this article appeared in the Sunday Times of 2 September 2007
MBC does not deserve any money from government
by Hastings Maloya
Former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi never stops to amaze me. In most cases, his political statements, leaves a lot to be desired. Especially when he instructs his members of parliament as if they were kindergarten children. But maybe thus how politics is supposed to be. The whole team of parliamentarians, who are supposed to be representatives of the people, being told what to do by their leader and they choose to listen without asking questions.
Dr. Muluzi might have advised his MPs on different issues but his recent public advice that the legislators should vote against financial allocation to the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi, was the worst ever to come from the former leader.
It was disappointing because the legislators are asked to deny MBC and TVM their allocation, not for the benefit of the people of Malawi but for his political will. This is regardless of legislation guiding the operations of the two media houses in Malawi.
Much as I hated Muluzi’s assertion, I believe it is high time Malawians pondered and debated on whether MBC and TVM should continue receiving government funding. This question, whatever the case should not be answered by politicians but by Malawians themselves. Malawians, regardless of their political affiliations must say, after all its their money at play here.
Certainly different thoughts and ideas would come in as to whether these two national broadcasters deserve public funding. I would like to say that MBC, maybe just like TVM, do not deserve any funding from government but this should not be said with any political connotations.
From time in memorial Malawi has had only one radio and it has been the only source of electronic information. It was not debatable in such a situation as to whether the government needed to fund it or not. It was obvious that the nation, needed to be communicated to through such a media. Its moto, therefore made a lot of sense, as informing, educating and entertaining. Malawians have gone through a period where radio was the only source of reliable information and most campaign were best delivered through the radio.
But it is said that things do change over time. True to it, things are changing and now Malawi has over eighteen radio stations broadcasting through out the country. Malawi has a television station, she has mobile telephones, has internet, and Malawi now has a regulatory body called the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). Yes twelve years ago, this was not the case. Indeed things do change over time.
Now the people of Malawi are free to chose which radio station to tune to. Malawians can make a judgement as to which radio station breaks the news and which one has most entertaining and quality programming. We are free to listen to what we like and switch off what makes no sense. Even advertisers have the freedom to fly their adverts on radios of their choice depending on what audience they are interested in.
But why should things remain the same in as far as funding is concerned for MBC? Have we made an assessment that MBC remains the best source of public information in Malawi? Why should it be favoured?
In leveling the playing field, if the government has financial resources thus meant to promote broadcasting media in Malawi, then it needs to fund each radio station – equally and give its people a wider choice of which station to listen to. Funding MBC is tantamount to killing the other radio stations and all of them scramble for the same market in as far as advertising is concerned.
MBC has lost its representation as a national broadcaster if one was to critically go with the type of its programming. Arguably the opposition should be allowed to advance its views, and defend itself against attacks. That is NOT happening now! New programmes that are cropping up at MBC are far from national building and development. The local content that we used to enjoy in the past years is no longer there.
The question still remain, why should Malawians contribute to MBC when the radio is not open to the listeners’ choices. In a free society that we are Malawian citizens should be free today to criticise their government, and offer thoughts. This is not happening on MBC.
Malawi enjoys freedom of expression and opinion, and this can be strengthened by a fairly leveled playing field for radio broadcasting. MBC, as it is now with the changed landscape that we are in, does not deserve any public funding. Let it receive if the laws say so and we should work tirelessly to re-look at those laws and see whether they are making sense for the time that we live in.
MBC has a vibrant business department with quite a lot of resources both technical and human. They are almost everywhere in Malawi with strong transmitters. It’s just a matter of putting in lovely productions and a team of vibrant marketing professionals and do away will all issues of corruption. Surely MBC does not need any funding from anyone. The only funding they may need should come from donor and non-governmental organisations through project proposals.
The private radio broadcasting in Malawi faces a lot of challenges from licensing to taxes and purchase of equipment. Nevertheless, the radios are a great source of information and we have seen them surviving the heat of the day. It is not time they were considered for funding too? Will Malawians cry if that happened?
Our politicians should not be talking noise for personal gains, it would help to go into parliament, look at the legislation, revisit it and alter where necessary, of course with the blessing of all Malawians. This should be done regardless on one’s political affiliations and beliefs.
It is overdue. MBC does not deserve government funding. My proposal is that MBC should receive its allocation for the time being but the legislations should be looked into now. This must stop. Lets not make our public broadcaster lazy. Things have changed, lets accept the change by changing the way we think.
At the end of the day the main beneficiary are the Malawians themselves.
Unveiling the Beauty - Mt Mulanje
this article appeared in the Nation Newspeper on Thursday 16th August, 2007
MOUNT MULANJE
By Hastings Maloya
Historically it is recorded that Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was once home to the first Malawian settlers. Recorded history indicates that the inhabitants in the mountains were dwarf people locally known as Amwandionerapati or Abathwa. It is said that they were a people with diminutive height who lived on hunting. The name Abathwa purely meant short people. However, it is said that the said people never liked being called or referred to as being short.
