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Flames coach Meke justifies Lesotho friendly

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Flames coach Meke justifies Lesotho friendly

Flames coach Meke Mwase has justified playing Lesotho’s Likuena (Crocodiles) as sparring partners in two international friendly matches on Friday and Sunday in Maseru, Lesotho ahead of next month’s African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

The tactician said the 137-ranked Likuena was the only team that responded positively to a request to host the Flames ranked 124, after several FAs were approached.

“Actually, we asked for a friendly game that would help our boys keep in shape. It’s only Lesotho that accepted. It’s because we hosted them sometime back and they have likewise accepted,” he said.

The Flames, under Ronny van Geneugden, hosted Lesotho in November 2017 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in a friendly that ended one-all.

Malawi Flames

Mwase said the two friendly games will help the Flames to keep in shape ahead of next month’s African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

Malawi is in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, Uganda and the preliminary round winner between South Sudan and Seychelles—who will be the Flames’ first opponent next month.

Though the team will train just for three days, Mwase has called 27 players for the camp.

“This camp is part of our preparations for Afcon qualifiers. Things can happen in camp.  There can be injuries. Some players may not be with us because of injuries. This is why we called all these players. Remember, we are in World Cup and Afcon group stages and we need depth,” he said.

The team is expected to leave for Maseru on Thursday and will be joined by foreign-based players in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The coach has handed debut call-ups for Blue Eagles up-and-coming striker Foster Bitoni and Nyasa Big Bullets’ budding defender Nixon Nyasulu.

Conspicuously missing from the squad is Silver Strikers marksman Khuda Muyaba who last weekend scored his second 2019 TNM Super League hat-trick to take his tally to 13 goals, one shy of leading goal scorer Nigerian Adepoju Babatunde.

Apart from Bitoni, Mwase has instead opted for strikers Patrick Phiri, Hassan Kajoke (Bullets) and Chikayiko Batison (Mighty Tigers)

Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda said Muyaba’s recent spat with other players in which he scorned them as cricketers, might be the reason why Mwase is snubbing him for Flames camp.

“It’s a tricky situation. While accepting that Khuda is indeed in top form and deserves a call-up, his presence in camp might bring tension among players because of his remarks,” he said.

Meanwhile, US-based professional Yamikani Chester joined the squad on Tuesday.

Macra fines Airtel Malawi K820mv

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Macra fines Airtel Malawi K820mv

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has fined mobile network operator Airtel Malawi K820 million fine for allegedly breaching the Communications Act.

Macra director general Godfrey Itaye told a news conference in Blantyre on Tuesday that Airtel Malawi paid a fine in July for breaching the law, but it remains in breach and will continue paying K20 million per fortnight until it meets the conditions.

He said: “Upon renewal of its telecommunications licence in 2014, Airtel committed itself to have a minimum of 20 percent local shareholding.

“This localisation of shares by Airtel was to be done within two years from the date Airtel’s licence became operational on February 7 2014.”

Itaye briefing journalists

Itaye said before a given deadline of November 25 2018, Macra engaged Airtel Malawi on numerous occasions in its efforts to localise the shareholding.

The Communications Act stipulates that any electronic service provider must have 20 percent of its shareholding locally, a condition that the mobile service provider failed to meet since its licence renewal in 2014.

Initially, Macra made a determination to fine Airtel Malawi K500 million in December 2018 and further ordered that it should pay another K20 million every 14 days for remaining in breach.

However, before the deadline, Airtel Malawi applied to Macra for an approval to transfer 20 percent shareholding to a company called Airtel Employee Welfare Limited, but the regulatory was not convinced with the decision.

Upon refusing to grant the approval, Macra then imposed the fine on Airtel Malawi in December.

Despite appealing its fine in January this year, Macra stood firm on its decision and in July Airtel made the payment.

Efforts to speak to Airtel Malawi corporate communications and corporate social responsibility manager Norah Chavula proved futile as she did not pick up our phone calls on numerous attempts.

British Primary school sponsors toilet block in Malawi

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British Primary school sponsors toilet block in Malawi

Children at Burley and Woodhead Primary are now proud sponsors of a school toilet block in Malawi.

Pupils in Key Stage Two recently benefited from the school’s investment in refurbishment of their own toilet facilities, and decided to celebrate this by putting their own hard earned money into twinning those toilets with a school toilet block in Malawi.

Head Teacher Joanne Siddall said: “ Learning about the impact of sanitation facilities was a good opportunity for our pupils to appreciate the things that many people take for granted, and provided an opportunity for pupils to make a positive contribution to the world outside our own school. The school council worked hard to raise funds through a range of initiatives and I am immensely proud of their decision to spend those earnings in recognition of the struggles faced by children across the world.”

The school sponsored the block through the toilettwinning.org charity.

Reporting by Claire Lomax for Wharfedale Observer

Malawi Scraps 1% Withholding Tax on Mobile-Money Transactions

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Malawi Scraps 1% Withholding Tax on Mobile-Money Transactions

Malawi abandoned plans to introduce a 1% withholding tax on mobile-money transactions after criticism from the country’s main operator, lawmakers and a consumer-rights organization.

Finance Minister: Mwanamveka

Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha, who proposed the proposed levy in his budget speech last month, told lawmakers Monday the government will now seek to introduce a 20% withholding tax on interest earned by trust funds that mobile companies set up to finance social programs.

The mobile tax drew criticism from Telekom Networks Malawi Plc, the country’s biggest phone operator. Chief Executive Officer Michiel Buitelaar wrote to Mwanamvekha, noting the tax would increase the cost of mobile-money transactions by 25% and stifle financial inclusion, the Nyasa Times reported, citing the letter.

The Consumer Association of Malawi Executive Director John Kapito said the tax would hit the poor hardest.

Mobile-money transactions increased by 8.2% to 7 million in the 3 months through June, according to a report by the Reserve Bank of Malawi, while the value rose 39% to 1 billion kwacha ($1.4 million).

Reporting by Frank Jomo for Bloomberg

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The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority has fined Airtel Malawi Limited the sum of MK500 million for failing to comply with the minimum local shareholding requirements. Further to this The Authority also imposed a fine of MK20 million for every 14 days that Airtel will remain in breach of the requirement. Airtel had up to the 25th of November 2018 to comply to this requirement. Under the Communications Act 2016 and the telecommunications and broadcasting Licensing Regulations which came into effect in 2016, it is a requirement for providers of electronic communication services to have a minimum of 20% local shareholding. in 2014, upon the renewal of its telecommunications license, Airtel committed itself to have a minimum of 20% local shareholding. Airtel Malawi has since paid a total of MK820 million in fines and is expected to pay more if it continues to breach the conditions of their license. Below some of the highlights of the press briefing which we held today.
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