Mr Jokes charged with ‘causing common nuisance’: Malawi Police arrest comedian for street vending of DVD
Police in Blantyre have arrested comedian Andrea Thunyiwa, aka ‘Mr Jokes’ and three accomplices in the central business district where he was selling CDs while wooing customers using a Public Address (PA) System.
The tendency of selling CD or DVD productions by artists along the streets or outside major chain stores among other public places has been condemned by authorities saying it is against the law and that it among others, disrupts public attention.
Police confirmed the arrest adding that ‘Mr. Jokes’, 31 , was arrested around Nandos along with three accomplices; Lovemore Mandande aged 29, Justin Leviyo aged 23 and Andrew Nedi aged 31.
They face a charge of ‘causing common nuisance’ which attracts a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment with harbour if one fails to pay the fine imposed by Courts
It is said that Mr. Jokes and his team were earlier in the afternoon of February 17. 2015 warned against the rowdy behaviour but they just reduced the volume of their sound system in the presence of the police they complied only to increase the volume later and when caught in the act there were no negotiations.
Last week the Blantyre City Council warned (BCC) warned musicians and artists to desist from rowdy promotions along the streets saying the law does not allow that hence can be arrested and the 31-year old Mr. Jokes, known for cracking jokes at public functions, buses and television stations, becomes the first to be nabbed after the warning.
“The conduct by some artists of going around the city making noise is not welcome as it is against the Council’s By-Laws. Artists have to be selling in designated places only,” said BCC Public Relations Manager Anthony Kasunda, stressing that as the exercise of re-allocating vendors continue artists also have to reallocate to designated places otherwise the law would not spare them.
.Andrew Mayawo from the Blantyre Police Public Realtions officer said that except for Nedi who is from Blantyre the rest are from Thyolo, and that they will appear before the court of law soon.
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Yes he did wrong but first you would advise him and direct where he can do his business. That is love. Without this which means you are not assisting fellow Malawians please release him
Polise they are stupid bcause they are failing to arrest the cashgate that’s no sense to arrest mr jokes and his frnds
This is a great start. Let everyone be warned. Even continuous hooting of car horns, not using pedestrian crossing i.e. crossing the road anyhow, littering, spitting and urinating in public, smoking in public/undesignated places, leaving overgrowth in unused or undeveloped property, building brick walls that are four meters high, etc should also be outlawed and be punishable offenses. However, we need consistency in application of bye-laws and laws -no selective application of bye-laws and laws, as doing it selectively breeds corruption and societal resentment which in turn can make people get fed up, leading to actions that disrupt public order.
Give them one more chance
They have arrested a public figure just to make publicity. Real people to be arrested are still walking free and enjoying life outside prison.
Nkani ndi malamulo anthu fe makamaka africans timalepera kusathira malamulo anzathu Azungu amaopa malamulo kwambiri, tiyetsetse kumalemekeza malamulo.
Do not say we are in freedom country cozy this is not freedom, country is not only
government there is not government without people…. do you pay him each every month?
if yes arrest him bt if he was trying to help his family so what?
You should also arrest the Sheik of some mosques who awake me every day with their noise early in the morning. that noise is also tantamount to public nuisance.
For example Ku South Africa oimba yemwe sanafike posaina label music company amagulisa yekha ma cd
For example Ku South Africa oimba yemwe sanafike posaina label music company amagulisa yekha ma cd