MBC sends half of its staff on leave amid lockdown
State-controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has sent half of its members of staff on mandatory annual leave in order to decongest the offices following the coronavirus disease (Covid -19), Nyasa Times has established.
MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta, in his memo dated April 9, 2020, says the corporation is simply responding to the government circular letter CS/S/001 dated 1st April, 2020, on the COVID-19 preventive measures for public employment as read with MBC staff terms and conditions of services 2019 on working hours.
“Notice is hereby given that the rest of members of staff shall take their annual leave except those on maternity leave whose annual leave might commerce at the completion of such maternity leave,” says Sumbuleta in the memo.
He adds that those who already finished their leave days should seek guidance from administration.
Some of the affected employees have expressed dismay with the direction Sumbuleta has taken on the matter.
The employees say they did not plan for the leave.
“What we are saying is that we did not plan for this. Of course, leave is good, but one needs proper planning before going on leave,” said one of the employees in Blantyre.
Meanwhile, Sumbuleta has said MBC staff salaries will be paid this Friday earlier than month end to allow them purchase necessities in preparation of the 21-day lockdown.
Those on duty, MBC management will organise food rations for lunch during lockdown.
MBC has also suspending deductions from staff of their Emergency and General Purpose loans for three months – April to June 2020 – in order to releive them of any further financial burden.
The national broadcaster will also be providing institutional transport for all staff on duty during the lockdown.
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which lock down????? A Bakha bwanji???
Amalawi kukonda kuyikana mau mkawa, mukati nobody listen to MBC inuyo mumakhala mmanyumba mwathu kuona kuti tikumvera radio it? Inetu ndimamvera ma mbc onse.
Eti, zoti inu mmamvera ma MBC onse nthawi imodzi sakudziwa?
Ciliza ca MNC tinamanga kalekale cant remember even cikumbutso cake tinapanga liti paja. atseke ngati akufuna
.ife tidafuta
Nobody cares. Ngakhale atapita onse tilibe nazo ntchito.
We don’t listen to MBC anyway
You can as well close the station, we really don’t need you.
ayambe kupita mmakwawo ndi sumbuleta yemweyo, chisanu, maseya and bizinezi…
Even if you Sumbuleta and the whole MBC can go on leave. Who cares? Who listens to this stinking radio?
A good move, but make sure Sumbuleta you balance up your decision so that it is not seen as a way of punishing non-sympathizers of DPP. If you sent out those considered non-blue coloured staff and leave there blue coloured staff we will understand your motive.
Even if all of the them can go on leave…nobody can complain
nobody listens to them anyway
infact, just shut down the whole MBC, can anybody complain? – its Corona time
Bolani pamajiga muzipangabe madolo inu. Zinazo tiribe nazo attend.
Hahahaha.
True, no one cares about MBC.
Even if they shut MBC indefinitely, no one will miss MBC. It will be a good blessing and a breath of fresh air having not to listen to their usual garbage.
Ine will complain. Aside from the dpp rubbish, radio 2 is the best for me and many others. Timangikwiya cos it runs on our taxes, however the likes of times and zodiak also tow political lines.
Times and zbs balance their coverage but have you ever seen MBC balancing their news coverage. This radio is a waste of resources. I agree, let all staff go on leave and suspend broadcasting till Corona vanishes.