Macra says open to licence fee revision

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says it is open to review broadcasting licence fees stakeholders have described as exorbitant if concerned parties follow procedures.

Macra spokesperson Zadziko Mankhambo said this in an interview in a response to our questionnaire yesterday amid calls by the Media Council of Malawi and Media Institute of Southern Africa

(Misa) Malawi Chapter for the regulator to consider reducing the annual broadcasting fees currently pegged at $5 000 (about K5 million).

The two media organisations argue that the fee was too high for most media houses that are already reeling from financial challenges worsened by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mankhambo said besides the fee, Macra is also not comfortable with calls to waive revocation of licences for broadcasters with arrears, saying there is no provision under the Communications Act that provides for the same.

He said acting contrary to the Act would go against one of the key roles of a regulator which is to level the playing field.

Said Mankhambo: “Macra is a fair regulator and so long as the proper procedures and proper justifications are submitted, Macra has no problem with considering the same.

“In addition, Macra is the regulator that charges the least fees in the Southern African Development Community [Sadc] region.”

He said the regulator will continue to engage Misa and the Media Council of Malawi as they are major stakeholders in the media industry, adding Macra always appreciates their efforts and activities in trying to uplift the media industry.

“The call from Misa is welcome and we will continue to compile such views as suggestions on how we can improve,” said Mankhambo.

He also justified the quoting of the licence fee in dollars, saying it helps to make the fees stable.

Misa Malawi chairperson Teresa Ndanga yesterday said the concerns being raised are not new. She said they have been engaging the government for several years.

She said: “We have had meetings with both the ministry and Macra. We have also written them on the same. These concerns are not new and as I indicated, even media managers and owners have written the Tonse Alliance administration through the Ministry of Information and Digitisation about the same issues.”

Media Council of Malawi chairperson Wisdom Chimgwede said licence fees should be reasonable but not be cheap to avoid affecting standards.

Macra has embarked on an exercise to enforce compliance in payment of licence fees by operators in the communications sector.

The exercise has seen Capital FM, Rainbow Television, Angaliba Television, Ufulu Television, Sapitwa FM, Joy Radio, Ufulu FM and Galaxy FM having  their licences revoked.

However, two days after its closure, Macra approved a new broadcasting licence for Capital FM.

Misa Malawi and Media Council of Malawi estimates that 250 full-time jobs will be affected due to the closure of the television and radio stations.