MBC gets K1 billion after opposition motion to give Malawi public broadcaster K1 gets defeated
The taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has received K1.8 billion from the K84.7 billion allocation to subvented organisations in the 2018/19 National Budget after government defeated an opposition motion to reduce to K1 their funding for producing pro-government propaganda despite relying on funds from taxpayers holding divergent political views.
Dowa North East Member of Parliament, Sam Kawale, moved a motion which Members of Parliament (MP) Thursday resolved to vote that Parliament should allocate K1 to the public broadcasrer for promoting hate speech.
“I beg to move that the money to vote 275 be reduced by K1.8 billion and let ,BC be given K1 because instead of it serving the nation it has turned out to do a disservice by promoting hate seech,” said Kawale in moving the Motion.
He added: ““We have witnessed the failure of the institution to adhere to its core values and mission [despite] that [it] thrives on the taxpayers’ money. The majority of people who pay taxes on monthly basis are complaining of the unprofessionalism of what is supposed to be a public entity. They are complaining every day of hate language, bias in terms of reporting and programming. If these cannot be contained easily, [they can] lead to anarchy and instability in this country.”
In the vote, out of the 193 MPs, 115 were present and 77 absent. The votes had seen 74 MPs against the idea, 40 were for the idea while one abstained.
He added that they have observed that the media house has capacity to generate funds that can help it operate independently.
“MBC is much bigger than any other media institution in the country and, because of that, if private institutions are able to shrive year in, year out, there is no reason it cannot thrive in the same competitive environment,” he said.
The members of Parliament (MPs) faulted MBC for its programmes, some of which directly attack some political leaders, especially from the opposition, who are never given a chance to be heard.
However, the motion was defeated.
In February this year, MCP reported MBC to Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) seeking intervention on alleged biased reporting and programming.
However, Macra, in a letter signed by its director general Godfrey Itaye, dismissed the complaint, asking MCP to lodge its complaint with MBC.
MCP described the Macra response as strange as the institution is mandated to act on media houses that flout provisions of the Communications Act.
Civil society organisations have also accused the taxpayer-funded broadcaster of bias and lack of professionalism.
MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta committed to improve coverage perceived to be biased against opposition political parties.
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You know this media stands for Mathanyula BC! It never can change unless the entire Mathanyula is voted out.
My Tax has gone to MBC so that it can continue to be a partisan broadcaster. I would like to know how those boys at MBC feel to be used to undermine our democracy.? Do they go home and feel good about themselves? MBC was even much better during one party state that it is now. There were so many broadcasters who inspired the nation. Now there is no one. MBC is a disgrace. I would like to Ask CSO to march again against MBC, they should petition MEC to ask MBC to free the airwaves as we approach elections,
MBC IS NO LONGER RELEVANT IN OUR DEMOCRACY .THEIR PROGRAMMING IS POOR,FULL OF PROPAGANDA AND BIAS AND ONE WONDERS WHAT EDITORIAL POLICY IS USED AT MBC. CAREERS OF BRILLIANT YOUNG PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS ARE JUST BEING TARNISHED. THERE.GIVING MK1.8 BILLION TO THIS INSTITUTION IS A WASTE AND PAINFUL TO A TAX PAYER.
WHAT A WASTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO TEACHERS ARREARS. MBC PROGRAMMING IS RETROGRESSIVE NO LONGER RELEVANT IN OUR DEMOCRACY . BRILLIANT YOUNG JOURNALISTS ARE BEING WASTED AT MBC AND IT IS NO LONGER A MEDIA PLATFORM FOR RELIABLE INFORMATION BUT PROPAGANDA .THEIR PROGRAMMING,PRESENTATION,PICTURE ON TV IS VERY POOR. MBC IS JUST A WHITE ELEPHANT AND NEEDS OVERHAUL AND RESTRUCTURING . NOBODY KNOWS WHY THE TAX PAYER SHOULD PAY MBC MK1.8 BILLION INSTEAD OF OTHER CRITICAL AREAS.
Bravo Government MP’s for defeating the nonsense pursued against MBC by the cruel Malawi Congress Party in a motion moved by the dull and confused Sam. Since I was born, I have never seen a dull and confused chair of a committee like the one Samuyele Kawale. the role of a a chair is to promote the interest of the activities of the said committee. Congratulations MBC for being broadcaster number one in Malawi. they wanted to suffocate your operations, instead they have been vindicated for being a party of death and darkness, a party of hate and autocracy. MBC… Read more »
It would have been good and proper if MBC was given K1. Unfortunately some MP decided to side with MBC. Shame on you MPs who are promoting hate speech and unprofessinalism at MBC. A day will come when the same stupid MBC will be on you when you become an opposition block after 2019 Elections.
So these stupid MP’s they have done it again as usual,then can not defend and represent the people’s views and it’s almost the majority of the people who are crying about the total madness and biasness of the MBC.We are all watching what you are doing you stupid MP’s.