MRA shut down Malawi media giant Times: Turn off ‘Hot current’ truth telling show on Times TV
The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) on Friday shut down Malawi media giant Times Group , demanding K675 million in unpaid taxes but the publishers of Daily Times newspaper accused the authorities of trying to silence it.
The outstanding bill is on non-payment for Value Added Tax, Corporate Tax, Fringe Benefit Tax, Withholding Tax, Pay As You Earn for specified periods between January 2011 to March 2016.
” It is true that MRA has sealed our offices . Yesterday they brought a claim that we owe them tax but before we reconcile it, they came this morning to seal our offices. They have taken some of our cars and all our staff are out of the newsroom and offices,” Editor-In-Chief of Times Group, George Kasakula told Nyasa Times in an interview through Skype.
Tax officials told Nyasa Times that the ” distraint action” is taken for failure to settle a tax liability amounting to MK 675, 969, 316.75 comprising K504, 962,332.87 as taxes due and K171, 006,983.89 as penalties and interests
MRA spokesman Steven Kapoloma said the tax-body has sealed the offices of the news organisation and seized vehicles belonging to the company in order to force the company to remit the unpaid taxes.
He said the Taxation Act, Section 107 (3) (a) authorizes the collection of taxes by distraint on all properties or rights to property of a taxpayer
“The distraint action relates to recent tax liabilities uncovered through a comprehensive audit. The Company has a history of non-compliance since 2009 and has always sought court injunctions to frustrate efforts by MRA to collect the taxes due,” said Kapoloma.
But Kasakula fears there is a media clamp down especially on Times titles such as Malawi News , Sunday Times and Daily Times newspapers which are fiercely critical of the government of President Peter Mutharika.
”MRA is being used by government. This is an attempt by Peter Mutharika government to clamp down a company that employs over 300 people and being a watchdog of the society,” said Kasakula.
Times Group which also operates a television Times TV and Times radio has its roots from Malawi first President the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda and his family.
Hot current
Government officials are said to be running scared on a television talk show ‘Hot Current’ on Times TV which is gaining popularity in Malawi as following the ‘truth telling’ discussion which is hosted by marverick broadcaster Brian Banda.
The program which is featuring Kasakula is showing brave and substantive journalistic endeavours (often at great personal risk) and discussing matters of current which are hitting headlines, taking government into task on accountability and corruption.
Kasakula is also attracting wrath of those wielding power recklessly, even criminally, with complete impunity and unaccountability as he is putting them on spot with his no holds barred critique.
In the recent program which apart from being on Times TV, it was also aired on Times Radio and shared on YouTube, Kasakula weighed on the maize procurement saga that has hit Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and Ministry of Agriculture.
Kasakura , who is also columnist in Malawi News, accused President Mutharika of failing to make “tough decisions” as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament and civil society organisations want Admarc ceo Foster Mulumbe and Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Minister George Chaponda to be removed from their positions to pave the way for investigations into the matter.
“President Mutharika cannot take tough decisions. Changing cabinet or firing minister of information for poor communication is not tough decision. This was the time [for Mutharika] to show that I am my own man.This needed a decision from a President,” said Kasakura.
And host Brian Banda remarked in agreement: “This is the time when a man called Peter Mutharika should rise up.”
Kasakula also accused Mutharika and his administration of “trying to kill” by creating food shortage with the maizegate scandal.
“We have a government that let us down. Mutharika and DPP want to kill Malawians through hunger ,” said Kasakula.
He urged Malawians not to let mediocrity take charge.
“We need to demand better form our government, this is our government. They rule on our trust. Malawians lets wake up and demand better from our government,” Kasakura said.
Malawi government spokesman Nicholous Dausi said discussions on ‘Hot Current’ Times TV program are “unnecessary irritation”.
“I choose to ignore listening to their gurgling,” said Dausi who was scheduled to be on Times TV Exclusive interview on Saturday.
He said Kasakura seemed almost emotional in his contributions.
But Times are proving that they aren’t the kind of journalists that go around repeating what the government , they are demonstrating the kind of journalists that believe the way you hold power accountable is by reporting what the truth actually is.
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Dziko lili mmanja mwa agalu.okuba.chaponda mutharika mlumbe onsewa akudziwapo za chimanga chogulidwa mwa ukatangale.panyero panu
The works of new Chief Secretary who once worked as Commissioner at MRA visible. MRA please close all the companies that have tax issues. Muone kuti muba chani MBAVA inu. There are many of them there including those owned by who have closed Times Group.
