Setback for a third cellphone provider irks Malawi's govt

Telecoms Network of Malawi Limited and Celtel Malawi are the only two cellphone service providers in the country and the Minister of Information and Civic Education Patricia Kaliati has since ordered the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority to introduce a third cellphone service provider within one month.

“We needed this service provider yesterday; the setbacks that led to its absence have not helped consumers who pay through the nose to afford this country's cellphone tariffs,” she said.

The introduction of a third cellphone service-provider, which was to be called Malawi Mobile Limited, was halted after the prospective investors were involved in a corruption scandal.

However, communication experts have described the ministerial order as hot air since MACRA cannot affect it in the absence board of directors whom President Bingu wa Mutharika is yet to appoint.

Kaliati said government will make sure that it has appointed MACRA board of directors before the end of the month.

“MACRA officials have told me that they have completed the process of identifying the successful bidder and it now remains for the board of directors to endorse their selection,” she said.

MACRA's Public Relations Manager, Zadziko Mankhamba, concurred with Kaliati saying they made their final recommendations in accordance with what the Malawi's Communications Act says.

“The board which is the final authority for our operations will have the final say,” he said.