By The Forum

For far too long, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has functioned as a government or state loudspeaker rather than a national or public broadcaster. The airwaves MBC occupies belong to the people of Malawi, not to any ruling party. What’s been unfolding isn’t just political bias, rather, it’s a betrayal of public trust.

A quick refresher in case you forgot, for whatever reason: Public broadcasting is meant to inform, not indoctrinate; to challenge power and not cheerlead for it. When MBC turns a blind eye to fairness and balance, it robs Malawians of the objective information they need to make informed choices, especially in an election year like this one.

The calls by the country’s media watchdogs for accountability are a vital first step. But lasting change will only come when citizens stand firm and demand a broadcaster that serves everyone, not just the party in power like what has been happening for a long, long time. And just because something took place for so long, it doesn’t make it right..

It’s about time the people took back their airwaves, before the airwaves became permanently tuned to propaganda. And you, Sir, as a responsible citizen, are going to help to make the change needed happen.