Blantyre woman convicted for spreading fake news against FDH Bank on WhatsApp

April 17, 2020 Nyasa Times Reporter 25 Comments

A Blantyre-based woman, Mercy Gondwe, 43, has been convicted and fined for spreading fake news about FDH Bank using the Electronic Communication and Cyber Security law.


FDH Bank public relations officer Lorraine Lusinje: This serves as a lesson to people who post things on social media without verifying them with concerned people

Gondwe was arrested last week after she authored a message and posted it on a WhatsApp group alleging that FDH Bank was collecting National IDs and passing them on to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

But the Blantyre Magistrate Court on Wednesday convicted Gondwe and slapped her with a K500,000 fine and 18 months imprisonment. However, the sentence has been suspended to 18 months.

Gondwe spent some days in a Police cell in Blantyre.

The convict has also been ordered to retract the malicious message she circulated. She will be writing through the same WhatsApp group ‘Citizen for Transformation’ and the message will clearly indicate that what she circulated was false and unfounded.

Gondwe has been ordered to do this once a week for three weeks starting next week and the screen shot of the retracting message will be sent to the investigator and prosecutor as a way of monitoring that she is complying with the court order.

According to the charge sheet seen by Nyasa Times, Gondwe was charged with prohibition of Cyber stalking contrary to Section 88 of the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act.

“Mercy Gondwe on (or about) 2nd April 2020 in the Republic of Malawi willfully used Electronic Communication namely a cell phone to  harass FDH Bank and made a threat by sending a message to a WhatsApp group called ‘ Citizens for Transmission’ that reads ‘FDH Bank is getting customers ID information (KYC) and giving DPP. Please forward to the groups!’ with intend to instill fear in FDH Bank,” reads particulars of the charge signed by Police Prosecutor Superintendent Mwayiulipo.

Reacting to the verdict, FDH Bank public relations officer Lorraine Lusinje said the Bank has welcomed the sentence and hoped that people will now be responsible on what they post on social media.

“We indeed lodged a formal complaint to the police recently under the Cyber Security Act following defamatory and malicious content that was circulated on social media. We are happy that the case has been concluded and we hope this serves as a lesson to people who post things on social media without verifying them with concerned people.”

“FDH Bank’s priority is to serve its customers diligently and effectively and will take action when matters arise that compromise this. FDH Bank has been a victim of malicious content and this first conviction has emboldened the Bank to vigorously pursue any fake news,” said Lusinje.

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25 replies on “Blantyre woman convicted for spreading fake news against FDH Bank on WhatsApp”

  2. The convict looks so ugly and I believe she has an ugly heart. She was sent by Mtambo and now she has damaged her reputation

  3. Taziwabe , there is no smoke without fire ,I don’t trust this bank.This bank is being used to carry dirty activities for DPP.Why Thom Mpinganjira case is no where to be seen in our courts.What kind of justice is that? The rich are spared from justice only the poor Malawians faces the music.And up to now we don’t know the second person on judges bribe case.Dpp ntchito zamanja awo zikuwachitira umboni ndithu, visionless leaders.

    1. Idiot, don’t you know that women carry someone name? Does crime looks at tribe? How many criminals are in prisons from all regions? Which class did u attend? Shame

  6. My question is how were they able to get a speedy trial when there are cases that have been sitting for years?

    Share with us your secret of being able to get a case tried so fast.

  7. Malawi must protect its asset. FDH is one of Malawi prime asset and one must not joke with it. The court is right to have move expeditiously on this matter

  8. Koma milandu ikanamayenda mwachangu choncho pano ndende zitapepukidwa.

    Kodi mulandu we a Mpinganjira you pati.

    Nanga cctv anaiona Anankhumwa ya JB sinafikebe , nao ananama , akukondela basi.

  9. So the lady was arrested last week and this week Her case already concluded…..wow, that’s amazing.

    It looks like the wheels of justice moves at supersonic speed for the weak and the poor.

    By the way when will judges’s bribery case be brought before the courts.

    1. milandu ndi cigamulo cosaonela under which section yoti ukangogwidwa ,this profle comes out

      name
      surname
      age
      marital sratus
      village
      distict
      next of kin.
      and
      verdict at the end of the and mostly with hard labout kuti ena atengereko citsazo.
      52 weeks for stealing a bike

  10. Surely it would have been good to put picture of Mercy than someone else. I first thought the picture is of Mercy as well.

  11. Having Lorraine’s photo there is damaging for her. Unless people read the the whole story and the picture’s caption, they will assume that she is Mercy Gondwe. It would make sense to put the picture of the convict at the top and that if need be put the picture of the Public Relations Officer somewhere at the bottom.

    Like me, some people who don’t read the full article will just think lo that’s the convict, Mercy Gondwe.

    1. Indeeed i assumed the woman in the picture is the culprit…and indeeed amazed at the speed of the courts….been trying to get a divorce for 2 years now….nothing

  12. Lorraine, you look so much like your mother Edna. She was my college mate at Polytechnic and I haven’t seen her since we finished college.

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