A Dausi now is a legal person interpreting the constitution ha ha ha! Nanga A Mphepo ndani? This country is in the hands of thieves who run away from Malawi claiming persecution by Kamuzu yet they were just thieves and evil. Surprisingly, some of them claim they were working for the UN. Munabwera and mukulamulira ngati you are still fighting Kamuzu creating a survival of the fittest jungle style of living for poor Malawians. Chilichonse kuphangira and heavily defending indefensible because you believe Malawians are fools and will remain quite after threats on their lives.
As far as Times Group talks about evils of other organisations including the government please remember that the other finger points at you. Amene sanalakwepo ndiye azigenda mzake. I don’t feel good to see what is happening in Malawi especially when the government and its few people benefit out of the poor but non-taxes remittance is a serious sin even more than what you talk about. But MRA is not doing politics. It wants to do justice and support Malawians. I pay a lot of money to the government why not a big company like Times Group? Tamamvaniko manyazi pa zinazi. Kutokota too much but not paying taxes. MRA please go to others who are doing the same mwina boma likonzeko mseu wa kwathu.
And the government should not clap hands for my comment as you are their happy to cashgating the money when that is wired into Account No. I. God will punish all of you who are stealing our money. MRA does well and imagine this season beating the target. Zingalepheletse ndi chani kuti boma lipange chitukuko koma kutibela basi. Malawi can develop and feed itself but organisations such as those not paying taxes and greedy cashgaters are making us poor.
Nyasa Times please carry on with your investigations may be this country can change for better.
From 2011 where was MRA??Much as the times group are wrong for failing to remmit taxes the period in question raises alot of eyebrows.in short MRA is being used by these fools to silence Brian Banda and company.amwenye ambirimbiri they do evade tax and MRA is doing nothing about it.When you guys from times gets back to business all we malawians can ask from you is more fire!!!!Zifenso ndi cardiac arrest mbala zimenezi.mxiiiiii!!
Lero lomwe ndinena ndinu…. I wonder what Goerge Kasakula and Madalitso Mussa will write about Times Group not paying tax.
Ndale OR No ndale, finally you have been embarrased.. Get a life
Brian Banda kutokota konse kuja mukuyendera ma million a ngongole?
whatever -you deduct tax and not pay and i wonder if pension is being paid.
If this is true,then shame to Times Group powasiira a Kasakula kuyankhula zimenezi because the person knows nothing about tax and its implications.There is totally no politics here.The way forward is to pay now than later to avoid being arrested.
In Chichewa (and I’m very certain George Kasakula, being a Chewa himself from Kasungu, should know better) they say: “Ukapanda manu usamaswe phale”. I like Times Group so much, in particular their two TV Talk Shows – Times Exclusive & Hot Current. However, I’ve always wondered what’s been going in the heads of the Group’s hierarchy, particularly Leonard Chikadya, being the Group’s CEO, when they listen to the manner in which their Kasakula & Brian Banda emotionally and subjectively blast the government on its short-comings, considering the Group’s sins hidden in their closets. Didn’t it occur to Chikadya that someday the government would strike a revenge on the embarrassment it suffers in the hands of the medium by using its arms like MRA? As the man at the helm, Chikadya knows very well that it is because of his greed that the conglomerate owes the very government his boys are excitedly ridiculing huge sums of money and any sane manager would have advised Kasakula & Brian to slow down a bit. This government is not one of my favourites. But I wouldn’t agree either that its action to close down Times Group because of non-remittance of taxes to MRA is politics. As a media house, you must first ensure that your hands are clean before you start exposing the dirt in the government and other institutions. There’s a lot of rot happening in several media houses (Times inclusive) such as staff oppression, poor work conditions, meager salaries which is even delayed at will, etc which go unreported yet the very oppressed reporters go to town exposing the ills going on in other sectors. What has happened at Times Group should be a wake-up call to the media practitioners. Don’t just clap hands for mediocrity. Wake up please and stop turning yourselves into politicians!
Apa palibe nkhani yozuzula boma,Lipilani ngati sazatsegula maofesi anuwo.Apa palibe ndale.Boma lili ndi tvm, ndi mbc radios akafuna kusutsa zimene mwalemba amapita komweko.
mmmmh this is nosense from 2011 to 2016 zaka zonsezi munali kuti akanganya inu surely this is just aimed at silencing the courageous minds but we love this tv and radio station kapoloma akudyetsa chibansi eti kapena tchito wayamba dzulo ku MRA zoba iwe eti.
