MALAWI: Archdiocese of Blantyre Receives License to Start Catholic Radio Station
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
After two years’ search of license to set up a radio station in Blantyre Archdiocese, Kuwala (light) FM as the radio will be known has received a regional license making it the first Catholic radio in the Archdiocese.
“We applied for license two years ago but it delayed because of the political situation in the country. There were some hiccups and we were not awarded the license. Now that we have received the license we have to set the ball rolling,” Communications Coordinator for Blantyre Archdiocese Fr. Frank Mwinganyama told AMECEA Online after they received the license from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
MACRA will allow the radio to transmit news for the southern region of Malawi which, according to Fr. Mwinganyama, will cover not only Blantyre Archdiocese but also other dioceses adjacent to Blantyre such as Chikwawa and Zomba.
“You are hereby awarded a commercial sound content for the Southern Region. A copy of the license to be issued to you is enclosed herewith,” reads part of the MACRA’s letter to the Managing Director of Kuwala Radio.
“The license will only become effective upon publication in the Government Gazette and this should be done once you pay the initial license fee amounting to US$1, 500,” the letter signed Friday, July 17, by MACRA’s Director General Mr. Henry Shamu, highlighted.
The radio intends to broadcast in two main languages; English and Chichewa, a language spoken in parts of Malawi,” Fr. Mwinganyama who has been coordinating communications in the Archdiocese for three years explained.
Responding to the type of programs the radio will air when it begins its operations, the Malawian cleric who also serves as youth Chaplain in the Archdiocese said, “The radio will focus on catechesis programs devised for modern understanding with questions and answers. We will also air news and programs addressing social and pastoral challenges.”
Besides, he added, “We will have programs targeting the youths on integral formation which combines both spiritual and human formation that will include Malawian cultural issues to help develop the youths.
The radio is anticipated to go on air within 8 months as per MACRA’s requirement hence a task force is already in place who are coming up with plans on the way forward.
Asked about sustainability of the radio to a foreseeable future, Fr. Mwinganyama disclosed that “the radio will run adverts to help bring income.”
“We opted to go commercial because those radios which didn’t do so and opted to depend on donations from Christians became unsustainable,” he explained adding that there will be a strong marketing team which will also help identify sponsored programs for sustainability purposes.
