Ex ministers Lipenga, Kandodo join Times Media: Tukula fired at Times TV

Times Media Group, the country’s oldest publishing house and well known for declaring employees redundant, has fired its Times TV’s Head of Programmes Affairs, Gracian Tukula, five months after he was poached from their rivals Nation Publications Limites (NPL).

The company, which publishes The Daily Times, Malawi News, The Sunday Times, and recently purchased Matindi Radio, has also fired two reporters, Sara Makondetsa and Chikondi Masuso, who were stationed in Lilongwe and Blantyre, respectively.

Meanwhile, the company, which also belongs to the family of Malawi’s founding President late Hastings Kamuzu Banda, is planning to hire former cabinet ministers Dr Ken Lipenga and Ken Kandodo, as Managing Editor and Operations Manager, respectively.

Lipenga, who served as Finance Minister during People’s Party (PP) two year rule, is no stranger to the company having worked as Edito-In-Chief for the institution way back and has published several novels. He used to write a column “Off The Cuff”.

There was no immediate comment from the persons in question, but sources privy to the development confirmed to Nyasa Times that an idea was floated to lure the two to get the posts.

Times Media Group has also re-engaged the services of prominent sports journalist Peter Kanjere from The Nation.

Kanjere has gone back to Times Group to head the sports desk following the demotion of Duncan Mlanjira, who is reportedly on entertainment desk.