From naming business to babies;both girls  and boys, Malawi simply loves the name Barack Obama and the President.

President Obama became America’s 44th President on Wednesday after winning a clear victory of 275 electoral votes against Romney’s 203 in the state-by-state US voting system.