MACRA warns Malawi community radio station

Malawi Communication and Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has warned community radio stations not to personalize the ownership of the community broadcasting to avoid losing its main meaning and the purpose which is serving the communities.

Speaking during the official opening of the Community Broadcasting Training on Monday in Liwonde, MACRA Director of Broadcasting, Fergus Lipenga, said they should take community broadcasting not as a money-making medium but rather a tool that empowers the community to develop.

“Broadcasters and members of staff should have a community sense of ownership and not to look at the financial or material benefits they can get of the broadcasting station,” he said.

It is through this way that we can forge ahead as one community and even extend the capacity of our community broadcasting stations, he added.

He however commended the role community broadcasters play in facilitating open dialogue and democratization among people which has resulted in promotion of development, social change and good governance because of people-centred programming that is often aired on community broadcasting stations.

Lipenga said the training is coming at a time when the number of broadcasters that is owned, operated and influenced by the community in southern region has increased quite tremendously, an indication that broadcasting industry in the region has a great potential and should be given support to grow even more.