IF IT IS TRUE THAT THE TIMES GROUP DID NOT REMIT TAXES EVEN VAT: MRA
SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWINGS: ARREST THE TOP MANAGEMENT AND THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Ban all the directors from being a director for seven
years. If there are accountants serving in TIMES GROUP should be report to ICAM
for professional misconduct.
VAT is a tax that has nothing to do with the operations of any company. NON
PAYMENT IS THE SAME AS CASH GATE i.e. stealing from Account No. 1.
In America you have seen prominent stars going to jail. In Europe we have seen
Stars like Messi going to court on tax matters.
It will wrong for MRA to read the empty cries of TIMES GROUP that it is politics.
NO. ARREST these guys with no mercy.
Malawians!! How can you back a company for not paying taxes? Employees of this company should be up in arms. Chikadya deducts your PAYE but not remit to government?? This is criminal!! Inu ogwira ntchito KuTimes ! Mmalo moti muyiuze company ikubwezereni ndalama zanu yadyazo muli duuuuu???? This is money you worked for!! Wake up!!!
Mulungu wanga mulungu wanga mwatisilanji ,mukuloleranji kuti Peter Munthalika azitizuza ife ana anu munanena m’mau anu kuti simudzatisiya konse .Ndikugwada pansi pa mapazi anu musatisiye munyengo yowawitsayi koma mutichotsere choipacho kuti dzina lanu likakwezeke komaso likalandire ulemu .tichotsereni chosalungamacho .mulungu wanga farao akuwazuza ma iziraeri ku aigiputo kuja mudatumatu mose kukawapulumutsa ndipo mose atawapulumutsa dzina linakwezeka.Mulungu wanga lerotu ana anu a malawi akumana ndi mavuto koma zonse tizisiya m’manja mwanu kuti muthane nazo ndinu ambuye .mulungu wanga satana ndi amene akulamulira dziko la malawi ndipo tikugwada kwa inu kuti mutichotsere satanayu dzina lanu litamandike komanso lilandire ulemu lero ndikunthawi zonse Amen.
Fool. … inenso I pay msokho why should they keep all this money… yet they report kuti boma likulephera kugula mankhwala
ATIMES PALIBE CHOMWE CHINGAVEKE LIPIRANI MSONKHO NDIPO ZAKUTSEKEREDWA MAOFESI ,PALIBE NDALE APA .JUST PAY .POKHA MUTATIUZA KUTI MUMALIPIRA MSONKHO KOMA ANGOONA KUKU TSEKERA TONSE TIKHALA NANU .AKASAKULA MUKUONA BWANJI PAMENEPA? LIPILANI MUTIMVA NGATI SASEGULA.
Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk wina alira?!!!!!!!!! Wa lira kale wina alira !!!!!!!! Wa lira kale !!!!!!!! Maizegate or gatemaize we want the truth.
MR KAPOLAMA NTHAWI YONSEYI MUNALI KUTIKO THE TIME THESE GUYZ WERE NOT PAYING TAXES? JUST BCZ AKUFUMBATITSANI CHI BANZ NDE MUTIVUTE kodi mukaseka Times, ntchito mutatilembe ndinu anthu akubanu? –
Mr Kasakula, the issue here is about tax, please tell the Malawi people that either you paid the tax or not. Then you can continue expressing your opinion the way everybody can.
It all boils down to the intent. If there is an invisible hand behind MRA’s act then its sad and will not go unpunished. Kapoloma, hope u are clean and safe
I am extremely shocked that Times Group has been collecting PAYE, Withholding Tax and VAT without remitting to MRA. This is a clear case of theft of taxpayers’ money. It is hypocrisy of the highest order for anyone including TIMES GROUP to accuse government officials of misusing taxpayers money, yet they are busy feasting on the same TAXPAYERS’ MONEY. If collecting Taxpayers’ money without remitting is not THEFT, what is?
This is simple and straight forward, Just go and pay the tax! Tax is not political
please pay those taxes no one is above the law. we need those taxes for the good roads, medicines in hospitals and by not remitting those taxes you are also deliberately killing the poor nyasas who are not on medical schemes like you guys with pot bellies.
