Genius radio owner freed

The Primary School dropout who established a community radio station using two used transistors in Mulanje district is now free.
This follows efforts from community members, who felt that they benefitted from 21 year-old Gabriel Kondesi’s ingenuity.
The villagers raised K14, 000 to free the boy while his father sold part of his property to prevent the boy from spending time in jail.
“I think people got so much used to my radio because I started broadcasting some three years ago,” said Kondesi.
He was surrounded by proud villagers.
More good news was also coming for the boy. Zodiac Broadcasting Station’s (ZBS) Managing Director, Gospel Kazako, travelled all the way from Blantyre to Mulanje with the intention of freeing the boy. ZBS is one of Malawi’s leading private radio stations.
Kondesi had initially failed to pay the K50, 000 fine Mulanje Second Grade Magistrate Lameck Mkwapatira handed him last Friday.
Kondesi said the thought of going to jail for his creativity scared him.
Kazako said: “As broadcasters, we need to support fellow broadcasters whenever they are in trouble. I don’t actually understand when courts should grant suspended sentences but, as a radio man, I am here to appreciate that this boy is a genius,” said Kazako.
Kazako gave the boy’s father money to recover the things he had sold.
“We could not raise the money so we sold our TV, a DVD Player and four bags of cement tom raise the money. I also got some money from my friends, money I will repay.
The Standard 7 dropout was arrested on October 14, 2009 for operating a radio station called Pachikweza with a Malawi Communications Authority license.
He comes from Soza Village in the area of Traditional Authority Njema in Mulanje district.