Macra fines Zodiak K930,000 over Kamlepo interview: Kazako says unfair verdict
Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) has said the decision by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to fine it $1 250 (about K930,000) over remarks Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament vice-chairperson Kamlepo Kalua made during an interview with the radio, is unfair.
Macra director-general Godfrey Itaye summoned management of the radio station to a meeting on August 24 2016 in Blantyre after the interview.
In the interview that ZBS aired, Kalua, who is also third vice-president of opposition People’s Party (PP), made allegations that the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wants to start shedding blood, purportedly, of people deemed to be attacking or opposing government.
Kalua alleged in the interview that the DPP regime killed student Robert Chasowa, United Democratic Front (UDF) regime killed musician Evison Matafale and Fanikiso Phiri, another student and that DPP wants to shed blood again.
Chasowa, a University of Malawi The Polytechnic third year engineering student and political activist, was found dead at the college campus in September 2011, Matafale died in November 2001 under police custody after he had written a letter attacking the Bakili Muluzi regime, while Phiri was fatally shot by police following students’ riots at Chancellor College in December 2001.
Investigations were established for all the three deaths, but no logical conclusion has been reached yet.
The regulator faulted Zodiac for being in contravention with the Communications Act.
But the radio’s managing director Gospel Kazako maintained that his media house conducted themselves in an ethical and professional manner and balanced with the accused parties to have their say on the accusations.
Kazako said Macra’s has released the verdict “without making all the evidence, including what we submitted to them, known to the public.”
The regulatory body has not summonned tax-payer funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)which has broadcast interviews from ruling DPP officials dressing down opposition politicians without hearing the latter’s side.
If MACRA does”nt have money to run the organisation should go and do piece work in people’s gardens.Let ZBS do its job freely.Zasowa ndalama zoti mube? kkkkk
I wish we had an MP AS FEARESS AS KAMLEPO IN RUMPHI NORTH
Gospel Kazako, images beamed on your Zodiac TV station are of poor quality (ie they are blurred) and the sound is almost inaudible.This is why some of us prefer watching MBC TV to Zodiac because the former beams quality pictures and the sound is clear and distinct.
I urge you to pump in more resources into your TV in order to improve the services offered to the viewers. Musamangokomedwa ndi ndalamazo!
koma eh
Choncho, ndim’mene zimakhalira nanga titani.
NEXT TO BE FINED SHOULD BE TIMES TV/RADIO. I DO VIVIDLY REMEMBER THIS GUY BB CENSORING COMMENTS OR EVEN CUTTING LINES OFF OF CALLERS WHO STRAYED OFF THE MARK WHEN HE WAS AT CAPITAL RADIO ETC AND GUYS AT GALAXY DOING THE SAME. BUT SINCE HE IS WORKING FOR A PRO MCP MEDIA HOUSE JUST LIKE GOSPEL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO. THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME AND BE APPOINTED AS PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSONS OR STATE HOUSE PRESS OFFICERS IN THE EVENT THAT THE MCP COALITION WILL WIN THE ELCTIONS BECAUSE MCP ON ITS OWN WILL NEVER WIN ELECTIONS UNDER DR. LAZAROUS CHAKWERA COME RAIN OR SUN SHINE UNLESS HE CHANGES HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE. THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE JOHN MAC CAINS OF MALAWI IN MCP
Koma zilipo kumalawi
Where’s freedom of speech? Now Zodiak is paying a price for airing balanced interview!I was watching pathetic MBC news @ 8 & some program called Chindunji the other day. It’s not a surprise to see so called Apostles, pastors smearing at the opposition leader Dr Lazarus Chakwera, taking his profound statement out of context with cheap propaganda. The role of bond servants of Christ is to side with Gods agenda not mans. Hon Chakwera’s is a voice of the down trodden who are gasping for air of freedom in the midst of social economic turmoil. Philip business is a passive reporter lacking content & ethics who has a lot to learn from other political commentators gone before him. However his passion is admirable needing sound mentorship away from Dpp villains parading evil on a good day.
