Malawi News defies govt after court gives Times stay order: Kasakula blasts ‘witchunting’, activist lambast gagging tactics
Malawi News editor-in-chief George Kasakula defiantly said that Times Group would continue to publish its newspaper titles despite having the newsroom and other operation offices locked up under police guard and indeed their Saturday publication was in circulation.
The paper appeared on the streets with the lead story of the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA closure bearing a banner headline ‘Witchunt’!
Public tax collector, MRA on Friday sealed Times Media Group headquarters at Ginnery Corner in Blantyre over alleged failure by the company to remit taxes.
But Times Media Group editor-in-chief George Kasakula said the closure of the media giant which has a radio and television stations is not about taxes but was done to silence them by under pressure Malawian President Peter Mutharika, highly criticised for using intimidation as weapon to gain voters.
“We are just doing our job. They want to silence us because Times Media Group stands out to them,” Kasakula told BBC on Friday.
“What is wrong is they are not following the law; the law doesn’t say they should just come straight and close you. There are steps that they can follow to get the money. Discussion is part of the law,” he said.
Kasakula cited that Times Group never refused to pay taxes, pointedly adding that the government was using unpaid taxes as a smokescreen to silence an independent media that was exposing their criminality.
He said the media group is credited for exposing K4 billion initially earmarked for development in 86 constituencies belonging to government legislators and others associating with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as it is not appearing in the budget.
Government reportedly wanted the fund to be shared “ secretly” but Malawi News exposed that K3.4 billion was allocated to 86 MPs who voted against the Electoral Reforms Bills in December, translating to K40 million per beneficiary constituency.
He also said Times Group has been uncovering so many corruption scandal including the role fired Agriculture Minister George Chaponda played in the purchase of 100 000 metric tonnes of the staple grain from Zambia in what was christened as Maizegate.
Kasakula said the newspaper giant has given focus to the “big fight in the ruling party” on succession stand-off between President Mutharika and Vice-president Saulos Chilima, saying they have covered the issue “fairly” but the regime wants it to be covering in favour of Mutharika.
Governance expert Makhumbo Munthali also lambasted the move to shut down the media giant, calling it a deliberate ploy to silence the media before the watershed May 2019 Tripartite Elections.
“Just looking at the timing and the context under which Times Group has been shut down, it is clear that the decision by MRA is largely politically motivated. Just like it was at the peak of maizegate saga where Times Group was fearless at exposing the scandal a stance that eventually attracted MRA wrath, similarly
Times Group is now being penalised by the DPP government masquerading as MRA for giving much coverage to the current DPP infighting and in the process exposing the leadership weaknesses of the President,” Munthali told Nyasa Times.
He pointed out Times Group has done a good job by providing a balanced platform for both Chilimaism and Mutharika factions, a stance which may not have pleased the President and the inner circle.
“Now with the battle lines being drawn between Mutharika and Chilima, the Mutharika camp is so desperate to do whatever it can-legal or illegal- just to ensure that the voice of Chilima for Presidency is not heard a far especially as the party prepares for the convention,” he noted.
The governance expert who is also human rights activist said the MRA closing down of Times Group is one of those “desperate attempts” by Mutharika using legal backed means to gag media freedom in the country especially against those media institutions perceived to be critical to him.
“It is in this regard that the decision is largely politically motivated. Otherwise, one tends to wonder why it always takes MRA to wait for the occurrence of public political pressure exerted on Mutharika regime for it to remember that the critics of the regimes have not paid their taxes. This is further worsened by allegations that the state-run broadcaster owes MRA huge sums of money but never have we heard MBC being threatened that it would be closed,” he said.
However, on the other hand, Munthali said it should be incumbent upon all media houses including Times Group as well as NGOs and activists who spearhead the social accountability movement in the country by holding government accountable on the use of tax payers money to put their house in order.
“It is weird and a highest level of hypocrisy to blame government of abusing and stealing tax payers money when in actual fact you are equally thieves and crooks by evading payment of taxes.
“While it is a fact that MRA decision to close Times Group has largely been politically motivated, the failure of Times Group to faithfully honour its tax obligations is regrettable and must be condemned in the strongest terms as it robs the very poor Malawians the institution claims to represent of good quality public service,” he said.
He said Times Group must not only be counted as a vibrant and giant media house but also a law abiding institution that respects and honours its tax obligations.
Times rival Nation Publication Limited has not faced the wrath of the government this time around as it is deemed to be taking a cautious approach on its coverage and apparently a number of its journalists have a “sweetenor” from the regime.
