The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the Centre for Development of the People (CEDEP) have called on Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to abandon the implementation of what’s become known as the “spy machine”. The human rights organisations through their leaders, Undule Mwakasungula (CHRR) and Gift Trapence (CEDEP) said in statement made […]
Malawi telecommunications licensed and operational operators have formed an association called Association of Telecommunications Operators Limited (ATOL) which was launched in Blantyre on Tuesday evening. Speaking at the launch, its new President, Airtel’s Managing Director Saulos Chilima said the association is aimed at providing the operators with a single platform with which they can articulate […]
Group chief executive officer for Press Corporation Limited (PCL), professor Mathews Chikaonda has again hit at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) over controversial ‘spy machine’. Just days after labelling the regulator a political condom, the economic expert has lashed out at the institution saying it has no legal authority to implement the infamous ‘spy […]
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Charles Nsaliwa has reacted angrily to criticism by National Bank of Malawi chairman Professor Matthews Chikaonda by instructing that Macra closes all its accounts it holds with the bank. Chikaonda went to town on Macra on Tuesday when President Joyce Banda was opening the K7.5 billion state-of-the-art National […]
According to a quarterly network performance assessment report released by Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) recently, the report indicates that Airtel is, by far, the number one quality network in Malawi. The MACRA report looks at the performance of the two mobile phone service providers in the months of October, November and December in 2011 […]
Overzealous Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Charles Nsaliwa and Macra board chairman Ted Nandolo have been embarrassed when the ruling People’s Party (PP) returned the party cloth which the two bought to please party gurus. Insiders said Nsaliwa convinced his board chairman that they should buy the PP party cloth and donate to […]
The country’s media watchdog, Misa-Malawi , has lauded the Joyce Banda administration for living up to its word by issuing several television and radio licenses to private operators. Misa chairperson Anthony Kasunda was reacting to news that the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has issued 15 licenses to radio and television stations. Kasunda told Nyasa Times that […]
Zodiak Broadcasting Service whose radio station is popular and has mobile television services has now been granted the TV licence, Nyasa Times has learnt. Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) denied Zodiak and other 30 plus applicants of television operating licences and only gave the four TV licences to late President Bingu wa Mutharika cronies. But since […]
Highly revered economist Prof. Mathews Chikaonda has lashed at Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) of being political in its operations instead of providing quality services to Malawians. A visibly furious Chikaonda was speaking at the official opening of National Bank of Malawi’s state of the art building in Blantyre where President Mrs. Joyce Banda was […]
A scheduled visit by Vice President Khumbo Kachali to Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) offices in Blantyre on (Wednesday) has raised eyebrows as insiders said government wants to implement the controversial ‘spy machine’ project. Kachali, who also doubles as minister of Health, is expected to visit Macra Offices in Blantyre and the visit has left […]
An Official from Malawi Police Service has distanced the law enforcers from claims by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) that it was the police who were responsible for the shutting down of about three radio station during the July 20 pro-democracy demonstrations last year. Deputy Director for Broadcasting Kelton Masangano, made the claim on Tuesday […]
Malawi Judge at Commercial court in Lilongwe granted a ‘permanent’ injunction against the telephone operators in the country from passing Call Detail Records (CDRs) to Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) on the Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management System (Cirms) also known as ‘spy machine.’ A mobile phone subscriber from Blantyre, Alick Kimu sued all the four […]
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has appealed against a High Court ruling that ordered it to pay Malawi Mobile Limited (MML) $66 million (about K11.2 billion) for breach of contract, it has been reported. Macra lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale confirmed to a daily, The Nation, that they already filed an appeal challenging both the finding […]
Mystery surrounds the purchase of an official executive Toyota Prado at a discounted price of K1.1 million by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Charles Nsaliwa. The book value of the vehicle, which is about three years old, is pegged at almost K10 million, factoring issues of depreciation. However, Nsaliwa managed to bulldoze Macra […]
A strong call has gone out to Malawi’s Information Minister Patricia Kaliati to mend existing strained relations between Mutharika’s administration and journalists which has forced private media to shun covering presidential and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) functions. Malawian journalists from private median organizations started boycotting attending presidential functions especially press conferences last year […]
Member of Parliament for Thyolo Thava, Lifred Nawena’s comments on Capital FM that President Bingu wa Mutharika’s real name is [Ryson] Webster Thom has angered the citizen number one, who in turn has ordered Malawi Communications Regulatory (Macra) to gag the radio. Macra summoned management of Capital FM soon after People’s Party deputy secretary general […]
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has summoned Capital FM, owned by Aladin Osman, to carpet them over its hard-hitting flagship interview programme, Straight Talk. The programme host Brian Banda also claimed he has been receiving threats after interviewing Harry Mkandawire, deputy secretary general of opposition People’s Party. “I only Interviewed Harry Mkandawire I did not […]
Malawi’s fourth telecom company Celcom Limited which was awarded a dual fixed and mobile telephony licence by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) in May 2011, has said it expects to start providing services before the October 2012 launch deadline set by the regulator. Macra said under its licence, Celcom must provide fixed-line and mobile […]