Arrested Malawi genius radio owner freed
The arrested primary school dropout who established a community radio station using two used transistors in the Mulanje district has been freed. His release followed efforts from community members who listened to the 21-year-old Gabriel Kondesi’s ingenuity.
The villagers raised K14, 000 ($100) to free the boy while his father sold part of his property to prevent the boy from spending time in jail.
“I think people got so much used to my radio because I started broadcasting some three years ago,” said Kondesi.
He was surrounded by proud villagers upon his release.
Meanwhile, Zodiac Broadcasting Station’s (ZBS) Managing Director, Gospel Kazako, travelled all the way from Blantyre to Mulanje with the intention of freeing the boy. ZBS is one of Malawi’s leading private radio stations.
Kondesi had initially failed to pay the K50, 000 ($358) fine Mulanje Second Grade Magistrate Lameck Mkwapatira handed him last Friday. He said the thought of going to jail for his creativity scared him.
Kazako said: “As broadcasters, we need to support fellow broadcasters whenever they are in trouble. I don’t actually understand when courts should grant suspended sentences but, as a radio man, I am here to appreciate that this boy is a genius.”
Kazako repaid the boy’s father to cover his cost. “We could not raise the money so we sold our TV, a DVD Player and four bags of cement to raise the money. I also got some money from my friends, money I will repay.”
The Standard 7 dropout was arrested on October 14, 2009 for operating a radio station called Pachikweza without a Malawi Communications Authority license.
He said his radio was also broadcasting even in Mozambique.
He comes from Soza Village in the area of Traditional Authority Njema in Mulanje district.
what a genius
I have never heard of such stupidity coming from a legal system for several months, the last one being Judge Chombo, who was dumb enough to refuse Mercy James a home.
Now, this judge is another one of those without a brain, he must be sent back to school. How can anyone in their right mind send someone who is helping his community to jail for doing so. Where has commonsense gone?
Malawi is full of recycled lawyers and judges. People who don’t know what to do and when. Mafumu mmidzimutu ali ndi ndi nzeru zoweluzira milandu kuposa the so called lawyers and judges apa malawi. Kodi anthu amene amatigulisa masamba mmakomomu ali ndi ma licence? Abalae zinazi tizitha kugwiritsa ntchito common sense. Mnyamata ameneyu ndi wabizines ngati? Komanso look at the scale at which he is operating kodi ndizofunan licence izi? bWINOTU BWINO TSIKU LINA MUZASANDUKA ATCHEYA? UFITII ETI/
This boy has to be commended for being so genius. This is what we want. Koma ku Mulanje kuli nyatwa mpaka kupanga radio station.
Well done Kazako that Is how things should be. The country should use this boy by sending him to school, who knows he will come up with something that will put malawi on the map.
mBWIYE PITIRIZA UPANGE STATION YINA UZIULUSA NGHAKHALE KUMPOTO. NGATI UKUFUNA CHITUMBUKA CHIULUTSIDWE IFE TIRIPO TIKUTHANDIZA ULERE
kupondereza bwanji?osango muza chochita bwanji?iweyo judge ukuganiza kuti amadziwa m’mene anayenera kupangira?Ma jelasi bwa/
If I were government i would have promoted this boy. He has got all the potential, hidden knowledge. Why limit this guy. Are we not proud to have our own sons discovering things which will inspire more people to invest in them? Why threatening knowledge, punishing things that will benefir the population?
Gospel, you are a hero indeed. Promote this boy, let him share his knowledge. Most American Millionares were drop outs as him , but through creativity today they hold world economy. Why malawi can no be proud of is own local discovery. If anything the government should fund this boy to continue with his skills, than locking him in jail , refusing him to share knowledge.
To the Learned Judge, hope you misjudge this boy. Was there anything bad to slash him with such punishement? This boy was not a threat at all. Macra is refusing to issue licences to people applying for them. If anything as Kazako said it would be better to offer suspended sentence, but also that it means instilling fear in the future generation to come out with their discoveries.- Shame isn’t it.
This boy is a genious. Could this boy be our future Bill Gates. This ingenuity can not go without being being unnoticed. Probably the judgement was a way of bringing the nation’s attention to this boy. I wouldnt have know this boy if it wasnt for the court case. This boy could be an asset is an asset for the nation. He needs to be supported in his adventures. Mlakho wa alomwe support the boy.
The boy is talented more than some of us ,Her didnt know that He was breaking the law.We need brilliant guys like him in our country,we saw this story in Dailynews of Botswana and Batswana are proud of Malawians because of this young boy.He just need support
This case is an indicator of the malawi society perspective towards prosperity. The judge decides to nibble the budding star off. The parliament is also busy trying to make girls marry at an early age. What is the problem with malawi. Bingu has a mamoth task to transform the nation into a 2nd world. He needs to transform the judicial system – cases in point:1.Mercy James’ initial judgement preventing her adoption by Madonna(if it wasn’t for the court of appeal, I dont know what would have happened – Bingu needs more than Supreme court judges to spin the country to the 2nd world; 2.imprisonment of an evident creative mind – a genius – by a so called “learned” judge(what a paradox). The legal system is a structure that can help Binga spur the country into the 2nd world. If people who come in contact with such potential can not identify it how does Bingu help our counrty develop. We should not expect teh West to come and develop our country. It is us Malawians who have to do it. If the West discovers this boy they would easily appreciate the uniqueness in this Boy. The Honorable judge need to review the way he wants to make sure that all kids go to school. He needs more wisdom in promoting his so called “justice”. THE OTHER ISSUE THAT BAFFLES ME IS THE DECISION BY THE “HONORABLE” MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. How on earth in this day and age can they promote such primitive motion of inducing our young girls to get married. (Are they trying to vindicate their attempts at sixteens – God forbid) The National parliament is supposed to be protecting girls and not making them even more vulnerable. This time the parliamentarians have lost it big time. Should we call for a referendum on whether these guys should continue in the Honorable house – why should they make such an attempt to rape our morals and our desire for the Nation to progress – Mothers are the foundation of the society, in every girl there is a mother – lets protect our future. I implore the constitution custodians to uphold this virtue. Bingu help my mother land please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I rest my case
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