Meanwhile, Times Group lawyer Innocent Kalua had a fresh court to have the premises reopened.
Added Kasakula: “The court has told us that the injunction we obtained after they [MRA] sealed the company in December still stands. The figures are not much, it can be paid if all procedures are followed.”
Last year, MRA also shut down the media giant over K675 million in unpaid taxes.
MRA said the bill was for value added tax, corporate tax, fringe benefit tax, withholding tax and pay as you earn for the period between 2011 and 2016.
Times Group owns Times Radio and Times TV. It also publishes Malawi News, The Daily Timesand The Sunday Times.
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A Lillian times is back ,mumati mutani.So many Companies have Tax Arrears including MBC why target Times.Mukatero misonkhoyonso muzipasana ma contract nokha nokha.Ngati ena Sia Malawi chifukwa cha Mtundu wao.
Kasakula just pay the tax. This is theft. Your useless company was deducting money from employees and never sent to MRA. you were collecting money and never remit to MRA. The issue here is not about whether you expose government. Dont mix things. Just pay what you owe government and how it is going to be used is non of your business. We know some of the people who retired and can not get their benefits because your company was not remitting money to old mutual. BNL and grand thieves.
I earn less than 0.000001% of what Times Group makes in sales and about 30% of that is paid to the tax collector. On top of that I pay 16.5% on anything I buy. Why is it that this giant fails to pay taxes and hides in the name of witch hunting? Are you trying to hide your own lack of financial discipline just like the MK4bn swindlers? Shut your trap and pay
It really baffles to read about some of these well informed individuals, mentioned in the piece, who often champion the virtues democracy, and yet seem to portend unfairness by the government when it comes to tax evasion by Times Group. Perhaps this is just because they are personal friends of Kasakula, or they simply see nothing wrong with the potential crime here, or perhaps they themselves are tax evaders.
Possibly all the above reasons. How else to deconstruct their comments really?
Nobody should hide behind the card of political persecution … in this democracy.
Unlawful seizure of real property and economic property was the rule, rather than the exception, during the regime of the Times’ founder, that dictator par excellence, Kamuzu Banda. During his rule, the Kasakulas would not even be alive the day after their gates were closed by the authorities. They (the Kasakulas) should be grateful of the democratic dispensation, and play a responsible part by simply paying the taxes. Boy, aren’t the Kasakulas of today lucky not to be living in that dictator’s hell, where there was no real legal recourse?
Democracy is not just about free speech, abale, as the Kasakulas seem to believe.
Leave times alone plz !thts the only meadia house In Malawi yonena zoona !nde MAC nayo ayitsekesotu coz news zawo zokondera boma lakatangale ili
just pay full stop
Just shut up and pay your fucking taxes!
How can you deduct PAYE and not submit it to gaffment?
Kasakula whatever you say to defend your organisation is not right. You need to pay tax ! Don’t you it to make profit it is illegal. You always questions government of misusing of tax payers money yet your organisation cannot remit taxes it owes the government. Pay what belongs to ceasar .You can publish but your actions are unacceptable. Any Malawian of good insane will not back you up , it is totally rubbish. Ordinary citizens are paying it when buying goods , yet you fail to pay. The best is for Malawians to boycott buying the newspaper.
Paying so you can steal it rubbish. Use our money properly first before you can shut the only source of true information a Malawian has.
Kodi ndi Times yokha yomwe iri ndi Tax Arrears? Ndimakampani ambiritu ndi museke onsetu anthu tizikhala panyumba tione yemwe akakuvotereni.Business yaku Malawi makampani ambiri misonkho amalipira pang’onopang’ono.Nanga ugulise K500 pompo ugule mafuta a generator,popo masalary,popo misonkho.Ndie wina azitinamiza kuti chuma chitoyenda bwino.
Iwe @Nalingula:
Two wrongs don’t a right make.
And, it’s a well known concept in law, that you can’t catch all criminals.
Koma iweeeee!
Nkhani yapano ndi ya Times bambo. Ngati enawo sanapeleke ndizina. Munthu suchimwa chifukwa wina wachimwa. Kapena suba chifukwa wina akuba.
Just pay the taxes and make noise with clean hands By they VAT is payable the following month because it is paid by us your customers.
Don’t lie here. You ate not a times customer
What people should clearly understand is the apology made by Callista Mtalika that Malawians chose someone who does not know Malawi culture. WHAT DID SHE MEAN? BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WOMAN
Geof,
UMBULI UMENEWO
I think Steve Kapoloma and MACRA guys need to be watched so closely TIDZAONANA
Mzakoizo Dausi you are just wasting your time with Military Action. this is not Zimbabwe. Better understand that Zimbabwe Military is mostly dominated by well educated soldiers.
