MCM executive director Baldwin Chiyamwaka said in an interview Thursday
the initiative will bring diversity and pluralism which is necessary
for the continued growth of the liberalised media and the development
of the country's democracy.
The public's right to freely express opinion is made possible with
media pluralism and diversity which accommodates diverse views and
helps citizens learn and attain their ability for tolerance of opposing
views, said Chiyamwaka.
He said the increase of radio and television stations will bring
stiffer competition for broadcasters and create employment for
journalism graduates.
The increase of broadcasters can also mean greater demand for quality and audience-focused programmes, Chiyamwaka observed.Â
He, therefore, called on the public and advertisers to take the opportunity to demand programmes that meet their needs.
He said although existing community radios are currently facing
challenges, the increase in the number of community radios will enable
listeners in the rural areas to participate meaningfully in development.
Chiyamwaka, however, appealed to Macra to be transparent in issuing the
licences, saying they should use a clear and objective criterion for
awarding the licences in relation to available frequencies.
Macra intends to issue 16 broadcasting licences, 10 for radio and six for television.
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