MHRC meets MBC over broadcasting concerns

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has told taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to address concerns about its operations that the public has been raising since the country attained multiparty democracy in 1994.

MHRC chairperson Reverend Patrick Semphere said this in an interview after the commission held a closed-door meeting with MBC board in Blantyre on Tuesday where they discussed a number of concerns.

He said the issues included biased reporting on public issues, overzealousness of staff who engage in partisan politicking, offensive and unprofessional broadcasts and the role of MBC as a State broadcaster in the June.

The MHRC chairperson said several recommendations were also made from the meeting.

MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta in a written response described the meeting as fruitful.

Sumbuleta said they have also appealed before the MHRC for a free operating atmosphere for MBC journalists who on many occasions have received a hostile reception in their quest to balance stories or indeed provide coverage to some of the contesting parties.

During the meeting, MHRC cited Chindunji, Sapita Kawiri and Manifesto, as some of the ‘unbiased and unfair’ programmes on MBC.