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| National |
| Media condemn Macra’s ban |
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by
Pilirani Semu-Banda, 04 June 2003
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08:14:41
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Various radios and media organisations have condemned Director General of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Evans Namanja for ordering community radios not to air news bulletins.
Radio Maria general manager Monsignor Joseph Kimu said Namanja’s declaration is questionable as it shows that Macra is scared of the issues that community radios bring out in their news which are not likable by government.
Kimu said Macra is using the word “community radio” to get at Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) radio which has been airing controversial stories.
“I think some of us are just victims. Macra should just come out in the open and say what type of news they want to stop. They are afraid of what MIJ airs,” said Kimu.
Coordinator of Islamic Information Bureau Sheik Dinala Chabulika said in another interview Macra is wrong since people have a right to be informed of issues that are going on around them.
“Maybe Macra should just ask the radios not to exaggerate issues but it should not talk about stopping us from broadcasting news,” said Chabulika.
Baptist Media Centre director Reverend Paxy Kayanula also condemned Macra’s decision and called it a “bad political gimmick”.
Kayanula said Macra is saying this now because elections are close by.
“It’s a campaign strategy since Macra wants the ruling UDF only to have a voice through MBC and TVM,” he said.
He said news makes radio business and it is unfair to stop the radios from broadcasting news.
National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa) spokesman Innocent Chitosi said his organisation was dismayed over Namanja’s statement.
“We have freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the country and what Mr. Namanja is saying is unconstitutional,” said Chitosi.
He said Macra has been staying away from conferences on how best radios can work which, he said, shows that it is not willing to address people’s needs.
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