Gregory Gondwe

Last updated
Vitus-Gregory Gondwe
Born1974
Mulanje, Malawi [1]
Occupation journalist
Years active1993–present
Notable credit(s)BizCommunity, BiztechAfrica, CNN, AP
TitleCorrespondent, columnist
Website https://www.investigativeplatform-mw.org/

Vitus-Gregory Gondwe is a Malawian journalist, editor and media consultant. [2] He also runs his own social, music and business analysis blog. He is known for his investigative stories. He also writes on business news. He has been a contributor to several newspapers in Malawi, and has worked for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation as correspondent. He is a Malawi correspondent for the Associated Press, [3] [4] as well as a regular correspondent for BizCommunity and BiztechAfrica. [5] He has contributed to a number of news sources worldwide since 1993. [6] [7] He also regularly writes about freedom of press and the media industry. [8]

Contents

Career

Until February 2016 he was the chief reporter as well as the bureau chief for Times Media Group, which owns Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL Times), having been promoted in April 2014 from the position of senior reporter. His speciality is investigative and exclusive stories.

He is currently studying with the University of Malawi where he is pursuing a BA in Journalism. He has a diploma and an intermediate certificate in journalism. [2] He started journalism in 1993 and has since made contributions to African News Dimension network, CNN, and Southern Times (Namibia), The Nation, The Daily Times, Malawi News, and The Weekend Nation.[ citation needed ] He was a reporter for The Chronicle newspaper in Malawi until 2005. [5] He worked as Regional Editor and Northern Region Bureau Chief for Zodiak Broadcasting Station from 2007 to 2010. [7] [9]

Mutharika administration journalism attacks

Gondwe became the target of national (and international) interest during the journalistic crackdown during 2011-2012 when President Bingu wa Mutharika was in his final term. Minister of Information Patricia Kaliati threatened him over the phone due to an article he wrote that included her. Kaliati attacked a cabinet minister assessment published b The Daily Times that he had written about. [10] She called him over the phone to warn him not to write about her again in a negative light or face unspecified consequences. [11] [12] This led the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) to release a statement in his favor asking the Minister to address the organization directly with reporting discrepancies. [12] The World Media body also wrote to Bingu wa Mutharika with regards to this threat. This case was cited in protest letters against press freedom to Bingu Wa Mutharika. [13] [14]

Gregory Gondwe, Zuneth Sattar and Malawi Government

Sources: [15] [16]

In October 2021 Zuneth Sattar, a Malawian-born, UK-based businessman was arrested by the UK government on allegations of corrupt business deals in Malawi14. The case involved three contracts with the Malawi government in which companies with connections to Sattar were involved in contracts worth tens of millions of dollars. In early April 2022, the Malawi Police arrested Gregory Gondwe in Blantyre and confiscated his ICT equipment following an article he published in Platform for Investigative Journalism on 30 March 2022. [17] In the publication Gondwe revealed that government continued dealing with Sattar by paying K1.3 billion for a contract belonging to businessman despite the contract still being under a restriction order by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for possible corruption. [18] During the arrest, his computer and phone were taken by the police. The officers allegedly forced Gondwe to reveal the source of the confidential legal documents he posted online. [19] [20]

Allegations in the UK case

Senior government figures named in the Sattar corruption case

Gondwe, Sattar and Malawi Defence Forces

Gondwe went into hiding following another expose [21] on 29 January 2024 in which it was revealed that Sattar was still dealing with the government of Malawi despite corruption allegations levelled against Zuneth and his associates. [22] In this article, Gondwe posted contractual and payment details between Malawi Defence Forces and companies with close links to Sattar. Gondwe said that MDF officials were after his arrest. He posted on MISA Malawi Whatsapp page; "I wanted to inform you that I am currently outside the country on a temporary basis. I deeply appreciate your support and the encouraging words you've extended to me during this time," [23]

However, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda and MDF Commander General Paul Valentino Phiri said that the journalist would not be arrested. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakili Muluzi</span> President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004

Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician who was President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004. He was also chairman of the United Democratic Front (UDF) until 2009. He succeeded Hastings Kamuzu Banda as Malawi's president. He also served in Banda's cabinet as minister without portfolio, before retiring in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bingu wa Mutharika</span> President of Malawi from 2004 to 2012

Bingu wa Mutharika was a Malawian politician and economist who was President of Malawi from May 2004 until his death in April 2012. He was also President of the Democratic Progressive Party, which he founded in February 2005; it obtained a majority in Malawi's parliament in the 2009 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)</span> Political party in Malawi

