Minister Kazako warns Macra needs ‘sanitisation’: Calls for reduction of phone data charges
Minister of Information Gospel Kazako has said Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) also needs to be sanitised, querying how the organisaton which was branded ‘cash cow’ of the previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime could be spending K1 billion monthly on operations.
Kazako said this after his familisation tour of the institution on Monday.
He said Macra has been funding “undeserving activities” including bankrolling political operations of the DPP.
Nyasa Times has been consistently writing about the stinking rot at Macra, especially when Godfrey Itaye was heading the organisation.
Minister Kazako said the new Tonse Alliance administration will seal all the loopholes that may have to do with the abuse of funds and end the “well-coordinated” looting system.
He warned there will be changes coming with a functional and structural review to appoint people on merit and that will come with “casualties.”
Kazako also asked the institution to see to it that mobile data charges are reduced for them to be affordable for consumers.
He gave an example of neighbouring Tanzania where mobile data is bought at 4 cents per second while Malawians are charged 80 cents per second.
The minister added that it is unfair for telecom operators in the country to charge poor Malawians exorbitantly on internet services saying the government will put Malawians first in all aspects of development.
“Data is a big problem in this country. To own a phone is like a crime. In Tanzania people are paying 4 cents while in Malawi people are paying 80 cents and we have companies that are celebrating that they have made over 550% profits.
“Data must go down and I have told MACRA to look at that very seriously because we think that Malawians are being skinned alive. Something has to be done and it has to been done very, very quickly,” Kazako stressed.
The minister also bemoaned MACRA management for being used by politicians from previous governments and stressed that the tendency should be put on a death bed.
Director General for MACRA, Henry Shamu, has since promised to work on the matter.
“We got the message. We have a pertinent issue which we need to consider very urgently. We will engage the operators so that we can discuss how best we can address the issue. We expect as MACRA that the charges will go down,” remarked Shamu.
He said the regulator will invite mobile phone operators to discuss how they can go about reducing data charges.
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Komanso izi zomati bundle izipanga expire , zithe lts our money and money doesn’t expire.
Bank charges as well , think of the profits being declared by banks, they are a good story on how they are milking the poor Malawian.
Yes, you are completely right! The banks don’t care , even there is Covid 19 and everybody is financially struggling, they can’t do nothing! They increased their fees again on January and the pandemic kick in one on March!
For sure they will benefit big times again from this crisis on credits, but can’t reduce their ever rising fees for their poor services! Shame on you selfish bankers!
Amene mukudananazo zoti data itsike tisakuoneni mukugeilitsa internet,
Koma chenicheni chomwe mumafuna ndichani Kodi?
Basi tizivutika? Ufiti upose apa?kudana ndi zabwino?
Macra yauzidwa ndipo tiona zipatso,
Ku tz umagula ma units kuimba kuno mwakathithi,koma kuno kuyimba kunja ndi chiletso
Macra as a regulator should not be influenced by ministers just let it do its job independently. Gospel has grudge against macra eversince it fined his zodiak for several breaches of broadcasting regulations but never touched mbc. To gospel he is in an economic battle to ensure his zodiak is treated with kid gloves.
Data charges ikatsika a lot of us will be happy. Whether Kadzako has a grudge or not, he is working on behalf of millions who will benefit from low data charges.
It does not whether he hate it or not.Infact most of we’re not happy with macra conduct
DPP sikulamuliranso tamvana????
It seems it’s you who have issues with Gospel and not Gospel himself. He is just doing his job.
Yes, internet and communication is by far too expensive! It is paramount if we want to create reates jobs!
To MACRA: It is and was obvious that this public organization is criminal in nature!
ABC do your job and bring the responsible in the cooler and most important recover the spoiled money from this guys!
Data must fall indeed!! mukuti ana aziphunzilira pa internet koma kuona mitengo ya datayo mmmm
kadzako in December said ministers waste time with familirisation tours yet he is also doing the same. nothing will change at macra because it is a cash cow for politicians.
CADET IWE
Iwe weakness, moti sungaone kuti Kazako anapita kukagwira ntchito koma Cadet sazatheka ndithu , uwelengeso nkhani lyi kachitatu
Yes,he said that because their tour yielded nothing hence it was wasted time indeed.But for him his familirisation will yield something positive for the nation.
samakangoyenda, we are to c the fruits soon this is tonse government not mhlakho govt
What is the problem here. The Minister is saying the truth, data should be reduced by at least to 20cents