LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee has exonerated the boards of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), ruling that the appointments of Brian Banda and Mayamiko Nkoloma as Directors General did not violate any law or procedure.
PAC vice chairperson Joshua Malango confirmed the findings after the committee met the two boards separately today.
“I can confirm that we met the two Boards separately and found nothing wrong with the appointments. What the Communications Act says is that the Board shall appoint, it does not specify how that should be done. Again, the Act is silent on qualifications. This is what we may look at as legislators,” Malango said.
The committee’s review was triggered by public scrutiny over the recruitment process for the MBC top job.
Brian Banda was appointed MBC Director General by the corporation’s Board of Directors through a notice issued on 12 March 2026.
He formally assumed full executive responsibility on Monday, 16 March 2026.
The Board, chaired by Benson Tembo, said the appointment was meant to strengthen leadership at the public broadcaster following the dismissal of George Kasakula over allegations of misconduct.
Banda replaced Kasakula. Before joining MBC, Banda worked as a journalist and TV presenter at Times Group, where he co-hosted the popular programme Hot Current with Wonder Msiska.
At MACRA, Mayamiko Nkoloma’s confirmation followed a similar path. The board approved him as substantive Director General after he served in an acting capacity since mid-December 2025.
He replaced Daud Suleman, who was suspended in October 2025 and fired in February 2026. Nkoloma, a telecommunications engineer with degrees from MUBAS, India and the UK, took office on 7 March 2026.
Malango noted that while the law gives boards power to appoint without prescribing the process or qualifications, Parliament may consider amending the Communications Act to provide clearer guidelines.
PAC’s decision closes the chapter on allegations of irregularity for now, though the Ombudsman had earlier opened a probe into Banda’s recruitment over claims the position was never advertised.
