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.
The judge here (Mr. Mkwapatira)reminds me of the other retarded judge Chombo who wanted to deny Mercy James a chance to be adopted by Madonna. I think these judges went to university via the backdoor (either kubera mayeso or Kota). What else can explain how dense in the head these judges are? No common sense?
Gaga
Can somebody share me the email for Kazako? I want to make a contribution to this boy’s cause. We need to reward hard work and innovation, not punish it through senseless rulings. We have brazen criminals in Malawi who deserve to go to jail, not these innocent children trying to do something good.
gaga
The court system lack common sense. Instead of giving life to the Chief Advocate of the quota system, you jail a boy on venial issues.
It is a big shame to MACRA and judiciary. This boy deserves all form of support including educating him on how he could go about with licensing. You don’t have to defeat intelligence but promote it. Poor Malawians, oh help this boy.
Thanks to Gospel Kazako for his well-wish for his country men. Bless you
MR kazako help this boy i know your heart . Malawi can be known all over the world because of this boy .Macra register this radio station now.
Minister of information help this boy.
what’s wrong with our laws,first it was they frustrated us in Chifundo Mercy-Madonna case.now this genius is being deprived of his rights to creativity.i am a lay man in legal issues but am sure the communities in the far reached rural were benefitting alot from their hero’s radio i hear mauthenga a maliro,zikwati,tradional gatherings,nkhazi za nachipanti,etc have been accesible through the creative mind of a poor standard 7 drop out not even a Poly drop out mind you,no wonder they sacrificed all it took to get their hero .When are we gonna appreciate and uplift our local geniuses,the boy who hanessed the wind for electricity and water is still a hero outside even Al Gore was fascinated but never do i recall any public figure hailing the boy for job well done..remind me if am wrong..a big up to Kazako you are a true Malawian son,osatengera za awa okhala ngati adabadwa mmalamulowa ndife athu at the end of the day,besides you,Chifundo Mercy and me are lay men,they know better…
They is also a Blind man in Area 25 near Dzedza who is running similar type radio and UNICEF and Min of Information are supporting him.MACRA siyani nkhanza issue the licences people are tired of politics on these other radio.
Bravo Tiakalulu Man( Kazako) U Have a done a remarkable job Keep it up Osati zinazi Sekera Ndalama zili matumba awo, Koma nkhope ya John chilembwe Siyosekelera ayi so osayikelera nthandizani ena ngati pofuni ketero
I am very much surprised to see that people have left to investigate more about Nachipanti which kills people. Instead they are busy pulling down a genius boy who brought a wonderful idea in his area. Mr. Kazako, you deserve blessings from the AlMighty God. I dint see any thing wrong with this you boy because he just exercising his knowledge with his home area. why MACRA. please, try your best to deal with Nachipanti not this genius boy
Mr Ade, you can’t compare this boy to what used to happen in the 80’s. There’s no vandalism involved in this boy’s case. There is alot of old used electronic spares these days on damp yards, if you know electronics you would not bother yourself committing vandalism to get what you want.
While we are crying for more Tv stations in Malawi there are alot of us who ever or can established these community tv stations from cheap or recycled material.
The problem is if you know the Communication Regulations Act you would think twice before you go public.
A pirate radio and Tv station i ever established was made from Power RF transistors which i got from scrap electronic pc boards.
In a nutshell we have plenty Tv stations right on our nose.