Dausi orders MBC to end political favoritism, open to all political parties

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi has ordered the tax-payers’ funded institution, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to start covering all political parties and put to end its political favoritism.

MBC has been criticized by various commentators including Public Affairs Committee (PAC) for giving the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) more coverage on its radio and television channels while blacklisting all other opposition political groupings.

ButDausi, who is also official government spokesperson and top DPP official, warned MBC top management that they have obligation to open its doors even to those that do not agree with the policies of the government of the day.

Dausi said this at MBC Broadcasting House in Blantyre when he officially opened the refurbished and constructed facilities that included reception, lounge, disability-path and the reporting office.

The refurbishment which has taken MBC close to six months to finish was financed with funds generated within the institution.

Dausi said: “Currently, Malawi has about 58 registered political parties and, as a public broadcaster, MBC must ensure it saves all of them.”

On the structures, Dausi added: “The initiative by MBC management is very commendable; the structures now are disability friendly. This is what our President has always been propagating that we must engage ourselves in hard work, integrity and patriotism. Hard work entails that people must have innovative ideas, how best we can take care of the structures we found which MBC has done.”

The Minister also took time to congratulate MBC staff who won awards during this year’s MISA Malawi Annual General Meeting.

In his remarks, Board Chair of MBC Rev. Dr. Billy Gama said the Corporation is geared to make working environment friendly to its members of staff.

“Looking up to donors for support all the time cannot develop our country, all these developments have happened using our own resources, as MBC we are doing our best to achieve a lot. I am so excited, this is the sign of patriotism and hard work which the President is championing,” he said, disclosing that the Corporation motivates its members of staff among others by increasing their salaries.

MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta said the institution embarked on the refurbishments to provide a conducive environment to both staff and visitors.

The MBC was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament as a Parastatal. The aim of the Corporation is to inform, educate and entertain through objective, professional and independent programming.

According to Communications Act section 87(2)(a), MBC shall, in the provision of its public broadcasting services, function without any political bias and independently of any person or body of persons.