MBC grappling with huge debts, tax arrears: Begs Malawi Parliament for additional funds
State controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) says a K108m unremitted taxes and other debt is choking its operations and has begged legislators for an additional K1 billion for coverage of the 2019 Tripartite Election.
MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta said this when he appeared before the parliamentary media cluster committee.
He was however elusive on accusations of the radio and television’s strong bias towards the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Sumbuleta said the K108 million tax arrears has been accumulated in the past year after government cleared it of an initial K7 billion.
He said the accumulation of the new set of tax arrears is as a result of low funding.
“Initially we were given a monthly funding of K149m this was reduced to K129m a month which was further reduced to K70m a month,” he said.
He told the committee that this erratic monthly funding forced MBC not to release all tax collected to MRA.
In addition, he said MBC owes MASM K11 million.
He said the state broadcaster asked for K3.9 billion in this year’s budget but only got K1.8bn.
In addition, Sumbuleta said MBC will need K1 billion for coverage of elections.
Sumbuleta trashed concerns of MBC bias towards the ruling party.
Said Sumbuleta: “What people should know is that the problem has been rectified and, we now have a misconception that has made the public not to accept us to the extent of even refusing to give us an interview. [For instance] the MCP president [Lazarus Chakwera] doesn’t want to give us an interview for fear that we can twist the facts.”
He said the core function of MBC, just like any media organisation is to inform, educate and entertain.
Media Committee vice-chairperson Godfrey Mukhondiya, who chaired the cluster, said parliament would do all it can to bail out MBC out of its debt.
He said: “I am hopeful they will gradually change.”
During the first term (from 2004 to 2009) of president Bingu wa Mutharika, the then opposition-dominated National Assembly denied MBC funding, allocating it a nominal K1 over its perceived bias.
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Let them get the funding from Ngongoliwa, Kyungu, Lundu and others.
JUST GIVE THEM MWK1.
THEY DONT DESERVE MY TAX THESE GUYS. MUSAWAMVERE ANYANI AMENEWA.
Let me warn those MPs approving the violence perpetuating media house to be given the requested money.Once they get funding they will fly over and even plant spying cameras in leaders will kill us all.Media house promotes hate and insults opposition and entire malawians who feeds it with tax money only to be insulted.They only deserve MK0.50t.Anthu oipa achina Sumbuleta
PHILLIP BUSINESS GO AND ASK SAUL RASHID ITS JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW. UZAYENDA MBULANDA AFTER YOUR BOSSES DUMP YOU IN 2019
DONT GIVE MBC ANY MONEY AND THEY GET FUNDING MY TAPAYERS WILL BE STOPPED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AND LET MRA KNOW IT.
they do not serve Malawians let them ask money from their masters. Please do not give them anything it would be a waste of our taxes.
Yachimwa Sumbuleya wakwera ya Chilima iiiiiii
Close close close it please.After all we are ok with TIMES AND ZODIAK Tv.
Even this guy called Sumbuleta, wasnt he ashamed when he was asking for additional funding. Ok fine, fund them with K1.
MBC must infact be closed indefinitely. The Phillip Business behaves. Please parliamenterians DO NOT give these bastards any funding anymore
Musalore Kupereka ndrama ku MBC yonena zopusa
It is unfortunate to refer MBC as ‘state-controlled’. It is ‘state-owned and state-funded’ but ‘DPP-controlled’
True! It’s DPP controlled.
This organisation is irrelevant and biased. It does not deserve any of our tax money. Please close it.
How does its head count compare to Zodiak?
They are crying now after being used by politicians. I am of the view that the staff be considered for salaries and Pa Majiga Program. Theatre of the air is equally good, Your Choice etc. However, the rest ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????including sapita kawiri
They want the money to insult the opposition. Let them get money from Phillip Business. He is Business.
If you only give MBC money you MPs, We will not vote for you sure! They dont deserve our taxes
Yes. MBC does not deserve funding from tax payers’ money. This stupid institution is irrelevant in democratic despensation.
Why the MBC is asking money from the Parliament?Why can’t they just go ask those who are sponsoring them ”SAPITA KAWIRI?”MBC is every old corporation by this time their were suppose to generate money on their own but because its like a party thing thus why they are facing these problems.Look at ZODIAK,how do they make money,by allowing and televising every news regardless of which party,where,who etc.Change your altitude and we are in a multiparty system.Its not all those who are paying taxes are from DPP,we are sick and tired of your selective and your bias on reporting.
the debts they are talking about are for the DPP ADVERTISEMENT
Let MBC just close. The majority of Malawians don’t need it. I have asked my MP not to fund the political corpoaration, If he will ignore our call we will not vote him next year. Let the chiefs contribute to its funding they have increased allowances
We love all employees of MBC, yes we do. We know they have families and dependants. We would not be happy seeing these people suffering.
Could you please change the system, the way our MBC is managed.
Usalile sumbuleta, just change the way you do things.
Never call it state controlled, this is DPP controlled MBC and let DPP bail it out from its debts. It does not serve Malawians and does not deserve our taxes. We can do without this useless broadcaster. Let it fall, period.
MBC asking for more money from our tax? Please MPs dont give this biased institution any more money…..they are a mouthpiece for DPP. Let MBC get funding from DPP!!