MBC freed from political bondage – Malawi Minister

Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Kondwani Nankhumwa has assured the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation of editorial independence and non-interference from government in its day to day work.

Nnakhumwa said this Monday when he visited MBC’s Kwacha television studios and the broadcasting house at Chichiri in Blantyre.

Said Nankhumwa: “I would like to assure that you that neither I, nor anyone from the Ministry or Government will come to interfere with MBC’s editorial independence and professionalism. If you fail, I don’t want you to blame me, the PS or Government. You will have failed because you wanted to. Government will give you space to function without any interference.”

Nankhumwa who was visiting MBC as part of his familiarsation tour of institutions under his ministry, said government’s commitment to see MBC operating in a professional manner.

He said government will make sure this is followed by making sure legislation to back it up is passed in Parliament in the form of the Access to Information Bill and the Communications Bill, 2014.

.The point of the Access to Information Bill is to support a dynamic society, which has the promotion of information and accountability as a key enabler for development.

MBC which is a public broadcaster has in the past being accused of favouring ruling parties in its coverage with roundly ignoring opposing voices.

Too many successive governments have restricted and frustrated the capable journalists, editors and producers at MBC from delivering balanced coverage and debate.

Nankhumwa concluded his statement by calling on MBC to remain professional and ‘above the fray of partisan politics and cheap fame at the expense of quality and professionalism.’

MBC Director General, Benson Tembo and his management team appealed for government support in modernizing MBC through support for procuring state of the art equipment and improving their studios.

Tembo said for MBC to remain competitive and serve the nation well, it required maximum support from government in provision of new equipment and studios that he described as ‘obsolete and makeshift at most.’

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