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. – Proverbs 29:2
That’s a wake-up call for Zodiak. Zodiak, much as you are doing a good job by informing us issues other radios/media houses fail to air, I think you are failing in censoring some of the issues you present. It seems you are naive in balancing issues bordering on cultural heritage with that of media influenced by western propaganda. It seems you have thrown to wind respect for elders as our culture demands. The way you covered Mutharika’s illness, bingu’s death, etc leaves a lot to be desired
What about how MBCtv and Radios are doing their broadcasting? Can you advise them as well? Could you please advise MACRA to be professional not oppressors?
The last sentence is ridiculous and irresponsible.
The MBC broadcasts referred to have nothing to do with the matter at hand. Moreover, the so-called “dressing downs” are NOT proportional to accusing someone, or a Party, of murder, as irresponsible Kalua did. And his accusations had the potential of breaching the peace.
If Kalua thinks he has privilege of immunity even outside Parliament; he has something coming. He will be sued variously as soon as he is no longer MP. Which will be in 2019, if his constituents want to be represented by a serious and respectable MP. Not a bragger.
And, media houses: take note. Malawi is not free range territory; and you have a responsibility to respect society; us citizens. All of us, regardless of status. Mwatikwana (we are fed up, already.)
stupuid comment…….it seems u r a Lhomwe with ur stinking govt…..did u vote for Kamlepo? Are u from Rumphi east? You think Kamlepo will lose….i dare you. Kamlepo is the true voice in Malawi, a voice of the north. If u want rumphi east to have a yes bwana MP mukhaula agalu inu……..we love kamlep and we love zodiak too
yOU ARE STUPID, ARE YOU FROM RUMPHI EAST? MBUZI YA MUNTHU IWE….WE VOTED FOR KAMLEPO NOT YOU AND WE WILL VOTE HIM AGAIN OLO A DPP MUTAZAYIMITSA KA NGWAZI KANUKO WE WILL STILL VOTE KAMLEPO IN RUMPHI EAST….ZINAZO MUZIPANGA KU ULHOMWE KWANU KONKO……….NSETE ETI……..MXIIIEEW.
It shows you are among those who are trying to muzzle everyone in this country for your greed
The work of Itaye and Mangulenje, DPP boot lickers.
The problem which we have is that MACRA is full of DPP die-hards. Both the Director General Geofrey Itaye and Board chair are DPP boot-lickers who are remote controlled by DPP leaders. They were not appointed based on merit but based on political patronage.
The propaganda radio MBC has never been invited by this stupid MACRA for their biased coverage of news. Why? Everyday MBC is their to twist the truth and MACRA pretends as if they live Mars and they don’t hear what MBC airs.Time is coming when DPP will be out of government and you boot lickers Itaye and Mathanga, will regret a lot.
If I were Gospel Kazako, I would have protested this verdict, mbc is doing nasty and have they ever been summoned? you morons makira
Zodiac! Keep watching what MBC will be airing and see what MACRA will do. MBC is Used by DPP, so just watch, it is not long that they will find themselves at crossroads
I cannot feel sorry for you Zodiak……boma iri munaika nokhanokha..lero ndi izo!
I AGREE WITH YOU MY BROTHER. ZODIAC WAS THERE AT THE TALLY CENTRES WHEN THE POLLING CENTRE MANAGERS UNDER DPP INSTRUCTION WERE MODIFYING AND FALSIFYING VOTE RESULTS.
Zodiak don’t pay that fine. MCRA officials should to helooooooooooooooo. Ife it is appeasement policy then mwagwanaya.
Ameneyi ndiye Itaye watenga macra kukhala farm ya ambwiyake ndi mbuzi iyi Mervis Mangulenje chairman without wisdom.
Mukamapanga ma interview anthu amilandu muzingolipirabe
This is a tragedy. Were the views expressed by Kamlepo the views of the broadcaster? This MACRA thing is unshamelessly bias and working for DPP.
Zodiak, please remind them that they didn’t win the elections. You helped them rig the elections and they managed to bribe the judicially. No apologies.
The MBC has provided their airtime to DPP zealots to castigate opposition on our tax without remorse.
It’s only a matter of time.
You can’t fool all the people all the time.