Fifty-eight year old Sankhulani Musopa who lives close to the mountain says there had been people that had an opportunity to see the early settlers in the reserve. He says each time one met them, they would, in quite a war-like manner, ask; “from where did you see us?” To that question, they expected the respondent to say that he/she had seem them from very far. They could then feel very proud. They were not too short to be noticed from far, anyway! They were speaking chinyanja and their question was coming like “mwandionera pati? Hence they were called Amwandionerapati.
Musopa says there had also been cases that they could provide well-cooked food, fruits and some presents if you were lucky to meet them.
“You could find well prepared food on your way, all you needed to do was eat and make no noise about it,” says Musopa but fails to link the preparation of such food and other stories about spirits in the mountain. Very little is known as to how these early settlers disappeared from the mountain’s forest reserve. Or are they still there?
Ever since the stories of the early settlers lessened, Mulanje Mountain has, over the years, mostly and moderately just known as the largest mountain in Central Africa. Of course its beauty has been written in different periodicals and recorded in different media. And tourists from all over the world have been to Mulanje Mountain. But until September 2003, it was known otherwise, it became a mountain in which people can go missing and never be found.
Yes the story of Linda Pronk was a turn of stories associated with Mulanje Mountain. Linda, a 22-year-old Dutch citizen, who one fateful Saturday in 2003, tried to set off, alone, to climb Sapitwa peak, and she has not been seen since. Sophisticated search methods were applied, traditional healers and medicine people came with different skills and approaches, preachers and leaders of different religions and beliefs also participated in the search. All efforts were done to search for Linda, hopes were raised but still it is four years now and no success registered.
As for the local people living around the mountain, ancestral spirits played a role in the missing of Linda. They say there are spirits in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve and can react in case they are not happy with a particular situation. One does not need to be forced to believe that neither is one expected to dispute such beliefs.
“My advice is that we should visit the mountain with respect. This is a treasurer for the people of Mulanje and Phalombe. It must be respected,” says a chief from Phalombe without elaborating. To date, there is nothing conclusive as to what exactly happened. Someone is yet to come up with a possible assumption.
Musopa says, “Sometimes you can not tell about this mountain. Some things that happen here, you just can not understand them, maybe thus what makes this mountain important and unique.”
All in all, this tragic incident on the mountain should serve to remind us all to strongly adhere to the well-established safety principles that guide mountain climbing. No-one can really tell what exactly happened to Linda. However, notwithstanding this unfortunate event, Mount Mulanje remains one unique resource for Malawi as it continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
Situated about 80 km from the commercial city Blantyre, past the green beautiful tea field of the Thyolo Highlands, the attractive Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak, standing over 3000m above sea level, is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive and unique massif in the southern and central African region. With its evergreen forests, woodlands and montane grasslands, the mountain has attracted increasing attention to many tourists.
And now with the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, the distance between Blantyre and Mulanje has been reduced by thirty kilometers which makes it easier for a day visit and fun for rock climbers.
Mulanje Mountain is much more than a barren rock. Covering an area of 640,000 hectares within Mulanje and Phalombe districts, the mountain has a Forest Reserve thus made up of a range of ecological habitats from rain forest to alpine, woodland to grassland. There is a great diversity of plant and animal life and many of species are endemic. The most famous endemic is the magnificent and endangered Mulanje cedar, Malawi’s National Tree, which dominates the high altitude forests.
Apart from the famous Sapitwa Peak, there are a lot of striking sites on this massif that has a grouping of lovely hills. Some appealing sites on top of the mountains include the splendid Chambe basin and the superlative Lichenya and wonderful Sombani Plateau. How about the outstanding Ruo Gorge and exquisite water falls? The weather on the top, with the breeze from the natural woodlands, makes the mountain an alternative place worth spending time at.
Up the Likhubula river, is the historical and wonderful Dziwe la Nkhalamba falls with extremely cold waters and a lovely place for picnics. It has one of the breathtaking waterfalls that would entice you to spend a day watching it. How about enjoying a swim! A walk into the mountain and its reserve, makes one appreciate the wonders of nature.
A group of students from England that visited the mountain recently saw the need to leave a comment about the mountain. After what they called 'a three hour task of climbing the hills up to Chambe peak,' the students wrote in a visitor's book: "What seemed to be a never ending uphill trudge soon led us over the hill to our first view of the beautiful Chambe peak." Three days of their stay in a suitable mountain hut was too little for what they were to see on the mountain. They left with emotive words describing what they saw; "Absolutely gorgeous place that will be described to all of England when we get home. Loved it!"
Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was gazzeted as a protected area by the then Nyasaland government in 1927 and to date it is Malawi’s oldest forest reserve.
