CLOSURE OF MZIMBA COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi chapter has learnt with great concern the temporary closure of Mzimba Community Radio by the Malawi Communications and Regulatory Authority (MACRA).

From the information MISA Malawi has gathered, the radio station was closed because of what MACRA officials described as failure by the radio station to comply with the regulatory body’s rules and regulations, which are stipulated in the Communications Act.

Much as we appreciate MACRA’s powers to order a station off the airwaves or revoke its broadcasting licence, we feel that MACRA would have found others ways of dealing with the situation before taking the radio off air.

As an organisation campaigning for broadcasting diversity and pluralism, every closure of a radio station is a matter of concern and our stand is that closure of radio stations should be the last resort after all mediation attempts have failed.

Our request to MACRA is to allow the station to come back on air as soon as possible while the regulatory body and other stakeholders resolve the issues and problems that have been noticed at the station.

MISA Malawi is therefore appealing to the regulatory body to consider issues of contact and dialogue, before taking a step further in closing down radio stations or meting out any punitive measures against broadcasters that breach MACRA’s rules and regulations and the Communications Act.

Mzimba Community Radio Station is a source of pride, identity and information for people of Mzimba because of its role of informing, educating and entertaining the community. Switching it off air disenfranchises these people of their right to information which they could use for their social and economic development. It is also a blow to the broadcasting landscape as it reduces the number of voices and choices regarding radio stations available to people of the area.

In the same vein, it is our sincere hope that justice will prevail over the arrest of Mr Sam Lwara who has been arrested on allegations linked to the closure.

It is the hope of MISA Malawi that whatever decision MACRA and other relevant authorities take will be to the advantage of the beneficiaries of the station.



SIGNED
BRIAN LIGOMEKA
MISA MALAWI CHAIRPERSON


Rashweat Mukundu
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: + 264 61 232 975
Fax:+264 61 248016
Mobile: 00 264 813 675 362
E mail rashweat@misa.org, misaalerts@gmail.com

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