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| National |
| UDF summons Lipenga over blackout on MBC |
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by
Gedion Munthali, 10 November 2004
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09:03:29
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UDF national executive committee will summon its estranged publicity secretary Ken Lipenga over allegations he has directed, as Information Minister, state controlled MBC not to carry items concerning former president Muluzi and some senior ruling party executive members.
The senior members in question are remanded director of economic affairs Friday Jumbe, deputy director of research Humphrey Mvula, and Zomba Thondwe MP Dumbo Lemani. The reason for the alleged ban is that the four gentlemen allegedly do not wish the current government well.
MBC’s deputy director general Eunice Chipangula has also been ordered to stop anchoring a programme called Media Talk. Summoning of all executive management meetings has also been made the preserve of the director general only.
UDF secretary general Kennedy Makwangala, confirming the party has heard about the alleged ban, said on Tuesday the executive committee would want to confirm the report with the Information Minister himself “because, if it is true, it is a very sad development”.
“It is our belief that the gentlemen in question have all the rights deserving them to be heard or be featured on the national broadcaster,” said Makwangwala. He did not specify when Lipenga would appear before the committee.
Lipenga rubbished the reports. He said it was not his upbringing “personally or intellectually” to order people around. He added that it was not within his nature to “use public resources to promote personal agendas.”
“Those reports are utter garbage and must be treated with all the contempt they deserve. I do not get involved in the day to day editorial decisions of MBC. Everyone knows that the time I went to MBC I told them to open up and attend to everybody. Now where is all this nonsense coming from?” Questioned a clearly upset minister.
MBC Director General Owen Maunde collaborated Lipenga’s version of the story, saying no ban had been effected at MBC against the four gentlemen or anyone.
“Those allegations are malicious. There is no such a directive. In any case the Minister of Information asked us to open up. And for that matter we featured an item on the former head of state just lately. So what are the rumour mongers talking about?” questioned Maunde.
Chipangula confirmed Maunde asked her to stop anchoring Media Talk programme. She however said she was not given reasons for the development.
“I was told that the programme would be given to another person. But I was surprised that on Sunday the announcers were just playing music,” said Chipangula.
Maunde confirmed he has asked his deputy to stop anchoring the programme purely on professional grounds.
“There was nothing attached to my decision. When I listened to the programme she anchored I thought it was not professionally done. I just thought our output had to be to the expected standards,” said Maunde.
Chipangula said she would comply with the decision not to be seen to be insubordinate.
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