British envoy to Malawi hails Zodiak radio
British High Commissioner to Malawi Michael Nevin has commended a privately owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) for what he said the great role the station is playing in informing, entertaining and educating Malawians.
Speaking during the recent dinner organized by the ZBS management in the capital city Lilongwe, Nevin said time has come for other media houses to emulate Zodiak, saying media plays vital role in pushing governments to be accountable to its people.
“In Malawi, the ingredients are there. One reason is that the political economy of Malawi is too closed, too much who-you-know. It’s means of operating and maneuvering is too opaque, too comfortable with its status. That is at the expense of others”.
He said there is nothing wrong with succeeding through one’s hard work and benefiting from that success and Gospel is one example of that.
“There should be no jealousies or attempts to undermine success, as happens too often in Malawi society. But equally there is too little opportunity for people and too much protectionism of a club for some over others,” Nevin said.
He said media has a role to bring governance closer to the people, facilitating their ability to learn, question and hold to account those in authority.
“We need more of it if Malawi is to further develop. The “fourth estate”, and in the case of ZBS, the “fifth estate”, is an important ingredient of any thriving democratic economy,” said Nevin.
Nevin said the media can help to turn up the heat but for that to happen, Nevin believe that political party reforms remains priority.
In his remarks Zodiak Managing Director Gospel Kazako asked authorities on the need to table Access to Information Bill and Table Mountain declaration so that “citizens can hold government accountable on issues affecting their daily lives.”
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I had great respect for Gospel Kanzako prior to this. However all that has changed within a flash. A media house that prides itself as the biggest outlet holds a function where matters of national interest are discussed and they invite an envoy of a foreighn country to be guest honour, leaving out their own government, what a shame. It was a lost opportunity. Do u think the same can happen in UK where a big media house holds a function and ask a Malawi High Commissioner as the guest of Honor? Some Malawians are true potatoes.
The British introduced theft by government to us. At the behest of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government in London, their administrators and settlers stole our land and the products derived from it. They stole our culture, and they stole our time. Now their ill-shaven representative has the temerity to advise us on governance and democracy. What the British failed to do prior 1964, they advise us to do now. If all they have for us is the burden of their untimely patronage, they should pack their traps and go home.
u,r right ujeni
awanso inu,osamapita kwanu bwanji? kulimbana ndi dziko lathu bwanji? ndalama zanu kunyaditsa,komanso muzitiuza zochita?mulibe manyazi. kwanu malo anatha?
Malawi is full of jealous people even their national anthem mentions that Nevin. The most rediculous envious and jealous people come from the southern region of the impoverished country. The North has the most forward outward looking people who dont need a boundary or border to stop them achieving greatness. The centre of farmers. They only think success means being a farmer. Thats Malawi Nevin.