Easter period is back once again. A time when Christendom remembers the passions that Jesus endured with the Cross.

Assurances from President Joyce Banda Friday that our country is poised for transformation are without doubt soothing although, we must hasten to say, they also raise uncountable questions as to their practicality.

President Joyce Banda on Thursday inaugurated a US $1 billion railway project, to be constructed by Vale SA of Brazil.

It is pleasing to learn that one of the country's major bilateral donor, Britain, has resuming aid to Malawi almost 18 months since it suspended the same over concerns of bad governance.

Rumours that immigrants have been earning fat salaries from Banja la Mtsogolo (BLM) have been rife over the years. While we do not wish to judge the suspects, it is disheartening to find out that they are based on some truth. Not only does this not look good for a company here to better the lives of Malawians, but it shows a deeper cave of decay for our society.

The battle scarred United Democratic Front (UDF) held its overdue convention last Tuesday, leaving a number of casualties in its way. But it seems the most bitter casualties are former Chairperson of the Atupele Muluzi camp George Mtafu and his former secretary general, Kennedy Makwangwala. Before we interrogate the drama that was the convention and its casualties, it is very orderly to congratulate the UDF for finally holding the much touted indaba.

The decision by President Joyce Banda and Vice President Khumbo Kachale to cut their monthly salary by 30 percent is a very welcome development.

Transparency revolves around the principle of openness and candour. We are blessed that our beloved nation, now, has leaders who boast of being democrats. We hope they will be democrats in principle and practice and when they are being pressed by members of the public to be transparent, they are going to be honest and open about their dealings.

Transparency revolves around the principle of openness and candour. We are blessed that our beloved nation, now, has leaders who boast of being democrats. We hope they will be democrats in principle and practice and when they are being pressed by members of the public to be transparent, they are going to be honest and open about their dealings.

The fiasco at Chinkhota 1 in Lilongwe that has left 200 families without crucial land on which to cultivate and sustain themselves smacks of a recklessness and negligence by government that should not be tolerated.

The injunction granted to the government, effectively stopping Mulli Brothers Limited from exploiting Viphya Forest Reserve is a welcome development.

Malawi Constitution obliges elected officials to declare their assets upon  assuming office. This aims to ensure transparency as it is expected to give citizens an opportunity to check abuse of public resources.

The rate at which heads of government organs are being fired should be of concern to many Malawians.

Concerns by the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) about reduced funding towards child survival in the national budget need to be addressed as a matter of urgency, as it threatens to derail progress achieved in Malawi's child survival efforts so far.

The agricultural investment going on in Neno is a good development for the country whose economy is agro-based and which seeks to bolster its fortunes through increased agriculture spending to expand and enrich its export base.

President Joyce Banda's state-of-the-nation address delivered yesterday has shed some light on what her administration hopes to achieve economically, socially and politically for Malawians in the near future.

As we went to press government had not yet announced the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika although Malawi News can reveal that the president was already clinically dead when he arrived at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

Granted, the CSOs are making headway but the pace at which negotiations between them and the Presidential Contact and Dialogue Group (PCDG) are moving, is to say the least, worrisome.

The decision by government to ensure that salaries of workers in its companies and the public service are uniform is timely and welcome.

Tomorrow, December 25, is Christmas—the day Christians the world over commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.