Updates: By Nelson Baziwelo Zakeyu Secretary to the Task force
Committee and, Executive Director Drug Fight Malawi Web site:
www.drugfightmalawi.com
Slide 2
Work against harmful alcohol consumption started with the
registration of Drug Fight Malawi in 2002. The organization started
with a two year education (awareness raising) program in 2006
Targeting youth in and out of school, Lilongwe urban and rural were
the impact areas It was a nice program, well received and
accepted.
Slide 3
Progress report for the first year (2006) of the program
clearly indicated that the impact of the program was too small due
to many problems related to harmful alcohol consumption mainly
among young people. It needed the involvement of other stakeholders
for a remarkable impact. The organization started working on
reviewing of the project.
Slide 4
While revising education project, Alcohol Industries invited
Drug fight Malawi and other Civil Society to the meeting where we
learn of the Alcohol Industry initiating the National Alcohol
Policy The Alcohol Industry developed a Draft National Alcohol
Policy and participants were being asked for inputs
Slide 5
A thorough study to the document of the Alcohol Industries
alarmed Civil society Organizations invited. The Alcohol Policy
draft initiated by the Alcohol Industries clearly showed their
vested interested, that was maximization of their profits and
little to assist Malawian Society against alcohol related
problems
Slide 6
In 2008, Drug Fight Malawi organized a stakeholders meeting
with participants from both Civil Society and strategic government
Ministries/Departments The idea was to discuss about the Alcohol
Industry initiated policy and programs against alcohol related
problems in Malawi
Slide 7
The meeting agreed on the following: - To work with the
Government in the development of the National Alcohol Policy which
would focus on the interest of the society and not those in
business - Participants nominated Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Public Security (Home Affairs by then) as a Lead Ministry to the
Processes - A working committee known as the Alcohol Policy Task
force Committee was put in place
Slide 8
Drug Fight Malawi, an organization spearheading the work
against alcohol related problems in Malawi, was nominated as a
Secretariat to the processes Agreed to hire a consultant to assist
in the development of the Alcohol Policy frame work Agreed also to
work closely the Inter- Ministerial Committee on Drug Control
(chaired by Ministry of internal Affairs and Public Security) and
all other strategic Government Ministries and departments
Slide 9
Some of the activities implemented: - Development of the
National Alcohol Policy framework - Working on the Policy frame
work by the Inter- Ministerial Committee on Drug Control and the
Alcohol Policy Task force Committee - Inputs from The IMCDC and the
Task force committee turned the framework document into the Draft
One National Alcohol Policy
Slide 10
Consultations - The Alcohol Policy Task force Committee saw it
was very important to start consulting the public on problems
related to consumption of alcohol and what could be the measures to
reduce those problems - The idea or the purpose for consulting the
society is gathering views to ensure that their voices are
incorporated and reflected in the final policy document
Slide 11
Consultations - It was considered that it was ideal for the
public to actually participate in the entire policy process to
enhance the legitimacy and ownership of the final policy product. -
Out of the 28 districts in Malawi, consultation meetings were
planned to reach out 10 or 11 districts
Slide 12
- Five districts were already visited by the end last year,
2010 and plan to visit the other areas this year
Slide 13
What are some of the participants at such consultation
meetings: - All traditional chiefs in the particular district - All
members of Parliament - All District Government Officials - NGOs
working in each particular district - Political and Religious
Leaders in the district - The media - Other Interested members of
the society
Slide 14
Views already collected: - That alcohol related problems are
high in all parts of the country - That alcohol related problems
are assisting in derailing development efforts of the Government -
That harmful alcohol consumption is a problem but sidelined for a
long time
Slide 15
What are some of the proposals collected from the areas already
visited, aimed at reducing alcohol related problems (For
incorporation into the draft Alcohol Policy - Total ban to
production, sale and consumption of liquor sachets - Limitation of
opening hours for all alcohol drinking places (opening at 14.00 hrs
and closing at 22.00 hrs) - Enforcement of age limit and
criminalization of all those found selling or entertaining young
people under the age of 18 years
Slide 16
Slide 17
Consultations - Licensing for the traditional brewers - High
taxation to make it more expensive to bar some people from taking
it - Restriction of alcohol selling places - Providing an alternate
to all local alcohol manufactures to enable them stop making such
business - Introduction of tax to local beer brewers - Total ban of
alcohol - Reduction of alcohol content in all beer
Slide 18
The country has the final National Alcohol Policy document. The
Policy Final Draft is in the hands of the Ministry of Health
waiting for further Government stages for the enactment. To
continue with lobbying, Civil Society through (Secretariat Drug
Fight Malawi ) has come up with the Malawi Alcohol Policy
Alliance
