Malawi: MISA on governement directive stoping private media to broadcast VIP functions

The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is appealing to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to review its decision that prevents private radio and television stations from covering Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) functions live.

 

According to a letter from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education published on 17 June 2010, all live coverage for VVIP functions will only be done by the state-controlled Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) Radio 1 and 2 and Television Malawi (TVM).

 

According to the Ministry, some departments and organizations are using audio services from private companies or individuals to cover VVIP functions, a development which is compromising quality and standards in as far as coverage of VVIP functions is concerned.

 

Much as we agree with the Ministry that broadcasters should strive for quality, we feel the right procedure would have been for the ministry to ask private broadcasters to improve the quality of their productions, including live coverage of VVIP events.

 

MISA Malawi has serious reservations with the directive because it is tantamount to violation of media freedom and freedom of expression as provided for by section 36 of the Constitution which stipulates that: “…the press shall have the right to report and publish freely, within Malawi and abroad and to be accorded the fullest possible facilities for access to public information”.

 

Further, the directive denies members of the public who rely on private broadcasters the right to information and the right to know. Limiting live coverage of VVIP functions to state media alone clearly denies information to listeners of private radio stations that broadcast such events live.

 

The directive, we have noted, is coming at a time when the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has just released names of up to thirty six applicants who are seeking radio and television broadcasting licenses. This is evidence that citizens in the country are hungry for information. The ministry therefore, should not be seen to be in the forefront denying members of the public their right to information.

 

This directive, if implemented, will be connoted as a deliberate move to clampdown on private radio stations that are serving a lot of Malawians. The private media in the country are complementing government in various ways, including helping the current administration achieve its development agenda. 

 

We thus feel the directive is a serious threat to media freedom and the public’s right to know, a worrisome situation to both media practitioners and members of the public.

 

MISA Malawi is therefore appealing to the authorities, especially those from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to consider rescinding the directive which bans the private media from covering live VVIP functions.

 

Signed

 

Aubrey Chikungwa

MISA National Director

 

- June 23, 2010 by MISA Malawi

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Source: www.misa.org (received via email alert 23.06.10)