Twits and wits: Malawian bloggers on new technologies, nature, myths, Zimbabwe, and a hard work ethic · Global Voices
Since the last Malawi roundup, the Malawian blogosphere has continued to be abuzz with posts announcing new technologies, news on Internet-based radios, existing radio stations going online, stories about farming initiatives, as well as reflections on nature and Malawian places of mythical, if not mysterious, interest. There have also been entries on the situation in Zimbabwe, politics in Malawi, and the hard work ethic that Malawians espouse when outside the country, among numerous other topics. Here with it all:
Twitter and new technologies
Malawian blogger, <PERSON>, writes about Twitter, a cutting edge technological innovation that enables users to update others on what they are doing at a particular moment. According to Soyapi, because of its adaptability between SMS function in cell phones, IM messaging, and webpages, twitter has a much greater potential in Africa, where there are much more cell phone users than Internet users:
So the launching of Twitter provides a good alternative considering that the use of mobile phones is much higher than that of computers. In Malawi for example, there are about 50,000 Internet users against about 700,000 mobile phone users out of a population of about 12 million. Twitter allows users to post a small update via SMS, instant messaging client and the web. Anyone who chooses to follow you will get that update on the Twitter home page, or their mobile phone of they choose to. Unlike most mobile phone web services, you can update via SMS from anywhere in the world and from virtually any handset.
And still on technology matters, <PERSON> has issued a call for suggestions providing a name for what he terms an all Malawian Christian Music Internet Radio Station:
This is to solicit a name for an all Malawian music Internet Christian radio station. A motto will be a fantastic bonus. I will really appreciate an explanation for the choice of your name. There is no criteria for the name. Sorry that at this point there will be no rewards.
Jatropha, nature and mythical mysteries
Clement Nyirenda asks if there has been any progress in Malawi in the farming of Jatropha, a plant he says is an excellent substitute for tobacco due to its oil content, 50 year life-span, and fertilizer content, among many other unique attributes:
Nowadays, I get very excited when I hear news about the global anti-tobacco policies, although the masses in Malawi and other developing countries are not happy. In my case, I see this as an opportunity for Malawi to look into other useful crops to replace the destructive tobacco. Jatropha is said to be one of those dream crops. Jatropha is a perenial shrub suited to tropical climates with 50 years life span. 830
It starts bearing seeds after two years of planting. Seeds with shell have an oil content of 32%-35%. This oil can be used for the production of biodiesel, soap, mosquito repellent, organic fertiliser etc.
And still on nature, blogger <PERSON> writes on his blog Where Flames Burn the Brightest about myths that surround two natural sites in Malawi, Malawi’s highest mountain, Mulanje, and Mwala wa Nthunzi, a rock said to spew out steam. <PERSON> talks about spirits that are said to haunt the highest peak of the mountain, Sapitwa, which translates into English as “Unsurmountable” or “Unreachable,” or “No go”. In 2003, a 29 year-old Dutch woman, <PERSON>, left fellow climbers behind, somewhere up the mountain, and proceeded to the dreaded Sapitwa Peak, alone. Rescue teams from Malawi and from the Netherlands spent several weeks searching for her, but she was never found. On Mwala wa Nthunzi, <PERSON> writes:
Mwala wa Nthuzi is one rock that has continued to puzzle me. Apparently the rock cant be removed from its original spot. When M1 [the main thoroughfare that runs the length of Malawi from south to north—Editor’s note] was being constructed, contractors would have the rock removed only to find it in its exact spot the following day. They tried removing it on multiple attempts but in spite of all their efforts the rock still returned to its spot. Today the rock is still there and the M1 just by its side.
In his other post, <PERSON> writes about the English Football League and comments on the new coach for the Malawi national football (soccer) team:
FAM officially unveiled <PERSON> as Malawi national team coach. Good luck to the guy. Malawian fans can be really tough. They want results now. It is easy to understand. 830