Misa-Malawi urges Mutharika to reverse MBC boss’s re-deployment

The Malawi chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) on Tuesday called on President Peter Mutharika to reverse his decision on the redeployment of Dr. Benson Tembo from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).

Tembo was a Director General at MBC and has since been redeployed to MACRA as an Advisor on Digital Migration.

MISA-Malawi Chairperson Thom Khanje said in the commercial city of Blantyre on Tuesday that his organization is disappointed with the decision and find the removal as retrogressive and a sign of continued political interference by the government in the operations of MBC.

“This is contrary to the promise by President in both his inaugural and first State of the Nation Address to Parliament in June and July 2014 that MBC will work independently,” he said.

He added that the President should always make sure that he lives by his words and desist from making decisions that are contrary to his promises.

“ Let the MBC board independently assess his performance for possible re-engagement when his contract expires in April this year,” he suggested.

MISA-Malawi re-affirms its standing position on the need for MBC to be freed from political interference by reviewing the Communications Act to turn the corporation into a public service broadcaster which serves the needs of all Malawians regardless of their political affiliation, he said.

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