Malawi: Parliament refuses MBC and TVM funding

Despite intensive lobbying by media organisations in the country, opposition parliamentarians were adamant and refused to approve the allocation.

Like all other votes, on Wednesday, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe presented to parliament a Statutory Corporation vote, which incorporates the two institutions.

“It doesn't matter how much you weep, the funding for these two unusually primitive organisations cannot pass. Not in this house,” declared opposition United Democratic Front leader in the house, Dr. George Nga Mtafu.

The opposition parliamentarians contend that the two broadcasters are biased towards government.

This came just days after a vote for the Information and Civic Education ministry was rejected in the house before it got the nod from parliamentarians on the day the allocation to the institutions were thrown out of the house.

The opposition parliamentarians then demanded that the minister of finance withdraw the amount allocated to TVM and the MBC in the Statutory Corporation vote.

The minister then proceeded to withdraw K212m meant for the two institutions and as required by law, indicated that he had allocated K1 each, to the two institutions.

“If the two institutions managed to survive on K1 each last year, then they would continue to do so now,” said Deputy Leader of the UDF in the house, Friday Jumbe who is a former finance minister.

The move has angered the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi).

“We are not amused by this unfair decision by the MPs. MBC and TVM must be funded at all costs,” argued MCM executive director, Baldwin Chiyamwaka.

MISA Malawi chairperson, Brian Ligomeka said the parliamentarians should have considered the two institutions as they responded positively when they were ordered to suspend political programmes that were said to be vilifying the opposition.