Gabriel Kondesi, who was convicted for operating a pirate FM radio in Mulanje, has earned his village a community radio licence from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra).

Addressing the press Tuesday at its offices in Blantyre, Macra Acting Director General Mike Kuntiya announced that the body had decided to award a community radio licence which Kondesi will head.

Makondetsa named his radio Pachikweza and it hit the airwaves on 98.5 FM.

Kuntiya said as a community radio, a number of community members will also be involved including chiefs and the District Commissioner (DC).

“After various reports in the media, we decided to invite the 'engineer' (Kondesi) to brief us on what happened and map the way forward.

“From what we discussed, as Macra, we have offered to revamp Kondesi's structure and equip it properly so that he should be broadcasting properly as a community radio,” Kuntiya said.

He further said the regulatory body was expected to pump in not more than K10 million for equipment and that the radio would be running in the next six to nine months.

“We do not expect to spend more than K10 million, but we also need to visit the place and conduct surveys to see what will be needed,” Kuntiya explained.

He also said his organisation was geared to give Kondesi a scholarship, but changed because of reports that other well wishers had already done that.

But his father said he was just hearing reports on the radio that his son had been awarded a scholarship by Kaphuka Private Secondary School.

Efforts to talk to the owners of the private school were fruitless.

Kondesi, however, expressed gratitude to Macra, saying it was his wish that the radio should continue not only to his benefit, but to the community as a whole.

“I have realised that if my dream has to come true on this radio, I need to go back to school to acquire proper knowledge. However, all I am asking for is that while am in school, the radio should continue broadcasting.

According to the genius, the community benefited from the radio in terms of communicating important messages like funerals.

“I want to reach out to many people not only those in my village, but other nearby villages, but I did not have the capacity.

“With this community radio licence, I am sure that more people will benefit from our broadcasts,” he said. 

Kondesi said his broadcasting was a result of experiments with his Panasonic radio, but he only realised later that he was intercepting air waves for Radio Maria.

The radio, which aired programmes illegally for three years, has now stopped its operations as the police confiscated all the equipment.

Mulanje Second Grade Magistrate Lameck Mkwapatira slapped Kondesi with a K50,000 fine or in default a 10 month jail term.

The standard seven drop out, however, escaped jail when his father paid the fine.

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God is Great KMJ Masese (71.15.31.78) 2009-10-28 22:23:52 If everything we do is totally guided by the Holy Spirit, nothing can stop the fire burning. May God bless and guide this genius guy. We are all very impressed by the idea (of MACRA) to allow pipo of these remort areas to have radio entertainment. Hope those who will takeover the leadership of this radio station, as the owner pursue higher education, will properly entertain the masses at large. God bless mother Malawi and keep it land of Peace!!!! Reply 3   3

Ineyo (194.176.105.36) 2009-10-29 12:58:22 Mbonga, Whoever you are and wherever you come from, you are the disgraceful type of people that cant see things being tribe and think anything is about lomwe or tumbuka or whatever. It's shameful to c people w little brains like you attributing this to being lomwe. I agree there is sth fishy about Macra's quick licence after all the criticism, but i dont c y divisive people like u shud start perpetuating the lomwe/mulanje - tumbuka/chitipa thing here. Go to nyasatimes and meet ur fellow little minded people to talk that trash Reply 0   1

Mbonga (82.17.113.72) 2009-10-28 22:34:49 This is really fun, if Macra has a duty to sponsor community radios, why were they waiting for someone to break the law first. There is a lot here than what meets the eye I guess. I do not believe that if Makondesa was from Chitipa Macra would have done what they have done. This is a mockery to those highly educated Poly students who are just wondering around without jobs. I am not against the idea of helping this standard 7 drop-out poor lomwe lad who is so obsecced with radios, but I think that there are so many eligible graduates out there who are so shocked with this development. Reply 2   2

M'burundi (202.36.182.18) 2009-10-28 22:54:12 I wonder why it is taking so long for MACRA to issue licences to other organisations who have applied for licences before. This is unfair!!!! Reply 0   0

This is what I think! Ineyo (98.200.136.222) 2009-10-29 04:12:14 I would like to disagree with Mbonga, if those Poly graduates are just sitting around in the class everyday without practicaly doing something of any importance to our nation why then should we care about them. And here is someone who has little or no education, he comes up with a great idea to help his community, why then should we deny such a person. Being a graduate or atending a university does not guarantee you everything! you need to earn it! Reply 0   1

Mulungu Ngodabwitsa Jeetu Namphaka (196.2.2.228) 2009-10-29 05:50:26 Mulungu akakudalitsa, palibe amene angalande madalitsowo. Iye amagwiritsa ntchito ndi adani ako omwe kukutukula. Kondesi's arresters (the state)are now his promoters (sponsors. Ameneyo ndiye Mulungu. Ambuye alemekezeke Reply 0   0

Malawi kids geniuses Richard Mandula (196.216.13.80) 2009-10-29 10:53:58 i think its high time we have heard about other people across the globe. now i have just realized that we have best engineers not because they are graduates but because the know what they want and pursue to have it. hey chap keep it up the good job you are doing. lets join hands and support people like these, they need our support in cash and kind. God bless you all well wishers. Reply 0   0

What a breakthrough? Tembo (146.232.65.7) 2009-10-29 12:19:39 This boy needs all support from our government to advance his in-born talent.These are people our government needs at this time. Reply 0   0

www.buffalobay packers.co.za charles (198.54.202.234) 2009-10-29 22:16:59 macra that is we called good coming to you citizen . I want to thank Mr Kazako for good emage you showed to people of Malawi so keep it up,this boy is happay beacause of you. Reply 0   0

Lady Madeya (190.213.76.122) 2009-10-30 04:25:31 Mbonga you are a disgrace the people of your village!This boy deserved it. On Merit. If you are an engineer from Poly but you have done nothing for the community and the country you deserve nothin! You Poly guys just know how to drink Chibuku at Zingwangwa instead of mooting innovations. Bill Gates dropped out of Universiy to found Microsoft. Get it in your head, having a paper called a Degree is NOTHING! The richest people don't have that. The greatest innovators don't have university degrees. Reply 0   0

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