Kukatseka chifukwa choti aulula katangale wa chimanga ,kukatseka chifukwa kunapita chakwera kukatseka chifukwa choti akuona zonse zomwe mukupanga .dziwani nthawi yakutherani ndi mulungu yemwe akukuikani pa m’mbalambanda .pamene timamenyera ufulu wa demokalase ka pitala kanuko kunalibeko kanali kali kunja kudya ma supageti lero katipher ufulu kadzatifuna.
Kukatseka chifukwa chokuba ndalama za misokho. Ngakhalenso mmene Chilembwe amamenyera ufulu ka Kamuzu kunalibe ndiye nanji inu kunalibenso
These people must pay taxes . do not hide behind freedom of press yet you are stealing government money. how do you think it will feed people and maintain roads, supply water and other amenities if you do not pay taxes . Go and find money and pay taxes otherwise your offices must remain closed
amagenda Ku police Ali ndi chamba mthuba eti ? kupepela kwenikweni kkkkkkkk.
So Times group is in MRAgate! Hahahahahahaha! That’s the fruits of fighting the government of the day! you get squeezed and squeezed! This is just the beginning!
Very true
Times Group please pay Ceaser what belongs to him. We love your bold stand on topical issues affecting this corrupt nation but that should not come at the expense of not paying tax. Please get organized and get back to your feet. This country will continue to go astray if you guys cease to exist.
MRA, don’t just close their premises. The money is too huge and the best response is to arrest all the guys in Accounts. Mr George Kasakula wrote in his column while working at Nation Publications, Opinion & Analysis, page 19, on Saturday 1st September,2012. Kasakula lambasted Goodal Gondwe and insulted him that he was living in a world of dreams and he (Goodal) should forget ruling this country again. With the triumph of DPP in 2014 what can Kasakula say now? Times and Brian team are the people who were bruised in 2014 and they are still licking their wounds. Their covering on their MCP media will just appease those who are already MCP and not otherwise. Anything on Times publications will not change anything on DPP supporters because they know that its just propaganda to their leaders. The guys in DPP will repeat the voting style in 2019 and they are confident of winning the elections because they have made inroads in the centre and north while Chaponda can not claim any convert from the south. Just pay the money and resume your duties. Kani mumagenda ku police chamba chiri mu thumba?
Za ziiii
Very true
Do not seek public sympathy – osagenda ku Police Chamba chili m’thumba – lipilanitu msonkhowo. The fact of the matter is Mwaphwanya lamulo basi – so there is nothing like “being critical of Government” but kuthawa kulipira msonkho basi.
Do not use us Malawians to cry with you – we are not stupid – Lipirani msonkhowo basi period
mkukanika kuchosa chaponda ,he is involved in maize saga 26 billion kma apa times just millions kma mwaseka office.Mulungu take these stupid leaders in our govmnt.
zakeyu vepi yako ndkutolera msonkho ndie umatani 6 yrs yonseyi?dis is stupid politics.guys we r in democratic nation y we shuld b fearing our own govmt ?Times always educate us thro their prgrms
Pay the Tax and make your noise. Full stop
zalowa ndale izi,
That’s the trick to silence Times……ambuye akuona ,come 2019 ndi pack and go basi, pali chani cholozeka ndi maso chomwe mwachita apart from kuzumza mtundu wanga…chilungamo
ndi chilungamo mungachipondeleze bwanji chidzatumphukabe
I’m not a supporter of the current presidente or his government but what i do know is you cannot shirk on your taxes and then cry foul when the taxman comes knocking. These fat cats may be feeling the heat as you say so why give them a legitimate reason to shut you up? Everybody pays tax so pay yours
Sitikukana zolipila TAX koma adali kuti monse muja? ma hot current akuwapweteketsa mtima by the way a MBC adalipira? MRA yanga angoyigwilitsa ntchito.
Three years MRA could not ask Times group for taxes. This is very strange. Just as Mr Dausi has chosen not to watch Times tv, the majority have also chosen not to watch MBC tv.
Koma kumineko. The cabesa de garinha government and its agencies in action. We are watching you closely but know that you are just making giant TIMES MEDIA GROUP more popular and gain sympathy from the public. Where was MRA all this time? There are so many Indian, Chinese and even Malawian politician’s companies that are not paying taxes in milions of kwachas but MRA is not closing them. But do not forget that time is coming when you will be out of government. Lucius Banda already sang that “tidzakumana pamtengo wakachere. If not you then it will be with your children. Watch out Dausi and Mutharika cronies.
