HRDC Trashes MACRA’s Act Over MBC Conduct

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has trashed the move by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to summon Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) over the airing of swearwords against the State Vice President Saulos Chilima.

According to HRDC, the summon letter by MACRA to MBC is unfair, inconsistent arguing that the communications body is being lenient with the state broadcaster.

HRDC further said that MACRA has no vote of confidence to Malawians.

“We know there are rules and regulations which guide media on how they have to operate, we are also aware that legally there are consequences of broadcasting obscene language as  such these rules have to apply,” reads the statement seen by Face of Malawi.

The coalition continued by question MACRA why it treat MBC in a “babyish style” considering that MBC has wronged Malawians with state propaganda for a number of times.

“It’s the same MACRA which targets other media houses with Lions treatment whenever such media houses do nothing wrong but positive broadcasting?”

“This so called nonsense by MACRA must stop. We are already challenging this in court. Its high time MACRA and MBC realized that wisdom of professionalism is not political weapon.”

Meanwhile, HRDC and other stakeholders are challenging the matter to court where they are demanding that the state broadcaster should be off air for the time being.

On Monday, May 11 during 7 pm Chichewa news bulletin, MBC aired screenshots containing swearwords against Chilima.