MACRA boss shuns questions on radios stations warning
Capital Radio and Radio Islam are reported to have been disturbed with the position taken by the Malawi Communications Reguratory Authority (Macra) for publicly warning them for alleged breach of licence conditions.
Sources from the both radio stations told Nyasa Times in separate interviews that the issues at hand was already sorted out during private meetings between regulatory officials and radio stations which was held at Macra offices.
The meetings resolved that for Capital FM it agreed to stop broadcasting live phone-in messages during its Day Break Malawiprogram as per Macra’s request.
As for Radio Islam it was resolved that the station should suspend airing the program in question Tipange Dawa, the move which the station had abide.
“We are in fact disturbed with the game Macra is trying to play here. Why issuing the warning after such a long time. We know there is someone who is pulling the strings”, said a concerned broadcaster at one o the stations.
Director General for MACRA, Charles Nsaliwa confirmed of the meetings with the broadcasters on the issue but was at pains to explain why they have gone public to warn the stations on the issues that were already sorted out during private meetings.
Nsaliwa also failed to respond as to why it does not warn Malawi Broadcasting Corporation radio for various complaints from people more especially opposition politicians and civil rights organisations.
“I cannot answer you those questions,” he said. “Call Kenston Masangano or Fergus Lipenga they are the ones who were discussing with the broadcasters during the meetings. They have more information to give you,” Nsaliwa said before he cut his line.
But an investigation by Nyasa Times has proven that Nsaliwa was the one who was chairing the meetings.
In paid full colour adverts published in the local press, Macra Director General Charles Nsaliwa said in the said programme a caller, whom it did not name, insulted Mutharika calling him obscene and indecent names for expelling former British ambassador to Malawi Fergus Cochrane Dyet.
However Nyasa Times failed to get official reaction from station managers from both Capital FM and Radio Islam.
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