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front (UDF), which was led by his predecessor, Bakili Muluzi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Chaponda</span> Malawian politician

George T. Chaponda is a Malawian career diplomat and politician who served as Malawi's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development from 2016 to 2017. He is a founding member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is a DPP Member of Parliament from Mulanje district in southern Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Malawian general election</span>

General elections were held in Malawi on 19 May 2009. Incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika ran for re-election; his main opponent was John Tembo, the president of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Five other candidates also ran. The election was won by Mutharika, who was re-elected to the Presidency with around two-thirds of the vote. Mutharika's DPP also won a strong parliamentary majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodall Gondwe</span> Malawian economist (1936–2023)

Goodall Edward Gondwe was a Malawian economist who served in his country's cabinet as Minister of Finance on two occasions: from 2004 to 2009, and from 2014 to 2019. He also served as Minister of Local Government from 2009 to 2010 and Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment Affairs from 2011 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Mutharika</span> President of Malawi from 2014 to 2020

Arthur Peter Mutharika is a Malawian politician and lawyer who was President of Malawi from May 2014 to June 2020. Mutharika has worked in the field of international justice, specialising in international economic law, international law and comparative constitutional law. He informally served as an adviser to his older brother, President Bingu wa Mutharika, on issues of foreign and domestic policy from the onset of his election campaign until the President's death on 5 April 2012.

Patricia Annie Kaliati is a Malawian politician and former educator who has held various ministerial positions in the Cabinet of Malawi.

The 2011 Malawi protests were protests aimed at winning political and economic reforms or concessions from the government of Malawi. On 20 July, Malawian organisations protested against perceived poor economic management and poor governance by President Bingu wa Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party. After the first two days of protests, 18 deaths, 98 serious injuries and 275 arrests had been reported. Further demonstrations were organised on 17 August and 21 September The first protest was later cancelled due to the intervention of a UN representative in initiating a dialogue; however, the talks broke down with more protests planned for Red Wednesday through a national vigil.

Chimango Chimpimpha Mughogho-Gondwe is a Malawian politician. She is the current Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. She is the former Deputy Minister of Persons with Disability and the Elderly. She was a Member of the National Assembly for Chitipa South Constituency, but lost in the People's Party primaries for the 2014 election. She then decided to stand as an independent candidate, but lost.

Raphael Kasambara was a Malawian lawyer, jurist, academic and convicted criminal who served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. He served twice as Attorney General under the administration of Presidents Bingu wa Mutharika and Joyce Banda, before being removed from office following allegations of involvement in the 2013 Malawi Capital Hill Cashgate Scandal. He was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2016 for conspiracy to murder a civil servant and had been on bail at the time of his death.

Moses Kunkuyu is a Malawi politician who currently serves as the Minister of Information and Civic Education. He is also a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Malawi.

The 2012 Malawian constitutional crisis occurred from April 5, 2012 - April 7, 2012 after senior members of the Democratic Progressive Party-led cabinet failed to notify the public of the death of the sitting president, Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5. Instead, cabinet ministers held a series of meetings in Lilongwe, Malawi without vice-president Joyce Banda with the aim of undermining the constitution and Banda's succession to Presidency. News confirming his death had, however, quickly spread across the country through word of mouth, cellphone text messages, Malawian bloggers, Twitter, Facebook, and on listservs by the end of the day on April 5, 2012. Therefore, the failure to announce his death resulted in speculation over the real health of the president and over whether the succession procedures would be followed as outlined in the constitution. According to the constitution, the vice-president takes over but there had been no official word on a successor or communication with the vice-president. Amidst growing speculation, the Cabinet announced that the president's brother, Peter Mutharika, the foreign minister, was the new President of the party on April 6. The Cabinet only announced his death two days after his death, after which Banda became Malawi's first female President.

Agnes Penemulungu is a Member of Parliament for Lilongwe South in Malawi. She was elected on President Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party ticket.

Raphael "Ralph" Tenthani was a freelance journalist from Malawi. Tenthani was a BBC correspondent and a columnist for The Sunday Times. He was a respected journalist in Malawi well known for his popular column, "The Muckraking". He was well known for providing political analysis on topical issues. He had been the subject of controversy for his candid reporting on political issues. He was very critical of the crackdown on journalism during the Bingu wa Mutharika administration. He was also a columnist for Associated Press, Pan African News Agency, and the Maravi Post.