MOUNT MULANJE
By Hastings Maloya
Historically it is recorded that Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was once home to the first Malawian settlers. Recorded history indicates that the inhabitants in the mountains were dwarf people locally known as Amwandionerapati or Abathwa. It is said that they were a people with diminutive height who lived on hunting. The name Abathwa purely meant short people. However, it is said that the said people never liked being called or referred to as being short.
Fifty-eight year old Sankhulani Musopa who lives close to the mountain says there had been people that had an opportunity to see the early settlers in the reserve. He says each time one met them, they would, in quite a war-like manner, ask; “from where did you see us?” To that question, they expected the respondent to say that he/she had seem them from very far. They could then feel very proud. They were not too short to be noticed from far, anyway! They were speaking chinyanja and their question was coming like “mwandionera pati? Hence they were called Amwandionerapati.
Musopa says there had also been cases that they could provide well-cooked food, fruits and some presents if you were lucky to meet them.
“You could find well prepared food on your way, all you needed to do was eat and make no noise about it,” says Musopa but fails to link the preparation of such food and other stories about spirits in the mountain. Very little is known as to how these early settlers disappeared from the mountain’s forest reserve. Or are they still there?
Ever since the stories of the early settlers lessened, Mulanje Mountain has, over the years, mostly and moderately just known as the largest mountain in Central Africa. Of course its beauty has been written in different periodicals and recorded in different media. And tourists from all over the world have been to Mulanje Mountain. But until September 2003, it was known otherwise, it became a mountain in which people can go missing and never be found.
Yes the story of Linda Pronk was a turn of stories associated with Mulanje Mountain. Linda, a 22-year-old Dutch citizen, who one fateful Saturday in 2003, tried to set off, alone, to climb Sapitwa peak, and she has not been seen since. Sophisticated search methods were applied, traditional healers and medicine people came with different skills and approaches, preachers and leaders of different religions and beliefs also participated in the search. All efforts were done to search for Linda, hopes were raised but still it is four years now and no success registered.
As for the local people living around the mountain, ancestral spirits played a role in the missing of Linda. They say there are spirits in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve and can react in case they are not happy with a particular situation. One does not need to be forced to believe that neither is one expected to dispute such beliefs.
“My advice is that we should visit the mountain with respect. This is a treasurer for the people of Mulanje and Phalombe. It must be respected,” says a chief from Phalombe without elaborating. To date, there is nothing conclusive as to what exactly happened. Someone is yet to come up with a possible assumption.
Musopa says, “Sometimes you can not tell about this mountain. Some things that happen here, you just can not understand them, maybe thus what makes this mountain important and unique.”
All in all, this tragic incident on the mountain should serve to remind us all to strongly adhere to the well-established safety principles that guide mountain climbing. No-one can really tell what exactly happened to Linda. However, notwithstanding this unfortunate event, Mount Mulanje remains one unique resource for Malawi as it continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
Situated about 80 km from the commercial city Blantyre, past the green beautiful tea field of the Thyolo Highlands, the attractive Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak, standing over 3000m above sea level, is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive and unique massif in the southern and central African region. With its evergreen forests, woodlands and montane grasslands, the mountain has attracted increasing attention to many tourists.
And now with the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, the distance between Blantyre and Mulanje has been reduced by thirty kilometers which makes it easier for a day visit and fun for rock climbers.
Mulanje Mountain is much more than a barren rock. Covering an area of 640,000 hectares within Mulanje and Phalombe districts, the mountain has a Forest Reserve thus made up of a range of ecological habitats from rain forest to alpine, woodland to grassland. There is a great diversity of plant and animal life and many of species are endemic. The most famous endemic is the magnificent and endangered Mulanje cedar, Malawi’s National Tree, which dominates the high altitude forests.
Apart from the famous Sapitwa Peak, there are a lot of striking sites on this massif that has a grouping of lovely hills. Some appealing sites on top of the mountains include the splendid Chambe basin and the superlative Lichenya and wonderful Sombani Plateau. How about the outstanding Ruo Gorge and exquisite water falls? The weather on the top, with the breeze from the natural woodlands, makes the mountain an alternative place worth spending time at.
Up the Likhubula river, is the historical and wonderful Dziwe la Nkhalamba falls with extremely cold waters and a lovely place for picnics. It has one of the breathtaking waterfalls that would entice you to spend a day watching it. How about enjoying a swim! A walk into the mountain and its reserve, makes one appreciate the wonders of nature.
A group of students from England that visited the mountain recently saw the need to leave a comment about the mountain. After what they called 'a three hour task of climbing the hills up to Chambe peak,' the students wrote in a visitor's book: "What seemed to be a never ending uphill trudge soon led us over the hill to our first view of the beautiful Chambe peak." Three days of their stay in a suitable mountain hut was too little for what they were to see on the mountain. They left with emotive words describing what they saw; "Absolutely gorgeous place that will be described to all of England when we get home. Loved it!"
Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve was gazzeted as a protected area by the then Nyasaland government in 1927 and to date it is Malawi’s oldest forest reserve.
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