Benson Tembo takes over as MBC director general
Veteran media giant Dr Benson Matengambiri Tembo has been appointed Director General of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), capping a remarkable career spanning more than five decades in broadcasting, diplomacy and public service.
The appointment, confirmed by MBC’s Public Relations and Customer Affairs Manager Chisomo Mwamadi, took effect on 11 November 2026.
Dr Tembo, who had been serving as MBC Board Chairperson, takes over leadership of the state broadcaster after an extraordinary journey that began when he joined the corporation on 3 February 1973.
His former board role has now been filled by Dr Mastern Moffat Banda.
According to a staff notice issued by MBC’s Board of Directors, Dr Tembo brings more than 53 years of experience in broadcasting, communications, public administration and diplomacy.
During his long career at MBC, he rose through the ranks to hold key positions including Head of Presentation and Deputy Director General.
He also played a pivotal role in the birth of television broadcasting in Malawi, becoming the first Director General of Television Malawi (TVM) when the station was launched in 1999.
Beyond the media industry, Dr Tembo has represented Malawi on the international stage, serving as High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Botswana, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat in Nairobi.
His influence also extended to the communications sector through his work as a technical adviser to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), where he helped spearhead Malawi’s transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting.
Academically, the veteran broadcaster boasts an impressive record, holding a PhD in Communications, a Master of Science in Communication Studies specialising in film communication, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication.
In recognition of his contribution to the media industry, he was honoured in 2024 with the Grand Master Prestigious Lifetime Achiever Award by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi.
The MBC board said it is confident that Dr Tembo’s wealth of experience and leadership credentials will help strengthen the public broadcaster, improve programming, embrace new technologies and restore public confidence in the institution.
Management and staff have been urged to give the new Director General their full support as he begins his latest chapter at the organisation where his broadcasting journey first began more than half a century ago.
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