Mabvuto Banda is an investigative journalist from Malawi. Banda is a well respected journalist in Malawi and on the continent. His writings have been subject of controversy due to a strong stance against corruption and other political exposés. He has been arrested five times due to his work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Malawian general election</span>

General elections were held in Malawi on 20 May 2014. They were Malawi's first tripartite elections, the first time the president, National Assembly and local councillors were elected on the same day. The presidential election was won by opposition candidate Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party, who defeated incumbent President Joyce Banda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sosten Gwengwe</span>

Sosten Gwengwe is a Malawian politician who served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of the Republic of Malawi from January 30, 2022 until his replacement in October 2023. He previously served as Minister of Trade from June 2020 until his appointment as Finance and Economic Affairs Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saulos Chilima</span> Malawian economist and politician (1973–2024)

Saulos Klaus Chilima was a Malawian economist and politician who served as Vice President of Malawi from 2014 to 2019 and again from 2020 until his death in 2024. Chilima assumed office on 28 June 2020, winning the majority alongside presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera. Chilima also served as the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, as well as Head of Public Sector Reforms, a position he also previously held under the administration of former president Peter Mutharika. Before joining politics, Chilima held key leadership positions in various multi-national companies including Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Airtel Malawi, where he rose to become Chief Executive Officer.

Kena Mphonda is a career diplomat and currently the Malawi High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He was appointed on 14 March 2015. He succeeded Bernard Sande in 2015. He presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on 18 October 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "AfricaNews - Profile of GregoryGondwe". Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Gregory Gondwe's profile on Bizcommunity". Archived from the original on 18 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Archived 2018-09-06 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Gondwe, Gregory (2016-06-07). "Malawi sees surge in attacks on albinos; victims speak out". Bigstory.ap.org. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  5. 1 2 "Creating Linkages Between Research, Advocacy and Media : Regional Media Convening" (PDF). Southernafricatrust.org. 2011. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  6. ↑ "Africa Interactive - Profile of GregoryGondwe". Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Gregory Gondwe at Gondwe Online: Christian website & site for Gondwes, relations, & friends from Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, etc". Gondwe.com. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  8. ↑ "World Press Freedom Day 2011" (PDF). Unesco.org. 2011. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  9. ↑ "Gregory Gondwe - The Chronicle Newspaper". Yatedo.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  10. ↑ "Malawi: Information Minister Threatens Journalist, Confirms Espionage Within Media Fraternity". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  11. ↑ "Minister Kaliati threatens journalist Gondwe - Misa Malawi - Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi". Nyasatimes.com. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  12. 1 2 "Protest campaign - Malawi, 22 March 2012". Wan-Ifra.org. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  13. ↑ "Protest letter to Mutharika on Malawi media crackdown: WAN-IFRA | Malawi news, Malawi - NyasaTimes breaking online news source from Malawi". Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  14. ↑ "Southern Africa: Information Minister Threatens Journalist, Alleges Espionage Within Media Fraternity". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  15. ↑ "WAR ON GRAFT: UK, MW's ACB ARREST BUSINESSMAN SATTAR, OTHERS". investigativeplatform-mw.org. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  16. ↑ "Malawi still engaging UK on Sattar evidence – Capital Radio Malawi". capitalradiomalawi.com. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  17. ↑ "GOVERNMENT PAYS SATTAR FOR 'RESTRICTED' CONTRACT UNDER ACB PROBE". investigativeplatform-mw.org. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  18. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Malawi journalist arrested for exposing top cop's alleged shady deal". News24. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  19. ↑ "Govt to investigate arrest and detention of journalist Gregory Gondwe - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". nyasatimes.com. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  20. ↑ "Police detain journalist Gregory Gondwe". MISA Malawi. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  21. ↑ "CHAKWERA STILL IN BED WITH ZUNETH SATTAR: TREASURY PAYS $4.98 MILLION FOR ARMOURED CARRIERS AMIDST CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS". investigativeplatform-mw.org. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  22. ↑ "Malawi Journalist in Hiding After Exposing Government Corruption". Voice of America. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  23. ↑ Voice, Malawi (2024-02-02). "Investigative journalist Gregory Gondwe flees Malawi after threats". Malawi Voice. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  24. ↑ Voice, Malawi (2024-02-02). "Investigative journalist Gregory Gondwe flees Malawi after threats". Malawi Voice. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.