There is truly witch hunting and totally agree with Kasakula and this is so shameful for MRA. BUT these are employees who are just been used by the ruling party. Time will come many of them even their children will have no jobs in Malawi due to what their parents are doing now. Are you telling us that MBC has no debts with MRA? Always attacking one child in the house and yet others are taken as clean ?
God will soon answer this and take my word both MRA, MBC and MACRA will have their relatives be in trouble. Just wait and see.
PAY TAXES PLEASE, OSAMANAMIZILA WITCH HUNTING. IFE TIZIKUPELEKELANI MISONKHO INU OSALEPELA. MANKHWALA AKAMASOWA MU ZIPATALAMU NDE KUDZIWA KUTOKOTA KWAMBILI CHONSECHO INU MISONKHO MUKUNGODYA OSAPELEKA KU MRA. MBAVA INU
Some people behave as if they are inocent when they accuse the Government. You foolish Kasakula that’s stealing . Pay back the money or borrow money from your idiot Banda who opens his mouth like a baboon
Paying tax is one thing, yes, but it could be more difficult, especially for a Media House with firsthand knowledge of all the theft, corruption money etc. in government?-
Anyway Times Group, be a role model, pay your tax and do the check and balance on our behalf, the honerable tax payers!
Show this DPP criminals how strong the 4th power in a democratic system can be, investigate and educate us ordinary Citizens, that change for the better can happen!
Has MBC paid??? I agree with Kasakula, this is not about taxes it is about muzzling the press. indeed there is a procedure MRA could have used to get their money. That is why the courts have given them stay order. And why should we be motivated to pay taxes when they are used to fund DPP activities. we saw a nutty professor last weak laying a foundation stone on a construction site which was already done a few years ago. Tax payers money was wasted, chiefs are paraded on MBC and give money to insult opposition using our Taxes. People at MRA are given fat allowances from our taxes. Why should we pay these taxes honestly, to be abused?
There is no witch hunting here pay the money. I thought you promote good governance and paying tax is good governance
Just pay the money you owe Malawians basi
HOW MUCH IS MBC OWING TO MRA??
Apa chongofunika is a huge demonstration organised by everyone CSOs, Opposition parties and Chilima faction backed by the military to force Chaponda and his administration out.
Else we shall just be talking and talking while they continue with impunity.
Organise it quick. No unnecessary long deadlines. Just right now!!!
Pay your tax!!!!!! you deduct employees salary but never pay it to MRA this is theift. Ma company ambiri amasekedwa coz of tax nanga times yapampana bwanji??
This APM is slowly becoming a DICTATOR if not careful we will regret in future.Whosoever opposes to his views becomes a victim.All he wants is hand crappers even if he does something wrong but people should be saying YES BOSS.He is not a man for our democracy we fought for from one party to multiparty system.Lets vote him out now!!!!!!!
Just pay your taxes. People are suffering because of tax evaders like Times. And yet, you blame government for failing to develop the country. Shame on Times.
Kasakula just pay the small amount. You are by law obliged to pay…
Pay your taxes. Whats the difference between Govt giving K4bn to MP’s and you guys withholding overK500million in taxes. How many drugs can that buy? Ma desk mumanena kuti schools dont have, how many can that buy.
Like Makhumbo has said, you are equally thieves robbing ordinary Malawians money to benefit. In fact you deduct PAYE from your employees but dont remit, it means you are also stealing from your employees because the 30% you take away from them you just keep.
lipirani misonkho ..u r in forefront accusing of public abuse yet u r crooks who don’t want to pay tax…if government fails to buy medicine…what do u say
Fools just pay the taxes and the MRA will have no excuse to close your so called media giant. You are another TAX GATE
Blalifakeni zako iwe kasakula iwe ukungodya ndalamazo akakusekerani ndiye muziti eee a DPP atisekera MRA it’s not aparty thy are doing there job professionale osati inu ntchito kukomesa anthu odana ndi DPP ndiye nkumati mmagwira ntchito mwakadaulo . Mupeleke ndalamazo mukumaziyamba dala KUTI muzinamizira a DPP KUTI anthu azikumverani chisoni bwanji anzanunso owulusa nkhani mokondera a ZODIAK sakuwasekela Mmakhala ngati mukuwawuza anthu akunja bwanji anthunso ogwira ntchito kumeneko amangodandaula kuti mukuwachita nkhaza koma mukati munene za anzanu eee kusiya zanu