CSOs take legal action against Malawi public broadcaster MBCtv transmission
Civil society organisations (CSOs) are demanding immediate suspension of the provision of broadcasting services by public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for beaming on the its TV swearwords against State Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima in its evening prime news bulletin on Monday.
Private practice lawyer Nicely Msowoya, Youth and Society (YAS), Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Church and Society of the CCAP Livingstonia Synod say MBC is caught up in breach of its public service obligations under the Communications Act and that it has demonstrated a lack of respect for human rights and rule of law and the Constitution as required of it under Section 109 of the Communications Act.
They concerned individuals and CSOs have since engaged George Jivason Kadzipatike to file a case against the taxpayer-financed broadcaster, which has now become a mouthpiece of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Kadzipatike, in a letter dated 12th May, 2020, and addressed to MBC Director General and copied to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), says his clients were shocked to notice during its new bulletin whose broadcast started at 7pm on 11th May, 2020, MBC Television beamed vulgar expletives against Chilima.
He adds his clients have noted that MBC has gone overboard in contravening its statutory duties under the Communications Act.
“We are aware that MBC is a creature of Parliament and that its broadcasting licence is statutory, per Section 108 of the Communications Act. Although MBC is a statutory licencee under the Communications Act, this statutory licence is revocable by MACRA under Section 43 of the Communications Act in circumstances like the one in question herein where MBC has breached its obligations,” reads the letter in part.
Kadzipatike observes that through this and other actions, MBC is denying his clients, and the nation at large, their right to credible information and it is leading the country astray, yet MACRA does not appear to take any efforts to enforce the Communications Act against MBC.
“It is on the forgoing grounds that our clients demand the immediate suspension of the provision of broadcasting services by MBC until such a time that the unprofessional members of staff, including its secretariat and Board are replaced by competent and professional individuals.
“If MBC Television and radio are not taken off air by Friday, 15th May, 2020, we shall immediately file for an order in the High Court, compelling MACRA to close MBC until the unprofessional personnel thereat are flushed out and duly replaced,” warns Kadzipatike.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) which has been asked to discipline MBC and ensure the station is professional and operates according to the provisions of the Communications Act, says it will follow up the issue.
Foolish CSOs. You mean when you are in private sector you are not limited to good words/language, you can use all words/language but when you are in public sector paid by tax payers money you are limited to good words/language. Tulo a Malawi CSOs. The same words when it Zodiac/Times, it is okay for MBC it is bad. Laughable!!!!!
If you add chakwera/chilima votes in 2019, it’s almost 2.8 million, Peter / atupele adds up to 2.2 million votes that’s minus tippex ones,a gap of almost 600000 votes I can’t see all this pipo changing and voting for dpp/UDF alliance..copied
The problem is both MACRA and MBC are the mouthpiece of DPP and Peter Muthalija just the same as Police and MEC
You mean just the same as Brian Banda and others are the mouth peace for the opposition? What happened on Mba has already been resolved.
Malawi does not pay for Brian Banda, he is in the private sector. MBC is funded by taxes each Malawian pay to the government. It is answerable to its duties bounded by the constitution of the republic of Malawi. You cannot compare MBC and private firms…….unless you are dumb.
Fire all of them sizonyengerelanso ayi idiots…….
Anthu komaso bungwe ndi church zose ndizochokela ku northern region komaso ma judge ake okuva mulanduu ndi aku northern komweko Koma guys siyanu kugawa dziko lino ndinu ochepatu kale mumaziwa zimenezi
Kudzikonda atumbuka
Kuzikonda kuti nanga anthu azitukwana nkumasekerera too stupid to be saved
Iwe ngati sunapite ku sukulu vuto ndi ndani? Anakuletsa ndi ndani kuti uphunzire nawenso udzakhale judge?
There are some people who see charcoal as wh White and snow as black. Forgive them for they know not what they are saying
It beats me how you, Innocent people keep playing the tribal card by saying people of the North instead of looking at weather this is wrong or right
I truly believe in fairness. If those who pelted the Presidential motorcade with stones in Ndirande were swiftly investigated and arrested, let the identities of those who wrote vulgar and disparaging remarks on MBC program about Dr. Chilima be investigated and taken to book now. It would not be hard for the police to identify the culprits as their names and pictures were included in the messages. I truly believe that Dr. Chilima, our beloved Vice President has been subjected to all kind of insults, mistreatments and derogatory narratives since time immemorial. It is high time Malawi does him justice,… Read more »
Chilima should be told to stop defaming people. He is the one who is aggravating people.
Which defamation are talking about you cadet?
Mwasowa zochita eti? You have been shaken by DPP and UDF whistle stop tours.
Registered voters are six (6) Million Northern and central add up to 3.8 million of registered voters while the whole Southern region add up to 2.8 million , so u concentrate on your Base the whistle stop they u loose the most important votes from other Areas of the country .
Remember no new entrance to this Fresh Election
Koka, timenyereni knkhondo ma CSO. Cadet Haukeya watengera za kadeti wamkulu Mchacha kutukwana atolankhani. Mukumbukira m’mene anamutukwanira mtolankhani wa Nation Publications, Bobby Kabango? Eeee koma nthawi ikukutherani mwachangu makadeti. Mugwira mtheno wanji tsono? Mupita kukaunjikana ku Galaxy radio kumakalandira ma 2 tambala kumeneko.
CSOs of the TONSE alliance going to Tumbuka judges. How silly is that? MBC aired comments from viewers. Chilima should know that people are fed up with his militant language and defamation of people when he is on podium.
You don’t have people to be appointed judges from your tribe? it is sad that there are people in this country who believe there is something special by belonging to a certain tribe. What do you gain by that. Silly cow