Govt scrapes off VAT on newspapers

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The Malawian government has scrapped off 16.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on newspapers a year after it was introduced by the regime of late president Bingu wa Mutharika, where he was implementing a zero deficit budget that necessitated taxing everything. 11 Jun 2012 11:39

Parliament removes hurdle for TVM, MBC merger

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The merger of Malawi's two state owned broadcasters, the Malawi Television (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which failed to take-off due to various technicalities, has been given a much-needed boost after Malawi parliament passed a bill that effectively dissolved TVM. 11 Jun 2012 11:08

PRB engage journos in IDEA Project

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] US based Population Reference Bureau (PRB) continues to engage the Malawi media in a project called Informing Decision makers to Act (IDEA), in an attempt to help journalists take part through media activities to help change Malawi's population projections which is set to hit 60 million people by 2050, if the current trend continues unabated. 8 Jun 2012 10:10

President Banda talks on arrested journo

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] President Joyce Banda has perhaps become the first Malawi head of state to directly comment on the arrest of a media practitioner and express regret over it. 4 Jun 2012 12:08

CPJ welcomes Malawi's repeal of news censorship law

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes last weeks vote in the Malawi parliament that repealed an amendment to the country's Penal Code which allowed the government to ban any news "not in the public interest." 4 Jun 2012 10:27

Journalist arrested for article on same-sex marriage

A journalist with one of Malawi's major publishing houses, Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL), is languishing in police custody for writing a story on an alleged engagement ceremony involving two women. 29 May 2012 11:32

MINI sponsors crew to rally through Africa

MINI has announced that it will be the official vehicle sponsor of the 2012 Put Foot Rally crew, Shake & Bake, for their 17 day adventure through Africa. 28 May 2012 13:47

University graduates create social network

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Barely four months after bringing into the ICT market a search engine they call 'C-Finder', Mzuzu University Bachelor of Science graduates, Kondwani Chimatiro and Daniel Chiwinga, have brought another ICT innovation with a social network platform, almost designed to work as international social network set-up called 'Sahebo'. 25 May 2012 10:56

Banda appoints Steve Nhlane as press secretary

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Malawian president Joyce Banda has engaged Steve Nhlane, editor of the Malawi News as her press secretary. The country's media fraternity has hailed his appointment, saying he will bring sanity into the president's office because of his level headedness. 24 May 2012 09:21

Journos train in science and health reporting

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Media practitioners in Malawi underwent a science and health reporting workshop in Blantyre over the weekend, as part of an initiative by Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW), to equip journalists to establish health as a regular journalism beat. 23 May 2012 09:55

Govt to repeal oppressive media law

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] President Joyce Banda announced on Friday, May 18 2012, that her government will repeal a piece of legislation that was meant to oppress the media which was being championed by the late president Bingu wa Mutharika. 21 May 2012 12:06

Malawi newspapers risk legal punishment

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Government has warned publishers, among them newspapers companies, of a legal punishment if they fail to deposit copies of their publications with the National Archives of Malawi within two months from date of publication. 21 May 2012 10:46

Govt calls for unbiased 'spy machine' debate

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Newly appointed information minister of Malawi, Moses Kunkuyu has said that if there has to be an unbiased debate over the controversial Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management System (CIRMS), the media and all those involved have to stop calling it a 'spy machine'. 17 May 2012 12:22

Botswana benefits from sub-sea connectivity

Gateway Communications, the supplier of pan-African telecommunications services, continues with its plans to bring sub-sea connectivity inland across the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The most recent country to benefit from this initiative is Botswana, with capacity from SAT-3 being brought into Gaborone securely via South Africa. 14 May 2012 12:09