Mobile News Malawi

Malawi: G-Mobile locks horns with information minister

Information and Civic Education Minister Vuwa Kaunda has claimed that Globally Advanced Integrated Networks Limited (G-Mobile), the company that was set to become the third mobile service provider in Malawi, tried to bribe him with K5m (over US$33,000) to extend the company's roll-out period.

G-Mobile has since threatened to pursue a legal suit and sue the minister for defamation.

Kaunda dropped the bombshell at an impromptu meeting of directors and some senior officials from his ministry whom he accused of orchestrating the bribe. Kaunda said G-Mobile has been using some of the ministry officials to urge the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to ease pressure on the mobile company's roll-out process.

"Bribes through my ministry officials" - Kaunda

"For the past four months, G-Mobile has been trying to offer me bribes through my ministry officials," said Kaunda. But G-Mobile vice chairperson Limbani Kalirani said he was not aware that the company had made any corruption advances.

"This is a shock to me and I do not know where these allegations are coming from," he said. G-Mobile Director of Administration Harrod Muyaba has said they will be taking the minister to court.

On 20 September 2010 MACRA announced that it had revoked the operation licence it gave to G-Mobile after its failure to beat several deadlines set for the company to roll out.

G-Mobile however dismissed the revocation describing MACRA's action as "jumping the gun" and they went ahead unperturbed setting their equipment on the ground claiming the matter was in court.

About Gregory Gondwe

Gregory Gondwe is a Malawian journalist who started writing in 1993. He is also a media consultant assisting several international journalists pursuing assignments in Malawi. He holds a Diploma and an Intermediate Certificate in Journalism among other media-related certificates. He can be contacted on moc.liamg@ewdnogyrogerg. Follow him on Twitter at @Kalipochi.
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