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Gift Nankhuni unveils himself as Shadow MP for the newly demarcated Lilongwe City Centre Constituency

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By Linda Kwanjana

While some are in their comfort zones with only 24 months plus remaining to the date of the next polls, this is not the case with the firebrand legal practitioner-cum politician Gift Nankhuni.

Nankhuni is not new in the political circles because he was the one who came trailed current Lilongwe City Centre Constituency legislator Alfred Jiya whose area has been split into five constituencies.

Politically, Nankhuni has an upper hand because he is already famous in the area.

Nankhuni

Nankhuni is well known to be a development conscious man who knows how to connect with his people.

No wonder on Saturday, the revered politician hit the ground running by meeting and distributing party materials to all delegates and these includes chairperson, secretary general and treasurer.

In an interview, Nankhuni said he decided to meet with all the delegates as one way of launching the partnership which will go till the voting period.

He said: “The function took place in four centres and these were Chatata, Kauma, State House and Tambalale. We met all the areas in the new City Centre Constituency. All the 9 delegates
The key message was to people that ‘ am not distributing sweets, am serious.”

Nankhuni also encouraged people to be patient with Dr Lazarus Chakwera who is laying a good foundation for Malawi after the mess that the country has been in.

To appreciate the people, Nankhuni distributed party clothes and other things to the party delegates.

Court holds on MACRA, MCM wrangle ruling

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By Chisomo Phiri

The High Court in Lilongwe has on Friday put on hold to a later date a ruling on a case in which Multichoice Malawi(MCM) insists the law does not require it to seek approval from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) before raising subscription on DStv services.

In court, Judge William Msiska, who is presiding over the case, had since given both parties 14 days to make written submissions before his judgment on the matter.

On his part MCM’s lawyer, Wapona Kita maintained that the organization does not require MACRA’s go ahead first on DStv subscription issues since Multichoice Holdings Africa sets the tariffs.



He added that there is no evidence that the claimant adjusted the tariffs as MCM licence does not provide for that.

Said Kita: ” This is a judicial review proceeding and the duty of the court is to review the decision-making process of the determination which was made by the board of Macra.”

But MACRA’s lawyer Benard Ndau argued it is required by law that tariffs that are charged by MCM or any other, should be approved by the regulator before implementation.

MCM withdrew its DStv services in Malawi after MACRA obtained an injunction stopping it from raising the tariffs.

Later, the regulator wrote MCM demanding that it should pay K19 million in license fees in 30 days.

However, MACRA is proceeding with the case even after Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu ordered it to vacate its injunction so that the issue is sorted outside the court.

Malawi, Zambia opt to enhance affordable internet connectivity

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By Chisomo Phiri

The Governments of Malawi and Zambia have on Thursday signed an optic fibre Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which seeks to enhance internet connectivity and reduce data prices between the two countries.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lilongwe , Minister of Information and Digitalization Moses Kunkuyu said digitalisation is key to transformation of the two nations and the MoU has come at the right time.

He was upbeat the agreement will open more doors and avenues for deeper collaboration in achieving full digitalisation for Lusaka and Lilongwe.

Kunkuyu and Zambia’s Felix Mutati



On his part, minister of Science and Technology for Zambia Felix Mutati said the agreement signifies cheap data prices thereby minimizing the gap between the rich and the poor.

“We are digitally alert and we are breaking new ground,” he said.

Mutat added that through the MoU, the people of the two nations will be sharing opportunities through affordable internet which will also reduce the cost of doing business.

Malawi Communications regulatory authority (MACRA) Director General Daud Suleman said the MOU is a significant step in reduced data prices.

He noted Malawi is one of the most data priced countries hence the partnership will pave way for the one network initiative to drop roaming charges for citizens of the two countries thereby creating a more sustainable digital market.

During the event, a commercial agreement between state owned Electricity supply cooperation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Zambia’s FibreCom was signed enabling ESCOM purchase internet connectivity capacity at a friendlier cost which will bring down connectivity costs in Malawi.

ESCOM’s Chief Executive officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda spoke of the company’s readiness to provide reliable internet within Malawi through its fiber broadband services.

A representative from Fibercom said the utility is duly licenced to undertake the activity which will foster economic transformation in driving the digital transformation agenda of the two states.

The discussions to sign the optic fibre agreement started some two years ago.

MEC suspends Mwasa ward voter registration exercise over irregularities

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By Chisomo Phiri

Following growing allegations of massive irregularities,Malawi Electoral Commission(MEC) has on Friday changed its tone and suspended voter registration exercise for the by-elections in Mwasa Ward in Mangochi district scheduled for September 26, 2023.

Speaking in an interview with this publication MEC Commissioner, Emmanuel Fabiano said they had no choice but to suspend the exercise.



Said Fabiano :”We will go back and look into this issue but as of now we have suspended the voter registration.”

The situation follows a Multiparty Liason meeting held on Friday that saw six political parties (DPP, MCP, DPP, UTM, Aford and Umodzi) demanding the cancellation of the elections.

United Democratic Front(UDF) District Governor Muhammad Jannah has told local media that the parties agreed to suspend the registration exercise as the National Registration Bureau(NRB) was allegedly registering under-aged children.

“We also noted that some people from other wards were coming at the registration centre to register,” said Jannah.

On Thursday, a representative of the opposition parties’ candidates William Chimoyo alleged the voter registration process was biased towards people he said were being sponsored by the Malawi Congress Party.

“We have complained to MEC that underaged children and people outside this ward are being allowed to register, which will give unfair advantage to those sponsoring this, but MEC is not doing anything,” Chimoyo said.

It was alleged that the MCP candidate, Stewart Mwase, was mobilising underage children to register.

Six MBC employees involved in a road accident in Mzimba

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By Chisomo Phiri

Six employees for the country’s only public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation(MBC) employees on Friday escaped with minor injuries and others fractures following a car accident happened at Chizaula along the M1 Road in Mzimba district.

According to Rumphi Police Officer-In-Charge Phersom Nthenda, the driver lost control of the vehicle which was heading towards Karonga direction.



“He went off the road, as he was trying to overtake two trucks going Karonga direction from Mzuzu,” says Nthenda.

It is reported that the employees were on a field trip to Rumphi district.

Meanwhile, they were rushed to Rumphi District Hospital where they are receiving treatment.