Tag archives: Macra

Itaye threatens Zodiak: MACRA top brass panicking over corruption probe, working overnight to ‘defeat justice’

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Communications and Regulatory Authority (Macra) top management has since Friday been working under pressure to correct scores of illegal and corrupt procurements, after leading private broadcaster Zodiak Radio and Television made the corruption investigation by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB),  a main headline news item, Nyasa Times can confirm. An angry Macra director general Godfrey  […]

Read full story — Itaye threatens Zodiak: MACRA top brass panicking over corruption probe, working overnight to ‘defeat justice’

Forensic audit to dig Macra corruption rot: Malawi President Mutharika vow not to shield anyone

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Following series of entrenched wanton corruption and dubious procurement dealings at scandal-riddled  Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra),  a forensic audit has been approved by the regulator’s board  in a move by the Peter Mutharika led government to stamp out corruption, Nyasa Times can reveal. External auditors for Macra, Price Waterhouse and a board member confirmed […]

Read full story — Forensic audit to dig Macra corruption rot: Malawi President Mutharika vow not to shield anyone

Radio Lilanguka opens airwaves in Mangochi: Macra urges Christian broadcaster to uphold co-existence

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has urged  a newly commissioned Christian Community Radio in Mangochi called Lilanguka (meaning ‘light’), to preach and uphold co-existence in the district where the most predominant religion is Islam. Macra Broadcasting Services Manager, Matilda Bande, made the call on Friday when she officially opened Radio Lilanguka, a community radio owned […]

Read full story — Radio Lilanguka opens airwaves in Mangochi: Macra urges Christian broadcaster to uphold co-existence

Malawi govt lift suspension on SIM card registration, Dausi tells Parliament

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi has announced in Parliament that government had lifted the suspension on the registration of SIM cards and generic number and the exercise will continue. The suspension had followed public concerns with the exercise, especially suspicions that the registration is a ploy by government to tap people’s phones […]

Read full story — Malawi govt lift suspension on SIM card registration, Dausi tells Parliament

Macra boss Itaye influence Fiscal Police to harass his deputy Bisika

By Nyasa Times Reporter

A week after Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)  investigators pounced on  Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) director general  Godfrey Itaye for top level corruption, he has reportedly  given Fiscal Police  a sweetener to arrest and harrass on trumped up charges his deputy  Francis Biasika, who he  suspects has incriminating evidence against  the Macra boss, Nyasa Times can […]

Read full story — Macra boss Itaye influence Fiscal Police to harass his deputy Bisika

Macra rebuffs MCP over MBC’s  propaganda programs

By Nyasa Times Reporter

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has thrown away a complaint by opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) against biased reporting and programming telling the party to go to the broadcaster and not the regulator. MCP wrote Macra on February 1, 2018 complaining against what it perceives as biased reporting and programming by MBC. “Reference is […]

Read full story — Macra rebuffs MCP over MBC’s  propaganda programs

ACB pounces on Macra boss Itaye over stench of corruption

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Corruption-busting body Wednesday afternoon stormed Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) demanding to see top boss Godfrey Redson Itaye in connection with rampant corruption at the institution, Nyasa Times can reveal. Itaye is at the center of top level corruption including awarding dubious contracts to his own parents in laws, worthy up to K19 million  kwacha […]

Read full story — ACB pounces on Macra boss Itaye over stench of corruption

UNESCO, Macra say radio powerful tool to combat stereotypes

By Nyasa Times Reporter

UNESCO and Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) have described radio and sports as powerful tools that can be used in combating stereotypes and gender imbalances in the country. The two organizations made the observation on Tuesday at Monkey Bay Community Resource Centre Ground where Malawi joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Radio […]

Read full story — UNESCO, Macra say radio powerful tool to combat stereotypes

Govt faces backlash in Malawi press over ‘flip-flopping’ Sim cards registration 

By Nyasa Times Reporter

The announcement by Minister of Information and Civic Education, Nicholas Dausi, in Parliament that telecommunication companies should forthwith stop the mandatory SIM card and generic numbers registration exercise has dominated headlines in the Malawi press on Wednesday and attracted criticism in the leader pages of the two daily newspapers. According to Dausi, the suspension follows […]

