Licensing information for Malawi - 7Q

Prepared by: ON6TT-Peter & LA9PF/7Q7PF - Savigny
Status: Aug-94, July '99 links added, Mar & May '03, Mar '04

Intro: If you have a foreign ham license, you will have no problems to get a license in Malawi without too much of formalities.

PTT:
The Director General
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA)
Salmon Amour Road
Private Bag 261
Blantyre
Malawi
tel.: +265 1 623 611
fax: +265 1 623 890
dg-macra at malawi.net

Paperwork needed:
- Copy of your license
- Copy of your passport (including the page with your visa)
- a covering letter, in English, mentioning where you want to set up the station
The best way to get a license:
Send a request for a license with the necessary paperwork to the PTT. Contact 7Q7JL (see below) and ask him if he can follow it up. Normally, your license will be waiting for you by the time you get there. You will have to go over to the Masalema post office to pick it up.
Price:
KW300 (US$20) per year.
Special calls:
you can suggest your own 7Q7 + 2 letter suffix callsign. Normally this is accepted, as long as the call has not been issued before. Calls are never re-issued.
How long before you can operate?
Normally, the license can be ready within one month and be waiting for you upon your arrival. Remember, you will have to go to Blantyre to pick up the license.
License restrictions:
/M, /P, /A operations are not allowed.
Customs:
Customs might inspect your luggage and ask questions about the radio material. Make sure that you have a copy of your letter to the PTT and insist that all the material you take with you, is yours.
Useful local contacts:
Very helpful and resourceful person: 7Q7JL - John Lord in Blantyre.
Contact John via his Pactor BBS: 14.067 and 21.067
Places to operate from:
Anywhere. There are a couple of good (but expensive) hotels on the Lakeshore.
Notes:
Malawi is called the 'Friendly heart of Africa' and that is what it is. One of the nicest places I have visited in that continent. There is no national TV in Malawi. So only a small number of people have (satellite) TV, which reduces the risk of TVI.

pcasier at innet.be 


Addition From: "de Savigny" <cato at desavigny.com> 
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 

Dr OM,
You may be aware of that a DX pedition (5 UK hams) is arriving in Malawi on 18 April. I have had the pleasure of helping them with licenses from MACRA. And I can just confirm what I have said before, obtaining a license here is easy. MK 1000 (=USD10) per one year. Even fax sent applications are honoured. 

The officer dealing with the applications is the Frequency Coordinating Officer: 
Mr Willis D. Lipande.
Telephone: +265 (0)1 623 611, fax: +265 1623 890
His direct cellphone: +265 830 3597
Email: WDlipande at yahoo.co.uk

The Director General
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority
Private Bag 261
Blantyre
Malawi

Not much new info, just a confirmation.
73

7Q7PF/LA9PF


Addition From: "Cato B de Savigny" <desavigny at broadpark.no>
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003


Dr OM,

I have tried to contact Lloyd but have had no luck. However, the proceedure for applying is now through a new adress:

The Director General
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority
Private Bag 261
Blantyre
Malawi
tel.: +265 1 623 611
fax: +265 1623 890

The MCEA is now responsible for Broadcasting, Postal and Telecommunication Services. As soon as I have more news I will communicate this with you. I will be residing in Malawi for aproximately 2 years.

73 de Savigny
LA9PF


Addition From: "Cato B de Savigny" <abuthoma at hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003

Dear Veikko,
Hurrah I am now 7Q7PF and xyl 7Q7HE. After sending in the application form I got a kind anser back that my license would be waiting for me upon arrival.
Yesterday I went out to MACRA and spoke to the DDG a VERY nice man, paid my 1000 kwatcha and he told me they would send the license to my house.
And today returning form town they were delivered by hand.
All my congrats to the MACRA. I have been around the world operating from Tanzania, Sudan, Somalia, Rumania, India etc but I never met anyone so efficient and courteous. If I can assist other hams here is my address:
la9pf at desavigny.com   or local phone here in Blantyre 08319575 With the proper prefix I am reachable most times.
All the best and hp QSO. I am getting my stuff on Monday but have not yet got my house. But in 2 weeks max I will be on the air
73 de
Cato 7Q7PF

Application forms attached


For travel info see: SubWWWay to Africa


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