A wrangle has emerged in Muslim Women Organisation (MWO) over the money which they received from President Joyce Banda, Malawi Muslims Official Website understands.
On Saturday, President Joyce Banda donated K2 million to MWO as she was presiding over the official opening of the 2012 women’s ijtmah in Mzuzu.
National Chairlady Fatima Ndaila received the money on behalf of the organisation and later handed it over to the Regional Coordinator of Mzuzu Lukaya Mambo.
However, reports reaching this website indicate that other women especially from the central and southern regions are accusing their northern region counterparts of clinging to the money.
Ndaila said she is not aware who is keeping the money but suspects that the money has been grabbed by Muslim men who connived with their northern region counterparts not to send it to the MWO headquarters.
“As a National Chairlady I don’t know where the money is. I don’t understand what is going on because if the money was donated to MWO it would have been better to be sent it to the national headquarters so that we can discuss how we can use it,” said Ndaila.
However, Vice Secretary for Northern Region who is also Secretary General for the National Executive sister Mwamadi said the money is in the hands of the working committee of the 2012 Ijtmah.
“We borrowed a lot of money which we are supposed to pay back using that money. As I am talking to you now, the money is with the working committee but there is no any foul play,” said Mwamadi.
This year’s ijtmah, which started on Friday October 12, ended on Sunday October 14, was organised under theme “Empowering women in development and safe motherhood in Malawi.”
Speaking at the function, the Malawi leader emphasized on the importance of education, saying a Muslim’s first duty is to acquire knowledge before everything else.
“Education is Faradhi to every Muslim. This is what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) was first commanded in the cave of Hira in Makah by the Angel Jibril to read,” explained Banda.
She said women have been at the forefront in acquiring and imparting knowledge, observing that the Prophet’s wife Aisha (RA) memorized many Hadith than men.
“Let emphasis be made on both what is considered religious and secular education since they complement each other. Learn Quran, Hadith, the citations of Prophet and Islam; so that you can know how to make, select and get deeper understanding of Islam,” said the President, adding that “the Prophet said learn from the cradle to the grave.”
On the sad note, about 25 women were injured in an accident at Salima turn off after the driver of the bus they were travelling in lost control due to the brake failure.
Three were admitted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital while 15 were treated as outpatients.