MRA ( Mr kapoloma) be serious with what u are doing otherwise the results will be dangerous. Malawi is a democratic country in it the constution stipules the freedom of the press. All these years where was this stupid MRA kuti mufike pokatseka Times radio & TV ???????? . Has MRA turned into a political organization or what? Tikukuwonani ndithu zomwe mukuchitazi. Ngati mukutumidwa chifukwa choti times yikuwulula zonyansa mu bomamu then u are missing the point.
A good example is Zodiak. They are no nonsense. They report what is there exactly without subtracting anything but their offices are not closed for not paying tax. Times TV, why should you spared if every single Malawian is contributing the same? We also cry when our salaries are taxed but no one is above the law. Just pay your taxes and get the move on.
Those come to equity must have clean hands, so they say. Akufuna anzawo adzipanga chilungamo iwo ali ndi magazi mmanja!
DPP government is going too far now, this is not the democracy we fought for in 1993, you will not succeed. We love Times TV and the radio as well, we love Malawi News and Daily Times because of their neutrality plus chilungamo.
zovuta zedi dziko likugwa ndithu
TIMES ATIOMBERA LIMODZI ITILORA
A Times mumangolowa ndi Mutu womwe eti?
Umaputa mkango palibe mtengo wakuti uthawiremo.Times must be reminded of paying taxes.There is no witchhunting here.Pay MRA………………………………………………………….and continue writing your Chewa representation nonsense.You are not there yet.
Mwakhala mmakwanu,mwapindula chani?
Stupid comment, where are Chewas coming in here? Kodi mdziko muno tsopano alomwe mwaonetsadi kuti ndinu anthu a tsankho eti? Mutisiye achewa, koma nonsenu mwakhala mukukagwira ntchito kwa a Chewako ngati ma ternant, mwakwatila ana athu, ndiye simungamatinyoze chifukwa President wanu wopanda nzeru za u munthuyo akulamulila. Mwadya zomwezi muonaso. Anthu opanda nzeru inu.
Sizatsako apa. Ine chewa but am totally DPP memba. Kwathu anakoza mseu was ntchisi sindingainyoze Ai. May the DPP government live longer than any party in the Malawi as the whole. Usikonda chinthu pa chifukwa
President uyu komanso a gang’a onse omwe amuzungulira ndi boma lawo la DPP adyeretu. Aiwala kuti kukubwera masankho 2019. Ifetu sitimgaiwala nkhanzazi. Kumbukirani…..posachedwa makhaulitsa Zodiak, pano muli ndi Times. Musaiwala kuti nyumba zimenezi ndi ma giant a media ndipo mudzaona utsi 2019.
Musaiwale nthawi ya Bingu nthawi ya ma demo ija. Dyerantuni pasafike pa 2019.
Wst watched hot current yesterday on YouTube and I was overwhelmed with the work that these guys are doing. In an environment which few people are trying to rule with fear. I am being rejuvenated with the show. More fire.
Donate to them to pay tax then
kodi mukaseka Times, ntchito mutatilembe ndinu anthu akubanu?
They are all involved in genocide, like Mulekezi. Genocide is many forms and Malawians are dying in many ways while those in power are basking in heavy glory and fortune. DPP, YES DPP
don’t be scared, continue being our watchdog. mathanyula saphula kanthu!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pay TAX simple if times is not complying thats against the laws of the land why is that TIMES is saying this is political? Pay your TAX
MBC owes ver 200 million. close MBC as well. Thieves, mbava, a tsizina ntole inu. Times, we are solidly behind you. Fight on.
Which laws of Malawi? Tell me, the DPP LAWS which inflict pain on citizens and spares those of the ruling clique. Which laws are you refering to? DPP laws which allow a minister to defraud the citizens and go scotch free? Which laws are you refering to? DPP laws that can touch on others and leave out other, with the same crime just because some are of different parties affiliation and others for the DPP? Chilungamo chimawawa, and this is why you have closed Times Group offices. The truth shall set you free and you can not hide the truth for ever. One just Judge is watching you, devils, from above and He shall do it for the poor masses, remember, Bingu’s fate, it was God speaking, trust me.
you sound as if you are an accomplice to the plunder in government and ur wish is to remain hiding from media microscope. ur are about to be zoomed in
We Malawi we already workup ,good job MRA they must pay the tax.
eish koma nawe goveerment is owing 300 billion in services and bills. ukuti chani apa usatinyase. Ndiwe cadet or a thief in govermnet