Kambwiri, Liwewe Banda rebuff Galaxy radio
Two renowned broadcasters, Steve Liwewe Banda and Joshua Kambwiri have turned down job offers from galaxy radio despite helping setting up the station, it has been established.
Banda and Kambwiri were among other celebrated broadcasters who initially helped setting up the radio station owned by former President late Bingu wa Mutharika but currently being managed by his daughter, Duwa.
However, inspite the two being given lucrative job contracts, they have not taken up the opportunity, arguing the offer was done verbally, Nyasa Times has learnt.
In an interview, while describing the issue complicated, Steve Banda said it was difficult to take up the job based on verbal agreement, adding they have been waiting for the station to come up with proper contracts but nothing has come up yet.
“After we did the interviews, I was communicated verbally that I have been offered the job. And that’s tricky because anything can happen; it is always difficult to base your trust on verbal agreements. I was hoping that maybe something will come up apart from the verbal communication but nothing has happened as far as the job offer is concerned,” said Banda.
Banda was offered a job as head of presenters while Kambwiri was expected to head the production department.
Kambwiri left Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) while Banda is retired broadcaster.
And our source within Galaxy suggested that apart from being put off by the verbal job offers, the two might have been discouraging by the Galaxy management’s failure to pay them for their contribution towards the setting up of the radio station.
“They have been attending meetings since last year when the radio was just established only to stop in January. They have not so far given reasons why they stopped attending meetings or why they are not taking up the job offers, though it might be suggested that the reason could be money because all this time we were not paid anything despite offered the contracts,” disclosed our source.
Meanwhile, following the failure by the two to take up the job offers, the management will be forced to appoint Kennedy Nkombezi to man the presenters section while Gerald Viola could head the production department, and thus, based on their broadcasting experience, said the source.
Galaxy currently on trial phase, is expected to go official on July one, making second radio station using satellite transmitting machines apart from MBC. It will also be first highest paying radio station followed by Zodiak and MBC.
And currently, the radio’s proprietor Duwa Mutharika has given the station a monthly target of K15 million, in order to sustain its wage bill.
Other renowned broadcasters the station has lopped in include Mbaghugho Chavula who is heading the news department and Patrick Khoza who is the Station Manager.
Founding head of the radio is former presidential press officer Chikumbutso Mtumodzi.
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