LILONGWE, August 29, 2015, (MaraviPost): The country’s sole communication watch dog, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has revoked broadcasting licence which was awarded to a private owned Mwandama Community Radio for failing to roll-out its transmission which is based in the commercial city of Blantyre.
Through a press statement released to the local media on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 which also available to The Maravi Post co-signed by Godfrey Itaye and Alissa Makawa, Macra’s Director General and Board Chairperson respectively stated that the broadcaster fall short of transmitting programs based on the licence awarded for a period of running from September 21, 2012 to September 21, 2019.
Macra justified the action as it granted an extension of the station’s re-application for fourteen months (14) from July 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014 which the community radio failed to meet the deadline though another year was added till 2015.
“According to section 27.1 of their Licence, Mwandama Community Radio was to roll-out its broadcasting services in Malawi within eight (8) months from the effective date of their licence which was on 21st September, 2012. However, Mwandama Community Radio applied and was granted a fourteen (14) months extension of roll-out period from 1st June, 2013 to 31st July, 2014 under an agreement executed between the station and Macra.
“Clause 27.2 of their licence stipulated that Macra would revoke the licence if Mwandama Community Radio failed to roll-out its network and provide broadcasting services by the expiry of the six (6) months extension period or any other period as sanctioned by the Authority.
“Macra invited Mwandama Community Radio to a meeting to make presentations and justify their application for another extension period. Macra therefore invokes its powers under sections 22.1 (iv) and 27.2 of the Mwandama Community Radio licence and under the licence roll-out extension agreement and hereby revokes Mwandama Community Radio Licence effective 21st August, 2015”, concludes the Macra’s statement.
However, on the related development Macra has also issued a warning statement to the private owned Ufulu Radio (92.5 FM) for breaching section 52 (2) of the third schedule to the Communications Act and clause 10.1.3 of their licence by broadcasting false information about Kalibu Academy.
According to Macra, on January 13, 2015 the station broadcast a program where they alleged that Kalibu Academy was affected by floods and that the students were in danger and in need of urgent rescue from their parents which contravened the third schedule to the Communication Act containing the code of conduct for broadcasting services.
“Clause 3 of the code of conduct for broadcasting service requires broadcasters to report news truthfully, accurately and objectively without intentional or negligent departure from the facts. The clause further requires that where a report is founded on opinion, supposition or allegation, broadcaster must clearly indicate that such is the case.
“Ufulu Radio failed to comply with clause 3 of the Code of Conduct for Broadcaster in that it failed to verify the accuracy of the information it was broadcasting. Clause 5 of the Code of Conduct for Broadcasting Services requires broadcaster to make reasonable effort to present different points of views in the same programme or a subsequently programme within a reasonable period of time and substantially the same time slot when discussing controversial issues of public importance.
“Ufulu Radio was called to a meeting by the Macra where it admitted contravening the provision of Code of Conduct for Broadcasting Services. In accordance with 54 (4) of the Communication Act, the authority publishes the warning imposed and there as on for its imposition”, warns Macra statement.
