Bingu summons MBC brass to Ndata, strike cancelled
Strike threats by employees at the state Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) compelled President Bingu wa Mutharika on Monday to summon chief executive officer Bright Malopa and director of programmes and chairperson of the MBC radio and TV merger Chimwemwe Banda to his private Ndata Palace in Thyolo.
Malopa, Banda and a third officer went to Ndata as irate employees gathered at the station waiting for them to get a convincing statement on the much long awaited merger of radio and TV. Mutharika is residing at the opulent Ndata mansion.
“I can confirm to you that the three have been summoned to Ndata House by the President in view of the strike on Tuesday,” said one employee.
The employee said workers simply want to be told the truth about who is to remain working and who is to go and those going demand to have their benefits ready.
Malopa and his team returned and were said to be briefing the employees.
He was recently quoted in the local media that government has allocated funding for only 413 employees in the 2011-2012 national budget.
The other employees, he said will be re-deployed to other government departments but government sources said on Monday that it is doubtful if such employees will be re-deployed because those departments did not include them in the national budgets.
Most of the employees who have failed to be taken on board in the merged MBC do not have qualifications for entry into government.
MBC board chairperson was recently quoted in Weekend Nation that some of the employees are not deployable.
Over 20 employees told management that they simply want their money to leave for other pastures.
Some of such employees include Gerald Viola, Mbauwo Chavula, Jane Hauya and others.
Meanwhile, the planned August 23 strike has been averted following lengthy meeting with the MBC Board which has promised to resolve all concerns by 30th August.
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