Chakwera nods for Malawi third mobile phone operator: Kokoliliko ‘processing’ licence

August 28, 2020 Mike Fiko –Nyasa Times 31 Comments

President Lazarus Chakwera has given the nod for Malawi to grant the mobile licence for the country’s third mobile operator.

President Chakwera: Seeks to unlock foreign direct investment, a key catalyst to attain growth

Chakwera signaled the nod when he outlined his  new administration’s development agenda and lured investors to come to Malawi during a live virtual interview held at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe and hosted by London-based  Invest Africa, a leading pan-African business platform.

The President was answering a question by the hosts who asked about the status of ICT in Malawi. They also asked: “Will you be issuing more licenses for Mobile phone companies and internet service providers?”

Responding, Chakwera said he was keen to make sure more Malawian youth are ICT savvy and that a third mobile network will be a welcome investment to the promotion of the development of information communication technologies (ICTs) in both urban and rural areas of the country.

He said new mobile operator will promote competition in the telecommunications industry in the country thereby increasing the quality and affordable telecommunications services in Malawi for the benefit of all stakeholders.

This comes after  the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ICT expert Daud Sulemani of the Kokoliliko wing of the party  said the newly registered Kokoliliko Holdings LTD (KH)  is processing the set up of a mobile phone company through a subsidiary and appointed TNM’s Dan Makata as its board chairperson.

Some years ago the government issued a licence to a third mobile phone service provider called Malawi Mobile Limited, but the project could not start due to a litigation against one of its share holders who was accused of giving out kickbacks to facilitate the acquisition of the investment and the licence was cancelled in 2005 which attracted legal battles.

A third mobile operator, Global Advanced Integrated Networks (G-Mobile), was licensed in July 2008, but the company lost its licence after failed to meet network rollout deadlines.

Celcom Limited, a wholly-owned Malawian telecommunications company, also lost its licence after it failed to roll out.

At the moment Malawi has two established mobile phone network service providers, Airtel Malawi and Telecoms Networks of Malawi (TNM).

During the Invest Africa webinar interview, Chakwera also tacked tourism =, saying plans were in place to upgrade lakeshore towns of Mangochi and Salima into tourism cities which he pointed out that will need serious investments.

Chakwera also said the country needs enough power and that time has come to diversify away from hydro-electricity to other viable alternatives sources such as wind power.

During the interview, the President assured investors that his administration is working on ending on bureaucracy to serve them well,

“Sometimes t takes say 40 days to process [paperwork for investors] when it can take less than 10 days, infact only a few hours,” he said.

“I am currently talking to ministries, departments and agencies to streamline everything. We want Mitc [Malawi Investment and Trade Centre] to be a one-stop centre when it come to all this,” said Chakwera.

He also highlighted a number of strategic sectors of interest by investor including mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.

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31 replies on “Chakwera nods for Malawi third mobile phone operator: Kokoliliko ‘processing’ licence”

  1. POINT OF CORRECTION FOURTH MOBILE OPERATOR NOT THIRD, HAVE U FORGOTTEN THAT WE HAVE ACCESS AS MOBILE OPERATOR TOO…..nyasatimes wake up

  5. Where is the money for this coming from? U Bn in opposition for a long time, never started even a Mandazi Bussiness. Less than two months in Govt, u already talking huge businesses. Bwinotu bwino

  6. zowopsya kobasi. 3 meals a day, fertilizer subsidy, 15,000 for the elderly. Funny how it is taking long to implement some of these especially universal subsidy for fertilizer yet you are very quick to nod to your Kokoliko networks. 5 years and you are out. zimenezoso tidzalanda. 2025 is for SKC

    1. I see a lot of media illiterate people here who are not able to read through the agenda of this writer. Mudwala nazo BP. Be smart!!!

  9. Have I read this correctly or it’s me who is dumb? You mean to say that Dan Makata of TNM ( a mobile telecoms company) is board chairman of the soon-to-be registered KOKOLIKO network ( a competing telecoms company)? It’s like Phillip Madinga, CEO of Standard Bank, being appointed board chair of National Bank.

    And what does TNM have to say about this? Try conflict of interest; industrial espionage and trade secrets; Non Disclosure Agreements… and all that jazz!

    1. I’m also surprised to read this. After all these graduates and all eligible people in Malawi and he the president wants to appoint someone who is already at good position. Something fishy must be cooking in

    4. This is the Tonse way of doing things. Haven’t you heard that George Kadakula of Times is now doubling as the head of MBC? Don’t you know that Gospel Kazako of ZBS is the minister of all media houses including ZBS? One really wonders as to what kind of fair competition is this in the media industry? Are the CFTC and Misa Malawi able to see what is happening in the media management in this country?

  10. What does Tonse Alliance partners says about this, Kokoliko Holdings and the 3rd Mobile License? Is this really happening in a democracy? I can see Kokoliko supply fertiliser, pharmaceuticals, notebooks etc etc. We are going back to Kamuzu era!!!!

  12. I think zikuchita kuonekeratu kuti MCP ili ndi ma strategist abwino. Coz they need the party to have a viable source of funds. Izizi zithandizila kupewa individualising the party like what happens with UDF and DPP by the Muluz and Binguz, who are almost the only financers of their party. As the result they play around with the party anyhow. In addition this kokoliko holdings LTD will create job opportunity mainly for the youth instead of using them as bandits to intimidate or petrol bomb others. Kapena kuzipenta just To be given beer or ganja. And as it is registered, it only means there will be checks and balances of their business hence no need to fear

    1. In a competition between Kokoliko and another company ,as an entrepreneur I would be wise to go with MCP LTD at the moment because business is about relationships. But am glad you dont see that.

    1. Uku nde kudzikwata ndi chala ndithu. You think you can dislodge Chakwera & MCP just like that? Mwabwera liti atombolombo inu? Stupid & myopic thinking 🤔
      Muchira osadanda. Imwani aspirin pamodzi ndi Saulos wanuyo. Agalu opanda michira inu! 😡

  15. We have been led astray, are you telling me the prezident is really pushing his own party’s business using government resources.

    Chakwera might not need to steel money anymore because kokoliko will be getting some dubious deals that legalizes his shenanigans. The company also wants to be in security, please tell me this does not scare you

      1. The name is not inclusive and it doesnt represent Tonse philosophy. I voted this guy because of UTM and coming up with this company makes me mad. This was a hidden agenda.

        1. I am totally with you. This is wrong. Moreover genuine businesses normally take 5 years to take off. I suppose this one will be taking off like a rocket.

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