The battle over awarding of contract to Agillis International Inc. a brief case film to supply and implement the Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management System (Cirms) to Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is said to be the epicenter behind the firing of MACRA Board, Malawi Voice has learnt.

On Friday President Lazarus Chakwera ordered the firing of MACRA Board over a trivial matter that the board used tax payers’ money to attend a capacity building training in Dubai.

“I was therefore dismayed, Honourable Minister Kazako, by your report of the wasteful spending happening at MACRA.

That the Board Chair of MACRA could not find a more cost-effective way of enhancing the capacity of board members than taking them to Dubai and blowing millions is a clear sign that the leadership of MACRA Board needs to change immediately,” instructed Chakwera

Ironically, the said Information Minister Kazako was the one who approved the trip to Dubai and of the late others boards such as EGENCO also attended similar capacity building in Dubai.

However, the publication has learnt that Kazako and the acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry Francis Bisika used the Dubai trip to get rid of the board, who they accuse of blocking the Aglis deal.

The board is on record to have terminated the $6.9 million (about K4.6 billion), a discussion which did not please Kazako and Bisika who was by then Czar Deputy Director General for MACRA.

“When the Board saw how many dollars in millions have been spent towards this project it decided to terminate this agreement.” Said the source.

Bisika, who was fired at MACRA of the same dubious contract, is trying hard to use his recent position as the acting PS for information to have the dubious contract renewed for his personal gains.

The publication has further learnt that for the past four weeks ago, Kazako and Bisika have been flying to South Africa to meet Agillis team on the discuss on the possibility of renewing the contract.

It remains an open secret, that information Minister Kazako and his errand boy Bisika wants to replace the board with a new board which they can easily manipulate in renewing the Agillis contract.

The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court Friday slapped a Facebook convict Ignatius Kamwanje with a K200,000 fine for a malicious post on social media which alleged that money was being stolen from National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc client’s accounts.

Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa spared Kamwanje of custodial sentence on the basis that he was a first offender but blasted the convict on his conduct.

“The convict committed a serious offence of positing unsolicited information and Cyber crimes like these needs stiff punishment from offenders.”

“But in the current case, the convict is the first offender and therefore I sentence him to pay a fine of K200,000 or in default serve 18 months imprisonment,” said Chirwa.

Kamwanje paid the fine and was released after spending three nights in jail after being convicted on his admission of guilt on Tuesday.

Kamwanje’s brother Eric, threatened journalists not to take pictures of his brother as he was being released saying they should get consent from him.

“Leave Ignatius Kamwanje alone, he is not trying to be President of this country! Leave him alone, I am Eric Kamwanje,” he charged.

Kamwanje, an employee of World Vision Malawi was arrested in April this year after NBM plc had filed a complaint following his spate of damaging posts, among them, that NBM plc employees were involved in an ‘inside cartel’ to steal money from customers.

He alleged that four employees had been arrested in connection with the theft.

Kamwanje’s lawyer Pacharo Mwenelupembe prayed for leniency arguing that Kamwanje is the first offender.

She also told the court that Kamwanje will apologize on Facebook over the posts.

The convict first wrote the story on his Facebook wall on 1st March 2021 that his relative had his K8.7 million stolen at NBM plc with the help of the bank employees.

He wrote again on 27th March 2021 where he alleged that there were four cases at the courts and that others are in jail because of the issue.

“Those with National Bank accounts, check your balances regularly…ndalama zikutengedwa mma accounts. Yesterday about 4 cases at the court. Surprisingly it’s an inside cartel bcz others are in jail as I am talking. The relative whom I posted a story on my page and whose 2.8 million went missing with a balance of about 5.7 kulibe kalikonse..,” reads part of his post.

The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrates Court Thursday adjourned the sentencing of Ignatius Kamwanje who it convicted on Tuesday over a social media platform Facebook post which alleged that money was being stolen from National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc client’s accounts.

Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa told the prosecution and defence sides that he will deliver his sentence on Friday morning as he had to look at the charge of the offence of prohibition of spamming, as outlined in section 91 of the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act of 2016.

