On Broadcasting in Malawi

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.