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No need to panic, the country has sufficient fuel stocks: MERA

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No need to panic, the country has sufficient fuel stocks: MERA

By Chisomo F.C Phiri

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority ( MERA) has assured the general public that the country has sufficient fuel stocks and that people should not panic with the fuel shortages that have hit some fueling stations.

In the the statement dated September 29, 2021, the cooperate body says currently, there is a total of 22 million and million litres of Petrol and Diesel, respectively. These volumes translate into 28-days stock cover and 54-days stock cover for Petro and Diesel, respectively.

MERA further says, Authorities are making every effort to address the fuel stockouts experienced at some retail stations that have been caused by the drivers’ strike in protest to salary increment by their employees.
” MERA therefore would like to appeal to the general public to refrain from panic from fuel. Further more, fuel retail stations are reminded that hoarding of fuel is prohibited and MERA will apply stiff penalties to any retail station found to engage in such malpractice”, reads the statement in part.

On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, the filling stations across the country experienced fuel shortages amid a strike by truck drivers and fuel transporters who are demanding for their salary increments.

Court Hands Chinese Wildlife Trafficker 32 years Prison term

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Court Hands Chinese Wildlife Trafficker 32 years Prison term

By Our Reporter and Voa

Magistrate’s Court in the capital, Lilongwe, has sentenced a Chinese national, described by some as one of the biggest African wildlife trafficking kingpins, to 32 years in prison after convicting him on three wildlife crimes. The court, however, said the sentences will run concurrently for 14 years and then there is a plan to deport him. But the convict is looking to appeal the sentence.

Judge Justice Violet Chipao on Tuesday sentenced Lin Yunhua to 14 years in prison for trading in rhino horn, 14 years for possession of rhino horn and an additional six years for money laundering. Justice Chipao however said the sentences will run concurrently, meaning that Lin will serve a total of 14 years.

Lin Yunhua

Lin, a Chinese national and the leader of wildlife trafficking syndicate Lin-Zhang gang — named after the husband-and-wife leaders — has been operating out of Malawi for at least a decade. Malawi’s authorities arrested him in August 2019 following a three-month manhunt.

Prosecution lawyer, Andy Kaonga says Lin would face another punishment after completing the sentence.

“Once he serves the sentence, our colleagues at the DPP [Director of Public Prosecution] office will probably take it to the minister of homeland security and then start the process of his deportation because the court has recommended that he should be deported from the country,” he said.

The sentencing of Lin brings the number of wildlife trafficking syndicate members sent to prison to 14. These include four Malawian and 10 Chinese nationals, including Lin’s wife currently serving an 11-year prison term. Lin’s daughter was also arrested in December 2020 for alleged money laundering offences. Her trial is ongoing.

The court has given the defense 30 days to appeal the sentence.

Airtel Fined K2.1 Billion For Cheating Customers Of Call Time

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Airtel Fined K2.1 Billion For Cheating Customers Of Call Time

The Competitions and Fair Trade Commission (CFTC) on Wednesday fined Airtel around K2.1 Billion for skimping on airtime owed to consumers.

The Competition and Fair Trade Commission imposed a 2.1-billion-kwacha ($2.6 million) fine on mobile operator Airtel Malawi for engaging in “unconscionable conduct” in withholding airtime owed as part of a loyalty programme.

Airtel Malawi is part of Bharti Airtel Limited that operates in 18 countries across Asia and Africa. The company describes itself as the largest mobile operator in Africa.

Acting executive director Apoche Itimu

The commission’s acting executive director Apoche Itimu told a news briefing that the commission launched an investigation into Airtel Malawi on September 16, following several complaints from consumers.

“It was alleged that the Airtel Malawi stopped automatically crediting customer accounts with monthly bonuses” of airtime, she said.

Instead, consumers had to request their free airtime on the 14th of every month. Those who failed to do so lost their bonus.

Itimu said the company made a financial gain of about 2.1 billion kwacha by “engaging in unconscionable conduct in the trade of goods and services”.

The commission fined Airtel Malawi the same amount.

Form one student Chinju Phiri wins a golden medal in this year’s letter writing competition

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Form one student Chinju Phiri wins a golden medal in this year’s letter writing competition

By Chisomo Phiri

A form one student at Bwaila secondary School in Lilongwe Chanju Phiri has won a golden medal in this year’s letter writing competition beating other 60 students.

The prize presentation ceremony took place on Monday, September 28, 2021 at Bwaila Secondary School in Lilongwe. Coming second was Chrisalom Phiri of Pladour Private Primary School who went away with a silver medal while Chrispine Makata of Star Private Primary School came on third and went away with a bronze medal.
Apart from the medals, the three winners went away with laptops, laptop bags and assorted MACRA branded materials.

Speaking during the prizes award ceremony, Secretary for education Chikondano Mussa told the award receipts to use the prizes to motivate themselves so as to aim even higher and also encourage their fellow learners to follow their footsteps.
” Am very happy that you have won these expensive medals. The sky is limit. Use the prizes to motivate yourselves to aim even higher. This should be the start of many great things to come and I wish you all the best in life”, Said Mussa.

In his words, one of the awardees, Chinju Phiri thanked organizers of the competition saying this has helped their writing skills and pledged for continuation.
” For sure, this competition has helped us a lot. We had no time to rest but reading and practising how to write, preparing for the competition day and we have more of these happening, no one will be failing to write . This should not just end here and we say thank you the organizers of the competition”, Thanked Phiri.

During the ceremony, the winning schools received assorted students books and this year’s them was ” write a letter to a family member about your experience of COVID-19″.
MCRA organized the competition as part of the International Letter Writing Competition for young people aged between 9 and 15 and it is the annual competition organized by the Universal Postal Union ( UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations postal matters, based in Switzerland.

The competition was again the part of the activities for world post day which falls on October 9 every year .

Gramps Morgan arrives in Malawi for Sand Music Festival performance

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Gramps Morgan arrives in Malawi for Sand Music Festival performance

By Chisomo Phiri

The Jamican Reggae artist Gramps Morgan has arrived in the country for his wonderful live performance at Sand Music Festival event on Friday 1st October, 2021 at Sun bird Nkopola in Mangochi.

Landing at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Tuesday afternoon, September 28, 2021, the ” The woman like you” hit maker thanked Malawians for warmly welcoming him and assured them a wonderful performance by songs in his new released album ” postive vibration”.
” Ready for you Malawi. I am so thankful that you have welcomed me in this way. I cannot wait to play the songs from my new solo Album” postive vibration album’.

The Jamican Reggae artist was welcomed by an entourage of Rastafarian choir and other Sand Music Festival representatives such as Wendy Harawa.
Other Headliners to land in the country for the festival are South African Makhadzi and gospel icon Sipho Big Fish Makhabane and Peter of the disbanded P-Square ( Mr. P).

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