The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation
SAIDE

Context:
While collecting information for this global distance education network, SAIDE held several interviews with organisations in Southern African countries. Impressions of each country were generated to give some introduction to distance education and technology use in the area. Each interview has also been written up separately as a case study.

Source:
SAIDE country visits conducted in 1999

Copyright:
Permission granted

The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation

Interview with Mr Wilson Pankuku (Acting Director-General) and Mrs Gladys Khoza (Programme Convenor)
13 July 1999
and
Interview with Mr Benson M. Tembo (Coordinator: TV Malawi)
14 July 1999
and
Interview with Mr Raphael Kamlomo (Chief Information Officer)
14 July 1999

Introduction: The MBC and new policy developments

The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is Malawi’s national public broadcaster. The Communications Act 41 of 1998 stipulates that it Board of Directors is appointed by the President in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Under the Banda government, the MBC was under strict government control. Since the first multiparty elections, the MBC enjoys greater independence, particularly because the broadcasting sector is under the new Communications Act regulated by MACRA (Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority). Government does, however, continue to fund the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. Greater emphasis is placed on financial sustainability, hence the MBC’s drive towards increasing its revenue from commercial advertising. The Malawi government funds the MBC’s capital expenditure.

In its Communications Sector Policy Statement, which was released in August 1998, the Ministry of Information (which is responsible for Broadcasting and Telecommunications in Malawi) outlined the following objectives government has set itself with regard to broadcasting in Malawi:

1. MBC should act as the national public broadcaster, embracing radio and television;
2. A diverse range of sound and television broadcasting services should be provided in the new democratic Malawi;
3. Coverage of FM radio broadcasting will be ensured by the issue of separate licences in relation to every centre of population in Malawi;
4. Broadcasting services should be regulated in the best interests of the public.

The MBC currently employs 395 staff members. It is estimated that the number of radio sets in the country is 1 060 000.

TV Malawi was launched in March 1999. As part of broadcasting reforms, TV Malawi will be transferred to the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. The Communication Sector Policy Statement further states that: "MBC should provide broadcasting services that inform, educate and entertain and which represent Malawi to the world and to observe the principles and norms of a democratic society".

Educational broadcasting on MBC radio

The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s two-channel radio network is currently broadcasting for nineteen hours a day in seven languages. These are English, Chichewa, Tumbuka, Ya, Lomwe, Sena and Tonga. In terms of content, Radio 1 is more community-based and informative, whereas Radio 2 is more commercial-oriented. Radio 2 broadcasts primarily in English in Chichewa. Radio 1 broadcasts on FM, Medium Wave and Short Wave and Radio 2 on FM stereo.

Since the Malawi College of Distance Education school broadcasts had been suspended in 1997, due to the fact that the College was unable to foot the bill – MBC radio channels do not broadcast any formal education programmes. A range of informal educational programmes is broadcast, in particular on Radio 1. These include programmes on basic health and nutrition, social hazards and entrepreneurship. One programme, Schools of Dawn, us aimed at supporting the government programme for Adult Basic Education and Training by fostering greater awareness around this issue. The programme focuses on the experiences of adult learners. In the programme, adult learners from remote villages are interviewed about their experiences.

TV Malawi

Whereas radio broadcasting has been liberalized and licenses for private radio stations have already been issued, the Communications Act 41 of 1998 makes provision for exclusive rights to the MBC for terrestrial television broadcasts for a period of seven years to permit a return on investment.

TV Malawi was launched in March 1999. Currently it broadcasts two hours daily with very little local content. The plan is to steadily increase the local content quota. The coordinator of Malawi TV, Mr Benson M. Tembo, seemed to be very positive about the possibility of utilising TV Malawi for delivering schooling programmes. In this regard, he said that he hoped to work closely with the Malawi College of Distance Education, the Malawi Institute of Education, and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.