MP urges Malawi parliament to remove MBC funding: Public broadcaster is turned into regime propaganda platform

Lilongwe rural central MP Lobin Lowe has asked parliment not to approve the vote for state controlled Malawi Broacasting Corporation (MBC), saying the broadcaster works for the ruling than the nation.

MBC boss Sumbuleta and Controller of News, Current Affairs and Online Service at MBC Vincent Khonyongwa

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Lowe said MBC was more of a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) broadcaster than a public broadcaster run on tax payer money.

“I suggest we should remove subvention for MBC, the broadcaster is not helping Malawians,” said Lowe.

Said Lowe: “Despite passing a motion in the House, MBC has not changed as expected. MBC is still broadcasting hate messages and still being biased in its operations. If he is aware, what is the ministry going to put in place to contain the unfortunate situation as we go towards the general elections campaign.”

He said MBC being a public broadcaster and not a party entity, is supposed to serve all Malawians equally and be run by professionals and not politicians.

“What MBC is doing now despite calls for it to change I suggest that we don’t give money to its vote, last time I know that we gave it K1 so we can do the same this time,” said Lowe.

Lowe said the situation is getting out of hand as the nation gears for the election next year.

“MBC is supposed to be a public broadcaster not a party entity. It is supposed to serve all Malawians. It is supposed to employ professional journalists not politicians,” he said.

However, deputy speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje told the House that it is illegal not to fund a government entity, reminding the National Assembly that parliament gave MBC a mere funding of K1 for same reasons.

Minister of Information Nicholas Dausi was elusive on the matter, saying his ministry does not control MBC.

He said broadcasters are controlled by Macra whilst the Media Council of Malawi comes in on ethical reasons.

MBC has ‘Never again’ program which demonises the opposition Malawi Congress Party.

President Peter Mutharika, at a recent political rally in Chiradzulu, acknowledged the program and its producer and presenter Hope Chisanu.

Chisanu, presenter at MBC, has been lopped in by the DPP as the master of ceremony during presidential rallies.

He puts on DPP regalia, says DPP slogans and attacks the opposition despite the fact that he is a civil servant working for MBC.

During a meeting with officials from MBC on their 2018/19 budget outlook and a reflect on the 2017/18 budget,  members of Parliamentary Cluster on Communication and Trade expressed dismay over how the broadcasting house manages some of its programmes which they said are propaganda and a direct attack on some individuals in society.

In his response MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta while acknowledging that there were some problems with their programming, said they are working hard to improve the approach to their content.

The broadcaster has been provided K2.1 billion for the 2018/19 financial year.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
20 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
LEGO
5 years ago

Just close it completely or put it on sale so that it can become a private house.Up to this time we are still in back days of one party system who used to control everything.Can’t we learn from our colonial master Britain with their BBC,what about South Africa to name just a few.Why we Malawians china chili chonse ndife wosalira kumbuyo?

Central
Central
5 years ago

Mayi Chilenje is a fool and dull Your comments show that you were given that post not by merit but by chance!! Stupid woman indeed!! Are our taxes meant for what MBC is doing? Mayi mwationjeza a Malawi kwambiri…………….!! Zoona kukhalila kumbuyo kwa zitsiru zinzanuzo!! Mukati its illegal what do you mean!! Mukudziwa kuti kulankhula kodukaduka kwa chonchi ndi kumene kungapange anthu kuti apite konko okha akathane ndi anthu osamvao? Mai you are there to do what Malawians want and not what you as an individual or as a party want!! Your party made a lot of noise when PP… Read more »

Chaponda
5 years ago

This has to be done enough of mbc

Paradign Shift
Paradign Shift
5 years ago

Just give them another K1.00 so that their liabilities increase exponentially the next two years. Until they are unable to operate & no opposition should support their public bailout.

This media house is more of a political party branch & lets allow DPP take charge of its funding.

Malawians can do without it, if this is the way it continues to operate. These hate speeches are what have caused civil wars elsewhere in Africa

Citizen
Citizen
5 years ago

I don’t think the problem is with these young boys (Phillip Business, Hope Chisanu … etc). These are just Lads who are told of what to do and they will never say NO, coz ndi ntchito yopasidwa ndi abwana awo. They’re also afraid of loosing their Jobs. Ine I stopped blaming anyamata amenewa a long time ago. MBC will always be the ruling party’s entity unless Chakwera Changes things next year.

Martin
Martin
5 years ago
Reply to  Citizen

Exactly, i agree with you Citizen, we need leaders who are civilised who can understand that they are only presiding officers of our government and its entities.

Dipipi wa Yudiefu
Dipipi wa Yudiefu
5 years ago
Reply to  Citizen

Stupid thinking. JB made a lot of changes there.

liwale
liwale
5 years ago
Reply to  Citizen

Am not sure about what you are talking here, out of all employees of mbc; why hope chisanu and phillip bizinezi? They would even say dipipi slogans at the rallies forgetting they were civil servants.

Omex70
Omex70
5 years ago

Please our honourable members, make sure that you give this stupid MBC a mere K1 as what happenede in those days. Chisanu will case the day he was born after 2019 elections.

ade
ade
5 years ago

Hope Chisanu and his boss are all idiots and they know this.

Muntharika Junior
Muntharika Junior
5 years ago

Our eyes are not blind, we are not deaf,
we have an eye of an eagle……….
Relying on tax payers money…..and busy criticising the opposition. Mr Chisanu pray that DPP should remain in power, otherwise, udzalira koto koto.

Yahya Yahya Jammeh
5 years ago

Mcheka Chilenje is very stupid . What she is saying can easily be challenged in court. She must know that what is illegal is what MBC is doing by reporting DPP propaganda and the suggestion by the MCP MP needs the support of all opposition members including members of Chilima movement. Dausi shoud not think he is cleaver by making such silly statements in defence of MBC, he and DPP will need the same MBC after the May 2019 elections.

Chilungamo
Chilungamo
5 years ago

Right on the point. Opposition parties should STOP being CRY BABIES!. What MBC is doing is not only unethical, immoral but I guess illegal too.
Look, MBC videos of ‘Sapitamo kawiri’ are not only photoshopped clips but also total misrepresentation of facts. Imagine MBC displays pictures of slave trade captives in their neck chains of 1800s, innocent bereaved individuals at family funeral ceremonies, etc. How dare?
These thugs are inhuman, with no moral values at all! Sichi Malawi chimenechi? Kodi ndale zomwezi? Umatchona kodi?
SHAME on matchonas!!!

Dipipi wa Yudiefu
Dipipi wa Yudiefu
5 years ago

The way I have understood the lady, it is alright ie very legal if MBC is given K1.

Nkhutukumve
Nkhutukumve
5 years ago

To cut long story short….give them Mwk 1. Opposition led by Baba JZU Tembo managed to do so; may you borrow a leaf….instead of crying like a baby.

Read previous post:
UDF set for August 1 convention, require K75 million: ‘New beginning’

The United Democratic Front (UDF) says it requires MK75 million for its National Conference slated for 1st August 2018 in...

Close