Tag Archives: MBC

Law and order

“Stop using MBC, MACRA as propaganda tools”-MISA challenges Malawi Govt on World Press Freedom Day

Angella Semu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-As the world is commemorating World Press Freedom Day, today under the theme “Journalism without fear or favor”, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter has reminded government, political parties, media users and other stakeholders to ensure that journalists and the media in general is free from political and commercial interests to effectively serve public interest.

In press statement issued on May 3, 2020, signed by its Chairperson Theresa Ndanga, MISA has asked government to stop using Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) as tools to spread propaganda in favour of the ruling party in the country.

The local chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Malawi has also asked government to ensure that the state media is run under the Communications Act of 2016.

MISA Malawi has highlighted the need for government to stop using MACRA as a tool to silence and intimidate independent broadcasters in the country.

The broadcasting media regulatory framework has also been asked to be
independent and promote and defend media independence and professionalism by refraining from abusing its power by stopping the broadcasting of information which is in public interest.

MISA Malawi has disclosed that many journalists in 2019 were attacked by party functionaries, cabinet ministers, Members
of Parliament, the police, and members of the public and hence has asked the Police to investigate and prosecute cases involving the assault, harassment or unlawful detention or arrest of journalists and other media practitioners in the country.

MISA Malawi has also asked the Minister of Information and Communications Technology to set a date for the commencement of the Access to Information Act to ensure that Malawians fully enjoy the right to free expression and other fundamental human rights.

MISA Malawi has however commended the media for adhering to professional standards of practice and implementing the code of conduct in the 2019 Tripartite Elections and media managers for reviving the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) to drive media self-regulation and ensure a professional, independent and accountable media sector in the country

Malawi, Regional

MBC reporting a Plot by opposition to Impeach President Mutharika

Maravi Post Reporter
HIS EXCELLENCY THE STATE PRESIDENT PROFESSOR ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIKA

The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation is a state-run radio company in Malawi, founded in 1964 is reporting that opposition in the country is hatching a plot to impeach State President Peter Mutharika.

According to MBC, as the country awaits the court ruling on the appeal for the Presidential Case, MBC has established that some members of the opposition are already planning an impeachment process for the incumbent President His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on what they the allege to be a gross violation of the country’s Constitution.

The opposition plotters of the impeachment have lined up two cases; 1. Alleging that in not signing the electoral bills that were sent to him, President Mutharika has violated the country’s Constitution and Secondly, in not firing the MEC Commissioners as per wishes of PAC of the National Assembly, the President was also violating the Constitution.

The grouping working on this plot, with financing from some businesspersons has been approaching some Members of Parliament to buy into the idea and get some monetary rewards in return.

Those approached this far have been promised 10 million Kwacha each with 2 million Kwacha paid upfront.

MBC has spoken to some Members of Parliament who have been approached for this scheme and we will be giving you more details as we unearth more details on the plot.

Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party DPP has expressed shock at the never tiring spirit by the opposition to remove President Arthur Peter Mutharika from power by any means.

Nicholas Dausi
Minister Nicholas Dausi

The DPP Spokesperson Nicholas Dausi said it is aware of the plot and several other plots including the spreading of rumours on the health of the president. Dausi has since condemned the conduct of the opposition parties.

Also condemning the actions by the opposition is Social Commentator Ceaser Kondowe who questioned the rationale of the plan with the appeal case still in court.

Sports

Nyasa Bullets ready to join CAF competition

Patience Mandowa
By Special Absalom
Nyasa Big Bullets board of directors  have approved  that the club can  register for the  Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederations Cup or the Champions league.

According to Bullets  chief executive officer Fleetwood Kaiya, the club will bankroll the costly continental piece  participation.

“We are looking at taking part either in the Caf Champions League  of the Confederation Cup, depending on available slots,”  Said Haiya  on MBC Radio 2.

Bullets qualify for the CAF Cup by virtue of their being the Carlsberg Cup winners and they can also qualify for Champions League if they win the title, whereas Super League defending champions Be Forward Wanderers can, despite not showing interest yet, also register for CAF Champions League. If the league was decided, the new champions could have qualified. Bullets top the league so far.

Malawi is among few Southern African countries whose teams do not participate in CAF cups.

“But the good thing is that the [Nyasa] board has given us the blessings that we can go ahead to participate in one of the cup,” Haiya added.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda, while welcoming the team’s CAF ambition on Tuesday, “urged them to plan properly technically, financially and administratively. This will help to gain international exposure [that will be] good for national team.”

Law and order, Malawi, Politics, Top News

MBC files defence in Former First lady Callista Mutharika’s defamation case

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)- The State-controlled broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), second accused in a case involving former First Lady Callista Mutharika, who sued the State broadcaster and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secretary general Grazeldar Jeffrey over a defamation, has filed its defence.

The MBC denies all allegations levelled against it and has, instead, asked the court to dismiss the case.

According to the Sunday Times, the MBC, through its lawyer Chancy Gondwe, said it does not have any knowledge of a rally of DPP on June 2 2018 where they broadcast live the alleged words in respect of the claimant and has asked Madame Callista Mutharika to provide proof.

