MISA protests irregularities in the granting of broadcasting licences by the government

(MISA/IFEX) – It has been reported that the government of Malawi is to issue a broadcasting licence to presidential press officer Alaudin Osman to operate a private radio station. However, MISA points out that this announcement is being made at a time when the country has not established an independent regulatory mechanism that should oversee […]

(MISA/IFEX) – It has been reported that the government of Malawi
is to issue a broadcasting licence to presidential press officer
Alaudin Osman to operate a private radio station. However, MISA
points out that this announcement is being made at a time when
the country has not established an independent regulatory
mechanism that should oversee and regulate broadcasting
operations and the granting of licences.

During the last three years, several private individuals applied
for broadcast licences but have been turned down without
explanation. In 1995, Eddy Manda and Oscar Johnson “illegally”
operated radio stations after having failed to obtain broadcast
licences. Their radio equipment was confiscated by police and the
two men have since not been allowed to operate a station.

MISA observes a trend in southern Africa of governments issuing
permits to their “friends” before transparent liberalisation of
licensing procedures are in place in order to give them an unfair
advantage and to fill valuable frequencies with non-dissenting
voices. MISA’s findings on Malawi are that the licences, for now,
are being issued directly by the minister of information and
broadcasting, a practice MISA finds unacceptable and undemocratic
in a new dispensation. Furthermore, the Malawi government has
resisted a review of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)
Act, 1991, in order to guarantee the independence of public
broadcasting. Also, no move has been made to introduce a
legislation that can guarantee fair allocation of frequencies to
applicants in the country.

The first-ever station in private hands went to the United States
of America-backed African Bible College, which runs an FM radio
station based in Lilongwe, the capital. However, the station is
only allowed to broadcast religious-related messages, and not
news.

Osman’s new radio station, to be based in the commercial capital,
Blantyre, will be the fourth broadcaster in Malawi since
independence from Britain 31 years ago. The other two are the
state-owned Radio One and Radio Two of the Malawi Broadcasting
Corporation (MBC). Radio Two began broadcasting in July 1997.

Recommended Action

His Excellence President Bakili Muluzi

Office of the President

Sanjika Palace

Private Bag 300

Blantyre, Malawi

Tel: +265 621 855 / 634 320  / 634 566

Fax: +265 635 644 / 634 681

His Excellence President Bakili Muluzi

Office of the President

State House

P.O. Box 40

Zomba, Malawi

Tel: +265 621 855 / 634 320  / 634 566

Fax: +265 635 644 / 634 681
Rt. Hon. Minister Sam Mpasu

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

P.O. Box 494

Blantyre, Malawi

Tel: +265 620 266 / 620 170 / 651 275

Fax: +265 620 807 / 620 039
Director-General Sam Gunde

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation

P.O. Box 30133

Chichiri

Blantyre 3, Malawi

Tel: +265 671 222

Fax: +265 671 257 / 670 280