Macra to hold emergency board meeting: Corruption probe, gagging Nyasa Times top of agenda
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) board is having an emergency extra ordinary meeting in Lilongwe at a time when investigators are probing corruption, Nyasa Times understands.
The emergency meeting will be held while embattled director general Godfrey Itaye is out of the country accompanied by acting director of legal affairs Dan Chiwoni, who is allegedly behind legalizing doctored documents crucial to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation, Nyasa Times can reveal.
Macra spokeswoman Clara Mwafulirwa confirmed the board was indeed meeting in Lilongwe but said she was not sure of the agenda.
But Nyasa Times sources indicated that the board which will be chaired by Reverend Alex Maulana, its chairperson, will discuss among other issues the corruption investigations into two multi-million kwacha contracts the authority is alleged to have dubiously awarded last year.
On the agenda is also how the authority should gag Nyasa Times following its watchdog role in reporting the contracts in question including a K19 million supply contract Macra reportedly awarded to a business firm owned by a relation to Itaye and another relating to printing of calendars worth K135 million.
Itaye, who is away on other duties, will be represented by Director of Finance Ben Chitsonga while Deputy Director Legal Affairs Ms.Thoko Chimbe will be board secretary.
Sources told Nyasa Times that Itaye had travelled with Chioni to meet suppliers of the Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management System (Cirms) , dubbed ‘the spy machine’ by its critics, Rovan Bunnet of Agilis International to seal upgrade contractual loose ends, in the face of intensive investigations and a forensic probe at the regulatory body.
Itaye took to Facebook using a Chigoba (pseudo name) Orama Chitimbe to attack Nyasa Times coverage of a series of corruption stories at Macra.
Leading daily The Nation confirmed the ACB was investigating Itaye’s award of dubious contracts to his parents in laws.
Since Nyasa Times unearthed the stench of corruption at Macra, Itaye has been dodging interviews with local media houses.
It never rains but pours for Itaye, who is facing jail together with his former board chair Mervis Mangulenje and Dan Chiwoni for being in contempt of court after failing to comply with a court order to allow Deputy Director General Francis Bisika go back to work.
According to The Nation daily newspaper, Justice Jack N’riva gave Macra and the three officials 72 hours to comply with the ruling or be committed to prison.
Bisika’s contract was terminated under suspicious circumstances in September last year after the Macra board had rwimmended and approved to renew it.
Through his lawyer Chancy Gondwe, he took the matter to court. Macra is yet to comply with the ruling but Gondwe said he hoped by a government parastatal, it is expected to be exemplary by respecting court orders.
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The ACB have announced today that they are investigating Macra Director General Godfrey Itaye on dubious contract awards. We expect the man of God Rev A.B. Maulana and his Board to act on Itaye if we are to take the Board seriously. The image of the party that put Rev Maulana at this position is being turnished.
Godfrey Itaye chonde manga ma break dzikotu ili udzazunsitsa Madalitso Banda ndi Zione Khembo.
Central, don’t you know you have already judged Chaponda in your newspapers and in public talks? Why are you shrinking now? You judged him and found him quilty before his first appearance in court.
How is Chaponda’s maizegate case going on? Pajatu mumabebetsa nkhanizi koyambilira koma kumapeto zimakunyerani nokha. Pano a Kasakura ali ntchentche waaaa kukamwa whenm hearing what is unfolding in the courts on Chaponda.
Don’t be emotional and don’t personalize! Rather lets all wait for the judgement……………………………………………………. before smiling!
Kodi Trevor Hiwa ali kuti? CEO wa Roads Authority. Godfrey sangaphunzireko kuti ma politicians use you and dump us like the rubber!
Kiki! Kuteroko bwanayu nayenso amavala chigoba pa Facebook lol!
Very pathetic for an entire Board to be discussing muting Nyasatimes. Deal with the real issues and Nyasatimes will be quiet. Why is Macra not refuting the issues raised by Nyasatimes? Kudos Nyasatimes keep on informing the nation and exposing rot.
Itaye is well connected to top authority and he thought he is untouchable. But Dzanja lalemba basi. He is failing to regulate MBC on its propagand programming. If it was a private radio station he could have gone there even without receiving any complaint. This guy is useless. Malawi can not develop with these people.
Just close this MACRA thing. There is nothing that they are doing apart from siphoning our tax money.
Zovutatu. Koma apa ndiye waoneka kukalambatu bwanayi. Mavutotu awa. Mupwetekana nokha nokha.
We did not hear such corruption of each and every department of government. How can a country develop if we have people such as Itaye and Peter is still keeping him on the job. Malawi will change things come 2019.
You tend to wonder if Malawi has a president who is committed to ending corruption in this country.How can the nation keep on hearing about the malpractice at the same MACRA time and again yet the whole head of state who happens to be the appointing authority seem to be unconcerned. If somebody is shielding a thief,isn’t he a thief too,this DPP government is a just a banch of thieves and failures,anyway the court will soon rise in 2019 and it will be their turn to befriend our courts of law to answer milandu yawo,Mulungu awalange ndithu
In an event that we have a head of State who acts on each and every rumour Malawi will be back to the infamous detention without-trial and forfeiture act era of MCP
That’s true my brother. And ndikumva ena opemphera apa akuti mulungu awalange. Koditu inu mukanakhala mulungu ndiye mukanatha anthu anu omwe ndikuwakantha pazifukwa zosaoneka bwino. Ndichifukwa chake ndinasiya kupemphera, chi khirisitu chadzadza ndi anthu oyipa mitima okhaokha. Omuweruza munthu udyo msanga popanda chifukwa chenicheni ati chifukwa saakuchita zomwe iwowo amakhulupilira kuti ndizolungama.