“The second defendant never broadcast live any slandering of the claimant and the claimant is put to strict proof therefore. In the alternative, the second defendant pleads that if the pleaded slander was broadcast live by them, a fact which is denied, the same enjoys a qualified privilege and was a neutral reportage,” reads the defence in part.

Further, MBC pleads that, if defamatory words were broadcast, a fact which is denied, the said broadcast was an innocent dissemination as the second defendant had no prior knowledge of what Jeffrey would utter and did also not have control as it was a live transmission.

MBC also argues that Madam Mutharika’s statement case is incompetent as it contains not only the material facts of the case but also the evidence, which is in inter alia; hence, prays to the court to have the matter dismissed.

“The second defendant states that the statement of case herein is embarrassing as it contains a claim of MK500,000,000 being aggravated damages for the slander when the same ought to have been an unliquidated claim. The second defendant therefore prays that the statement of case herein be struck out and the action be dismissed,” reads the defence.

But Mutharika’s lawyer Ambokire Salimu said MBC is only trying to play games, saying he is ready to see them in court.

Jeffrey has not yet filed a defence as she said she had not seen a summons of the case.

The late Bingu wa Mutharika, the elder brother to incumbent President Peter Mutharika, died of a heart attack after collapsing in his office at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe in April 2012, according to a report released in 2012 by a commission of inquiry.
—
Janet Zeenat Karim
Author of Women & Leadership: Women are the Change You Seek

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Lifestyle, Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

MBC sign language interpreter laid to rest

Special Absalom

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The body of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Television sign language interpreter Judith Phiri was laid to rest on Wednesday at Zingwangwa Cemetery

In his eulogy message on behalf of MBC Director General, Controller of Administration Timpuza Mwansambo said the corporation and the nation at large will miss late Phiri for her contribution to the country.

Among others due to her hard work Judith Phiri was not only interpreting the language using signs on TV but also was working as news producer.

“Late Judith Phiri was a hard worker, she could define dedication to duties in a unique way because of this she was assigned other duties apart from interpreting signs.

She was also a producer of a number of news programmes,” said Mwansambo.

Family members and traditional leader thanked MBC for the support the institution rendered to late Phiri during her illness. The family of the deceased described the death of Phiri as a great loss.

Late Judith Phiri was born in 1970.

Law and order, Malawi

Propaganda article costs MBC MK3.5 million to Speaker of Parliament

Maravi Post correspondent

Richard Msowoya
Richard Msowoya: Malawi speaker

Malawi High Court on Friday, ordered the state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) to pay MK3.5 million to the Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya for carrying a fake news against him.

The Court also ordered MBC to retract the said propaganda article and air the apology during five successive news bulletins on its radio, and television in both Chichewa and English. Continue reading Propaganda article costs MBC MK3.5 million to Speaker of Parliament →

Top News

MBC Innovations Awards winner back from China, ready to open big shoe-making company

Maravi Post correspondent

Chimwe Mwenyemasi: back from China

BLANTYRE-(Maravi Post)— Chimwemwe Mwenyemasi, one of the 2016 Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Innovations Award winners, says the skill that he acquired in China during his one-month education visit, will enable him set-up a big shoe manufacturing company that will create employment for youth people in the country.

Mwenyemasi said this Thursday on arrival at Chileka Airport from China, where he undertook capacity building training of small and medium sized enterprises for developing countries, which was sponsored by the Chinese Government.

Speaking on the national broadcaster, MBC TV, that was monitored by The Maravi Post, Mwenyemasi said China offered him insight on how he can improve his small-scale business of shoe manufacturing.

Mwenyemasi, who was enrolled in the small-scale capacity building capacity program, said the technical expertise that he gained while participating in the program, sharpened his skills, and brought a lot of insight for improving his business.

“China is a country that has vast experience in as far as technical expertise is concerned. They gave me an opportunity to display my shoe-making skills, and they were very impressed. In just a month, I can say that I have learned a lot. I salute the MBC for making the dream of going to China come true,” Mwenyemasi said.

Mwenyemasi said he purchased a shoe-making machine that will change and bring ease to the production methods, especially moving from manual to machine style production. He said the technical colleges that the government is establishing, are a very good initiative, because through them, young people will have the opportunity therefrom to go into entrepreneurship, and contribute to the development of the country.

He added that youths should patronize them; and further offered his availability to teach at the colleges.

Public Relations Officer for MBC, Thembie Malinki, welcomed Mwenyemasi upon arrival and said that the Corporation will continue to honour its promise to send the awardees on an international trip that would add value to their business enterprises.

Chimwemwe Mwenyemasi is the first awardee of the 2016 MBC Innovations Awards to travel to China this year.

 

Opinion

DK writes again: A joke that is Malawi nation

Maravi Post correspondent

Moffat Banda;a well known DPP cadet chairing MBC board
Moffat Banda (R); a well known DPP cadet chairing MBC board

Malawi is a horribly pathetic, hopeless and helpless nation. Its leaders are now busy planning for next year’s food shortages, blackouts and water shortages. In contrast, our neighbours are planning for bumper harvest next year despite the much blamed El Nina and Al Nina weather phenomenon that causes dry spells and heavy rains respectively. Continue reading DK writes again: A joke that is Malawi nation →