Written by Richard Kayenda

Human rights activists in the country have on Tuesday written Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to immediately suspend provision of broadcasting services by Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (Mbc) Radio and Television, following the beaming of vulgar expletives against the Vice President of Malawi, Dr Saulos Klaus Chiluma.

The activists: Human Rights Defenders Coalition (Hrdc), Youth and Society (YAS), the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia and a Mr Nicely Msowoya, have, through their lawyer, George Jivason Kadzipatike of Jivason and Company, given Macra Friday 15 May, 2020 as deadline to suspend broadcasting services of MBC; failing which they will seek legal redress.

Part of the letter reads: ” MBC is denying our clients and the nation at large their right to credible information and it is leading the country astray, yet Macra does not appear to take any efforts to enforce Communication Act against MBC.

“It is on the foregoing grounds that our clients demand the immediate suspension of provision of broadcasting services by Macra, until such a time that the unprofessional members of staff, including its secretariat and Board are replaced by competent and professional individuals.”

On Monday, 11 May, 2020, MBC TV, during its 7 PM Chichewa bulletin, beamed an explicit material which contained vulgar comments by supporters of DPP-UDF electoral alliance against the Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima. The public broadcaster has since come under fire from the general public for airing unpalatable contents and for the blatant loss of professional code of conduct.