The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) has announced that it has suspended radio programming that involves phone calls from listeners. In a statement released by the Macra’s Director General, the suspension has been justified by citing “careless and unethical coverage of post elections events” by broadcasters.

The statement reads, “MACRA has noted with regret, the conduct of some broadcasters who are indulging themselves in careless and unethical coverage of post election events”. Fearing the such programs may incite violence, the Authority has urged broadcasters to comply with the Code of Conduct for Broadcasters as stipulated in the Communications Act Second Schedule, which states that respective broadcasters should not broadcast any material which is obscene or offensive, inclusive of abusive and insulting language.

The Act also emphasizes that broadcasters must excercise due care and sensitivity in the presentation of material which depicts or relates to acts of brutality, violence, atrocities, drug abuse and obscenity.

The statement reads “The Authority is hereby suspending all phone in programs with immediate effect, until further notice”. Macra Director General Godfrey Itaye has stressed that the Authority will monitor all broadcasting and will invoke regulatory sanctions on all that breaches the directive by the Authority.