Benson Tembo spells out priorities at MBC
Newly appointed Director General for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Dr Benson Tembo has said that he has an enormous task to transform the state broadcaster into a more reliable state broadcaster.
Despite having the highest number of employees and best equipment in the country, MBC is currently facing stiff from private radio stations including Capital Radio, Joy Radio and Zodiak Broadcasting Station because of lack of professionalism that was encouraged and deep rooted under former Director General Bright Malopa.
Unlike the new boss, Malopa is not a trained journalist and was shown the boot by President Banda barely 48 hours after taking the Malawi leadership mantle.
Tembo was speaking in Blantyre after touring premises housing the country’s public television and radio stations.
In an interview, Tembo said that whilst he was humbled to accept the appointment into his position by President Banda, there was an uphill task for him to reverse and save the public broadcaster.
“MBC is not a charitable organization and neither is it political,” he said.
He said he will strive to restore MBC’s lost glory although he acknowledged it’s going to be a huge responsibility.
“The main roles of MBC are to inform, educate and entertain as simple as that but from my observation MBC got itself involved in other things that do not fall under its mandate,” said Tembo without elaborating.
Under the tutelage of late President Bingu Wa Mutharika’s blue eyed boy, Malopa, MBC was turned into a political party campaign tool and the airwaves were used to promote hate amongst Malawians.
According to President Banda, it’s her expectation that MBC will be more professional and act as an agent of peace amongst Malawians.
