“We do not have money; but whether we have it or not we are still a parastatal that needs government subvention; but because we do not have money we cannot broadcast well-coordinated programmes,” said Banda.
According to Banda, equipment at the station has not been replaced since establishment in 1999 and the fire in the broadcasting house in 2001 has added to the nightmare of running the station.
“We are not mandated to go flat out as a commercial entity because we are 100% owned by government which runs us based on what the Communications Act says,” Banda said.
She conceded that the TV station depends on news sources to provide them transport and other resources. James Chavula, a journalist working for Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL), condemned this tendency of depending on resources from news sources saying this compromises professionalism.
“Journalists from TVM demand too much money from news sources justifying that since they are the sole television in Malawi they can demand the moon,” he said.
Chavula explained that journalists at TVM charge for covering news and sometimes demand sources provide them with recording tapes if coverage is provided, and this he said must be strongly condemned.
Banda said that as much as the station realises and acknowledges the crisis it is in, it is uncouth for journalists to behave in this manner.
“We have already suspended some journalists and cameramen for this kind of tendency and we will investigate more to encourage discipline and professionalism even when we are running without resources,” said Banda.
