Post-election complaints committee established in Malawi: Moffat Banda appointed chairperson
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in conjunction with Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has established an Election Broadcasting, Monitoring and Complaints Committee which aims at handling all electoral related complaints against the country’s licensed broadcasters ahead of May 21 elections.
The Committee has been set up in accordance with section 27 of the Communications Act-2016 and under the terms and condition of licenses issued to the broadcasters, according to a statement released on Thursday.
“The Committee will be chaired by the Chairperson of Media, Civic and Voter Education Committee of the MEC while the Director General of MACRA will be the secretary,” reads a statement signed by the interim Chairperson Dr. Mastern Moffat Banda.
The statement indicates that the committee comprises of six organisations namely, Malawi Electoral Commission, Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority, Malawi Law Society, MISA Malawi, Centre for Multiparty Democracy and Media Council of Malawi.
The electoral stakeholders are encouraged to lodge their complaints against irresponsible conduct of some broadcasters.
All the people submitting complaints will be required to provide personal details and as well as remains confidential if he or she chooses to.
Among other things, the complainant need to mention name station where material in question was broadcast and the time, explain the actual offending substance that was broadcast and demonstrate how it offends them.
“The Committee will make its determination on the complaint which will be communicated back to the Complainant. All complaints should be lodged in writing and those who are not able to write should seek assistance to submit a written complaint,” it reads.
Finally, the Committee assures the nations that all complaints submitted will be dealt with in the highest standards of impartiality and objectiveness whilst safeguarding the voters’ interest.
Ofunika kumnthinula mdala ameneyu hes very corrupt and ndianthu amene akulepheretsa Malawi kutukuka.
How will Moffat Banda hear complaints which he, himself, has caused? This man is DPP throughout. You MEC & MACRA Leaders think Malawians are so daft they can’t see election rigging in the making?
This is uttery nosense. Every one knows Moffat as a DPP diehard. Do not expect anyone to have confidence in this committee. The committee is stale, foolish planners.
On why Moffat Banda: 1) commissioner at MEC 2) Mzwanya 3) PHD holder 4) long serving member of one of the most popular and public media houses in Malawi among MEC commissioners 5) Has a Stable and analytical mind. Etc
Why Malawians are we toralating this business of choosing MEC Members by the President alone, b4 parties were choosing & the President only assented? We are indeed getting a raw deal coz this Moffat Banda & the entire electoral team are pro DPP.
Paja mdala ameneyu ndiwa DPP and he has Doctorate degree ya unknown university??ma nyusensi basi he has dpp interests at heart.shud just go back to do Za M’banja.a Mofat Banda.very corrupt too.he pushes for allowances wthout attending meetings
I don’t appreciate the motive behind this move because I feel the section under discussion is misunderstood!! To me this is merely intended to promote both confusion and rigging of the elections. Why do I say that, its because Section 27.- (1) of the Communications Act [2016] says and I quote: The Authority [MACRA] may establish consultative or advisory fora in the communications sector to assist the Authority with the discharge of its functions under this Act.
What MEC and MACRA have done to me is a deliberate act to confuse the process because, the Act is not telling MACRA to establish ” A Post Elections Complaints Committee” but a “Consultative or Advisory Committee.”
Malawian Lawyers, is ti right to say that “A Post Election Complaints Committee” have same functions of “A Consultative or Advisory Committee?” Why have you limited the complaints to “POST ELECTIONS?”
To me the Law is authorizing MACRA to make some consultative fora and these are not limited to after elections. Through such fora, which MUST be continous MACRA is supposed to coordinate soliciting of feedback from stakeholders as regards how media houses are operating and or provide advice to the media houses on how they should operating not to wait till the end of the exercise.
Secondly and as others have said, the presence of both Itaye and M. Banda in the committee makes every would-be decision on the would be complaints to be compromised and this is becoz of their “conducts” and or “relationship” with DPP. Let us not confuse straight forward issues pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Kodi mukuopa chani?
I thought its only me with reservations on this appointment as i have known him to be a DPP diehard of all time or may be he has changed now but i dont think so.
why choosing moffat banda the guy is partisan . wa DPP mdala ameneyu. choose a neutral person NOT this MOFFAT BANDA. mukufuna kubera kapena kuti chiyani. TATOPA NANU A DPP . We dont want you. FULL STOP!!!!!!!
Join the discussion…I hate this guy. He z typical DPP
Malawian why do you trust the DPP led government? They always have to put one of their guys in each and every commetee or government gotherings, i prefer Chakwera basi
Just to ask what is it that justifies the appointment of Banda as the chairperson? I am not sure how non partisan he is judging from his speeches
Are not the same partisan people more especially MACRA officials who foiled the mcp’s complaint against the mbc?
stupid what do you expect from moffat banda and itaye of macra za ziii kapena committee yapangidwa kuti izabere bwino zisankho zopusa basi amene sakuziwa za moffati banda ndi itaye ndani, ndipo ziathu ziwirizi zatikwana ku malawi kaya Yehova awachosa liti mziko muno kuti akaziwe chilungamo chenicheni kwa Yehova pamozi ndi nkhalamba yawo ili ku state house mufa liti kodi mwatikwana shithole