“The Magistrate invited us in his Chambers where he wanted some clarifications on the offence and the provisions of the Act and we addressed him and he will pass his sentence tomorrow at 9am,” said Police Prosecutor Patrick Chipote.

Kamwanje, an employee of World Vision Malawi was then taken to Lilongwe Police Station to await the sentence after his bail was revoked following his conviction on Tuesday.

Police arrested Kamwanje in April this year after NBM plc had filed a complaint following his spate of damaging posts, among them, that NBM plc employees were involved in an ‘inside cartel’ to steal money from customers.

He alleged that four employees had been arrested in connection with the theft.

However, when he was brought before the court, he pleaded guilty.

Chipote told the court that their investigations did not establish the arrest of any NBM plc employee over the alleged theft and that no customer had officially complained about losing money in their accounts.  

Chipote said Kamwanje’s posts damaged the bank’s image and reputation and asked the court to impose a stiff punishment to deter others from such misconduct.

Kamwanje’s lawyer Pacharo Mwenelupembe prayed for leniency arguing that Kamwanje is the first offender.

She also told the court that Kamwanje will apologize on Facebook over the posts.

The convict first wrote the story on his Facebook wall on 1st March 2021 that his relative had his K8.7 million stolen at NBM plc with the help of the bank employees.

He wrote again on 27th March 2021 where he alleged that there were four cases at the courts and that others are in jail because of the issue.

“Those with National Bank accounts, check your balances regularly…ndalama zikutengedwa mma accounts. Yesterday about 4 cases at the court. Surprisingly it’s an inside cartel bcz others are in jail as I am talking. The relative whom I posted a story on my page and whose 2.8 million went missing with a balance of about 5.7 kulibe kalikonse..,” reads part of his post.

According to the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act, Kamwanje faces a K2 million fine and five-year prison sentence.

The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrates Court has convicted a World Vision of Malawi employee Ignatius Kamwanje over a social media platform Facebook post which alleged that money was being stolen from National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc client’s accounts.

Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa convicted Kamwanje on Tuesday morning following his guilty plea to an offence of prohibition of spamming, as outlined in section 91 of the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act of 2016.

Kamwanje’s bail has since been revoked and was immediately taken to Maula Prison where he will await his sentence on Thursday.

Police arrested Kamwanje in April this year after NBM plc had filed a complaint following his spate of damaging posts, among them, that NBM plc employees were involved in an ‘inside cartel’ to steal money from customers.

He alleged that four employees had been arrested in connection with the theft. However, when he was brought before the court, he pleaded guilty.

Police Prosecutor Patrick Chipote read particulars of the charge and the Magistrate asked Kamwanje if he had understood them, he nodded in agreement and maintained his guilty plea.

In his submissions, Chipote said their investigations did not establish the arrest of any NBM plc employee over the alleged theft and that no customer had officially complained about losing money in their accounts.  

Chipote said Kamwanje’s posts damaged the bank’s image and reputation and asked the court to impose a stiff punishment to deter others from such misconduct.

“The convict defamed National Bank and damaged its image. Social media was established so that masses should be informed, educated and entertained in a moral manner and not abuse it like the way Kamwanje did,” he said.

But Kamwanje’s lawyer Pacharo Mwenelupembe prayed for leniency arguing that Kamwanje is the first offender.

She also told the court that Kamwanje will apologize on Facebook over the posts.

The convict first wrote the story on his Facebook wall on 1^st March 2021 that his relative had his K8.7 million stolen at NBM plc with the help of the bank employees.

He wrote again on 27^th March 2021 where he alleged that there were four cases at the courts and that others are in jail because of the issue.

“Those with National Bank accounts, check your balances regularly…ndalama zikutengedwa mma accounts. Yesterday about 4 cases at the court. Surprisingly it’s an inside cartel bcz others are in jail as I am talking. The relative whom I posted a story on my page and whose 2.8 million went missing with a balance of about 5.7 kulibe kalikonse..,” reads part of his post.

According to the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act, Kamwanje faces a K2 million fine and five-year prison sentence.