Chimwemwe Banda fights for her job at MBC
Beleaguered Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Director of News and Programmes, Chimwemwe Banda, on Sunday appeared at the national remembrance prayer of worship for Rev John Chilembwe at Providence Industrial Mission (PIM) in the southern tobacco growing district of Chiradzulu trying to reach out to politicians and senior government officials that may save her from losing her job, Nyasa Times can reveal.
The guest of honour at the ceremony was President Bingu Wa Mutharika.
The future of Banda at the state broadcaster is being discussed in the corridors of power including the MBC board following revelations that last September, she called a fellow woman and presenter Mary Segula ‘ugly’.
The young charming lady has sice left her job at the television.
During the Chilembwe Day national service of worship in Chiradzulu, Banda arrived in blue coloured pick-up from Country Wide Car Hire Limited, smiling at almost every senior politician she would see.
Wearing a national dress and a specially designed Chilembwe cloth wrapper around her waist, Chimwemwe Banda was seen jumping from one politician to another and from one senior government official to the other.
She was overheard telling Information and Civic Education Minister Patricia Kaliati; “Ife anduna tinachilowa bwino ndipo olo anthu andinene chotani, ife ndi Dyi Pi Pi yomweyi basi nganganga!” (We entered the 2012 very well honourable minister, no matter what people are going to say about me, we are DPP through and through).
Banda, who did not rest almost the entire period of the almost four-hour function spent time talking to one official and another including those from State House.
This Nyasa Times reporter saw in Banda’s eyes clear signs of desperation.
This was the first public presidential function that she has attended following Nyasa Times breaking the news on Mary Segula two weeks ago.
The disgraced MBC Director of News and Programmes is trying to hang on to power at MBC after Malawians reacted with anger to her ‘ugly’ remarks towards the youthful Segula.
Last week, Malawians writing on Facebook, microblogging site Twitter and Nyasa Times called on Banda to publicly apologise to Segula and resign from her job at MBC.
Banda, also made headlines on private local radio stations and talk shows.
On Friday, she made a front-page story for the sensational Weekend Times. The paper’s editorial comment on that day also derived from Banda’s disgraceful story. It called on her to lead by example, apologise and quit her job.
Leading women rights activists including prominent campaigner, Seodi White have joined the condemnation on Banda describing it as not only demeaning to a woman but also intolerable and despising God’s creation.
Although MBC Director General Bright Malopa defended his MBC second in command in an interview with Nyasa Times last week, ironically reports from the broadcaster indicate that she has been busy mobilising support to herself in order to topple her boss, Malopa.
Chimwemwe Banda’s attitude towards fellow women and ‘ugly’ remarks were also reported to have been condemned by Malawi First Lady Callista Mutharika when she addressed fellow First Ladies from the Comesa region late last year.
Banda, is reported to be in close friendship with MBC board chairperson Rev. Dr. Fr. Alfred Nsope of the Catholic Church who apparently would shield her from being axed. She has on several occasions been seen visiting the reverend father at his Namulenga Parish in Mulanje.
She is also reported to have had closer ties with former MBC board chairperson Inkosi Ya Makosi Mbelwa the 4th.
However, Banda’s closest back up in government comes from Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Willie Samute. The two, became ‘close friends’ when they worked together in Local Government during the decentralization project.
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