Community radio stations face financial challenges

Community radio stations in the Northern Region are struggling to operate effectively due to financial problems.

This was revealed on Wednesday during a training workshop organised by the Malawi National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Mzuzu.

The training was held to drill personnel from Likoma, Usisya and Chirundu community radio stations in issues concerning women and the youth.

Chirundu Radio Station representative, Innocent Manda, said his institution faces a shortage of resources such as computers and recorders.

He said this affects the station when producing programmes as 20 reporters have to share one recorder and two computers.

Manda also said the institution does not have a generator for use during electricity blackouts. He said as a result, they only work seven hours a day.

“Our listeners are complaining that we are usually off air due to the frequent blackouts,” Manda said.

Likoma Community Radio Station manager Davie Kacholola said his station is struggling financially, such that all of its 17 staff work as volunteers.

In his remarks, Malawi National Commission for Unesco acting executive secretary Emmanuel Kondowe said community radio stations can be more sustainable when there is a strong sense of ownership within the community.

He said that can happen if the stations make themselves relevant to their communities.

“Where governance structures are representative and processes are democratic, a community station is more likely to be sustainable. Public accountability generates trust, and trust is more likely to attract support from the community and other funders,” he said.