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.
It’s time TEVET to identify such kind of people and help them in developing their skills through technical trainings.
It’s a joke for a judge giving such a sentence to a poor but skilled person.
Let’s recognize people’s skills (not stealing skills) and guide them where necessary rather than sending them to prison.
Why throw this intellegent boy to jail? Judges, you know very well what happens in jail, anthu amagwirirana and jails are there not to correct situation but to worsen. How could you? This boy needs support, he is a natural. He is a std 7 dropout but a natural engineer. Even the judge himself who passed the sentence has no idea about radio station, and i dont think he can finely tunes some radio stations, some guys have to go through to college to learn. This boy is our cream, why trhough him in jail. Shame on the authories, they are operating like robots, please show some love to people who are not offenders until proven guilty. This boy was not guilty because he did not harm anyone. Let me say this, there was a boy somewhere in Africa who made electricity and some few houses in his village was using that electricity. the boy eventually became a celeb, the azungus were flocking to his area to interview him, his government was proud of him, he made histroy. Yakula ndi nsanje kuno.
alhomwe anzeru zakuya
Was this a criminal or civil case? Mpakana imprisonment with hard labour? Zomwezi, why not give him community service and/or fine instead of sending him to prison? Nkhanza bwanji kodi judicial system yathu? Kukhala ngati tikadali mu chitaganya cha Welensky.
You cannot operate such a radio station in any country in the world and be spared by the law, issues of frequencies are highly regulated in any country for security reasons.Thats why we have MACRA and other international Agencies to manage and regulate the allocation and usage of radio frequencies for telecoms,walkietalkies, or radio braodcasting.Ine mungandilore kuti ndipange Bomba in the name of Innovation? and because am a skool dropout, certainly not.However the law was a bit harsh on him considering that he was ignorant of the law that regulates these things and that he did not interfere with the countries security services with his xmeter!
Tawina Kajiso,
I just wonna let you that a boy who made electricity (William Kamkwamba) is from kasungu in Malawi. According to your posting, it seems like you are unaware that, that boy is Malawian.
I think gabriel Kondesi needs to be promoted instead of being sent to jail.
MULHAKHO wa nzeru uyu. Talk of Kamkwamba, mchewa wa nzeru. Nanga enanu? kulongolola basi?
I think those of you who have commented on this young talented boy have missed the mark. It’s not the Judge who put his guy in jail but the law. If you break the law, the law will judge you regardless of who you are. This boy broke the law and the law judged him. He is talented, that’s the fact but he operate within the laws of the country. As simple as that. But on the other hand, the government should do something for people like him. Show them the way to go and assist them everyway possible.
Stupid , silly judge go back to school. Where is the President to recognise such talents.Mr President monitor what goes around you. Malawi wake up why Malawi Why The boy requires compenzation. Thanks to Kazako keep it up 2 points
How can a well educated but less innovative judge throw this intellegent and innovative boy into prison? You must be joking. Thank you Mr Kazako but my plea is employee and educate this guy.
underground radio just visit london or ny there everywere,never heard any arests.I Hope he gets sponsered