Read full story — Govt faces backlash in Malawi press over ‘flip-flopping’ Sim cards registration 

Malawi govt suspends SIM card registration over fears of spying, queues

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi government has suspended  the  mandatory subscriber identity module (SIM) card  registration over concerns of   State spying and the long queues in verification, government spokesman Nicholous Dausi has  told Parliament. There were long queues at service providers as hundreds as people have been trooping out o register their SIMs to beat the March deadline and people have been […]

Read full story — Malawi govt suspends SIM card registration over fears of spying, queues

Chaos at Macra as boss Itaye takes over finance directorate

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Instability and confusion is reigning supreme at Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) after its  Director General Godfrey Itaye took over duties of the Finance Directorate, despite being manned by professionally qualified and experienced director and deputy, Nyasa Times can reveal. Finance sources told Nyasa Times that with effect from Friday, all finance issues, including signing […]

Read full story — Chaos at Macra as boss Itaye takes over finance directorate

We’re tired queuing! Malawians want online sim-card registration

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawians have complained why they still need to queue to register their sim-cards as they wait at their places in the confines of their homes. Currently, there is need for online registration. Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) publicist, Clara Mwafulirwa, said there is not yet that opening. They would have created bureaus, including those agents […]

Read full story — We’re tired queuing! Malawians want online sim-card registration

MCP complain to regulator on MBC inciting genocide through hate-filled programs

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has written the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) expressing concern that the tax-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)) is still refusing to open up the airwaves for the opposition parties and that its content is largely biased towards the ruling party. MCP also complains that the tax-funded station has rolled out propaganda […]

Read full story — MCP complain to regulator on MBC inciting genocide through hate-filled programs

The pitfalls of telecommunication regulation in Malawi

By Nyasa Times Reporter

In telecommunication, regulations are meant to correct market failures in order to protect and promote interests of consumers and citizens. In an ideal world, regulation is an ideal thing to have. But then ours is not an ideal world—it is a world full of opportunists and self-interested individuals. Governments and those who run its affairs […]

Read full story — The pitfalls of telecommunication regulation in Malawi

Naked nepotism: Macra boss recruits Minister Nankhumwa’s cousin

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Godfrey Redson Itaye has handpicked two cousins to governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) strongman Kondwani Nankhumwa, who despite moving to Local Government, still calls the shots at the communications regulatory body. Impromptu interviews were called for last week as a cover up where Dan Datchi, a direct cousin […]

Read full story — Naked nepotism: Macra boss recruits Minister Nankhumwa’s cousin

Malawi roll out ‘spy machine’: Macra can now listen people’s phone conversations

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has rolled out in full swing the controversial Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management Systems (Cirms) machine, widely known as the ‘spy’ machine that is also used to listen to subscribers’ private conversations . Soon after it t was known that Macra has acquired the machine, communications operators in the country went […]

Read full story — Malawi roll out ‘spy machine’: Macra can now listen people’s phone conversations

Malawi kicksoff enforcing real-name Simcard registration: All phone users required to register by March 31

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi is finally really cracking down on mobile phone real-name registration as  everyone in the country  will be using a real-name registered SIM card in their mobile phone. And Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is saying that everybody needs to register their SIM with their real names before end of March 31 2018. SIM is an […]

Read full story — Malawi kicksoff enforcing real-name Simcard registration: All phone users required to register by March 31

Macra top brass risk jail over contempt of court

By Nyasa Times Reporter

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Godfrey Itaye and fired board chair Mervis Mangulenje risk being sent to jail for failing to respect a court decision to allow its deputy director general Francis Bisika back to work, Nyasa Times can reveal. Bisika’s contract was terminated under suspicious circumstances just weeks after the board chaired by […]

Read full story — Macra top brass risk jail over contempt of court