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| National |
| TVM, MBC licensed |
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by
Emmanuel Muwamba, 01 December 2004
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09:01:10
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The Malawi Communications and Regulatory Authority (Macra) on Tuesday gave licences to two public broadcasters, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi (TVM), saying they shall be monitored on contents and frequencies.
Macra director general Evans Namanja said the licensing is in compliance with Section 46 of the Communications Act.
Information and Tourism Minister Ken Lipenga, who was present at a press briefing at Macra House in Blantyre, said the institutionalised fair play of the public broadcasters is aimed at giving power to the public.
“What is happening now is extending the process of change which dates back to 1993 in a manner for Macra to play its role of mediating which they were not able to do,” he said.
Namanja stated that both the act and the licences contain a code of conduct for broadcasting services which prescribe standards for broadcasting news.
Namanja also said Macra will be monitoring compliance to the code by the two broadcasters in accordance with Section 54 of the Communications Act.
On elections coverage, Namanja said the two broadcasters need to give equitable time to the political parties on coverage and political adverts.
He also disclosed that private broadcasters’ licences have been reviewed that they can be revoked if the broadcasters do not abide by the code of conduct.
He added that the private broadcasters too need to give equitable time to all political parties as spelt out in elections coverage for the two public broadcasters’ licenses.
MBC director general Owen Maunde in an interview welcomed the licensing, saying the institution will now operate legally.
He promised to adhere to the rules and regulations in the licence to improve services as MBC. He also said he expects MBC to be very competitive with other broadcasters.
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