Malawi’s m𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 against Tonse Alliance government’s punitive 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)–Minibus operators have reiterated their stand in regards to tollgates fees which are expected for roll-out this month saying they will not comply with the charges.
Earlier, government had withheld the commissioning to finalize procedures for the roll-out including the fees whose cheapest fee is 1 700 kwacha per vehicle passing the tollgate.
However, according to MIJ Online, secretary general of Minibus Owners Association of Malawi Coaxley Kamange has said that minibus operators will not comply with the fees as they are on the high side.
Kamange has also asked government to consider removing the fuel levy fee before rolling out the toll gate fees.
At the moment, negotiations are still underway.
Meanwhile, Williams Banda spokesperson for Ministry of Finance has said government will announce its stand on the matter once all is finalized.
Among others, at a time of passing through a toll payment point, light vehicles will pay K1 700 and K3 400 for minibuses and pickups, K5, 100 for vehicles with between 17 to 31 passengers’ capacity with two to five tonnes, K8 000 for vehicles with 10 tonnes capacity while for abnormal load vehicles, they will be required to pay K20, 000.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)–The European Investment Bank (EIB), set to conclude funding for a K13 billion water treatment works project for Lilongwe, has questioned Capital Hill why it has hired Godfrey Itaye, former Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director General, as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Lilongwe Water Board.
Itaye is on Police bail after fraud charges were allegedly leveled against him.
The bank, in a letter to Government which has been widely quoted by local print media, said it had hoped to ink the deal with Finance Ministry but it was worried the recruitment of Itaye in June may affect the process.
The bank said charges raised against Itaye will “negatively impact our ability to conclude financing the contract with the Ministry of Finance as we are unable to have persons under criminal charge involved in our project, particularly given the relatively recent incident of irregularity.”
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga Zanga Chikhosi declined to comment on the matter, while Williams Banda, Finance Ministry’s spokesman confirmed of receving the letter from EIB.
Itaye was summoned by Fiscal Police in Blantyre on early September and arrested thereafter over charges of abuse of office and fraud.
After spending a night in the cooler, Itaye was released on police bail.
The charges relate to the procurement of K135 million Macra calendars contract, alleged deployment of an official vehicle Macra bought for its officer but was allocated to former president Peter Mutharika’s personal bodyguard Norman Chisale and procurement of the then governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cloth by the authority.
Itaye’s arrest followed earlier arrests of Macra director of finance Ben Chitsonga and procurement specialist Joseph Ngalawa.
Nyasa Big Bullets board of directors have approved that the club can register for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederations Cup or the Champions league.
According to Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Kaiya, the club will bankroll the costly continental piece participation.
“We are looking at taking part either in the Caf Champions League of the Confederation Cup, depending on available slots,” Said Haiya on MBC Radio 2.
Bullets qualify for the CAF Cup by virtue of their being the Carlsberg Cup winners and they can also qualify for Champions League if they win the title, whereas Super League defending champions Be Forward Wanderers can, despite not showing interest yet, also register for CAF Champions League. If the league was decided, the new champions could have qualified. Bullets top the league so far.
Malawi is among few Southern African countries whose teams do not participate in CAF cups.
“But the good thing is that the [Nyasa] board has given us the blessings that we can go ahead to participate in one of the cup,” Haiya added.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda, while welcoming the team’s CAF ambition on Tuesday, “urged them to plan properly technically, financially and administratively. This will help to gain international exposure [that will be] good for national team.”
Blantyre, July 26, 2017 – Soccer fans patronising the Blantyre derby at Bingu National Stadium this weekend will pay a discounted rate if they purchase their tickets the smart way through TNM Mpamba.
According to Super League sponsors, TNM, all mobile money ticket purchases for the Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers pitch battle on the 30th of July will have an average of 25% discount.
The company recently introduced the Mpamba (mobile money) ticketing option at matches in a bid to offer convenience to soccer fans and enhance revenue accountability.
Announcing the offer, Senior Manager (Public Relations) Akossa Hiwa said the offer is in line with TNM’s objective to support the country’s football development.
“We launched this initiative on July 15 during the match between Silver Strikers and Nyasa Big Bullets at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe and we are happy with the response from soccer lovers thus far..We plan to continue with the e-ticketing option for select TNM Super League games, and are confident stakeholders will support it for the good of the game, and its sustenance,” said Hiwa.
According to Hiwa, Mpamba has slashed the tickets with 25 percent in all stands with 0pen stands selling at K1, 500 on Mpamba instead of the regular K2, 000 match day purchase at the gate.
“Furthermore, the Corporate Box is going at MK 7,500 from MK10, 000 on match day, VIP MK 5,000 through Mpamba and MK600 on match day. The whole idea is to appreciate our customers /supporters and demonstrate that we are a smart network that enables them feel great about football, “she said.
SULOM General Secretary Williams Banda commended the E ticketing initiative, saying that it would help eradicate fraud.
“It’s also a prudent way of ensuring that resources benefit clubs and players. Let’s buy tickets through Mpamba to help our clubs and avoid long queues,” said Banda.
He further cautioned supporters to avoid getting on the wrong side of the law as police will arrest anyone found loitering around peddling tickets illegally.
To buy match tickets using Mpamba, customers will be required to be registered on mobile money service by dialling *444# if they are not yet registered and follow the usual prompts. They will need to select 3 (payments), then 5 (Other payments) and enter the SULOM code 0885999555, reference of choice.
The system will generate an SMS, which they will take to the match venue to redeem tickets. The deadline for Mpamba ticket purchases is 10 am on the match day.
Ends
For further inquiries;
Akossa Hiwa,
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Mobile: 0884824662E-mail: akossa.mphepo@tnm.co.m
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