Calls to have Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) underfunded resurrected during Public Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting in Blantyre but Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has opposed the calls arguing the state broadcaster needs to be independent.
During the PAC meeting, delegates argued that MBC serves the interests of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) only hence no need to be funded from taxpayers’ pocket.
The delegates cited the use of chiefs to castigate those that are criticizing the ruling DPP on its failures.
But MCP through its spokesperson Eisenhower Mkaka has opposed the calls for MBC’s underfunding arguing the state broadcaster needs liberation from political masters who use it for propaganda.
“If you remember MBC was given one kwacha during the 2007/08 budget allocation due to the same issue but government had its own ways to fund MBC, So if we can agree to have MBC being given one kwacha, government will use same tactics to fund MBC.
“What is needed is to have it fully independent just like other stations like BBC, they serve the interests of taxpayers,” said Mkaka in an interview with Malawi24.
In 2007 and 2008, then Television Malawi (TVM) and Malawi Broadcasting Station (MBC) got K1 allocation each as the committee of parliament responsible for media kept a sharp eye on the public broadcasters following their tendency to work with ruling parties and not Malawians.
Members of Parliament (MPs) cited castigatory programs such as Makiyolobasi that was said to be mocking former President Bakili Muluzi.
Mkaka is brilliant MBC needs to be independent because giving them K1 wont help matters they can dubiously be funded by the so called dead peoples party Dpp