While Rumphi residents continue to struggle with poor MBC radio signal, the corporation has sent its Director of Administration and Human Resources Justice Matonga and his Controller of Administration Timpuza Mwansambo to “inspect” a proposed transmitter site.
Critics are questioning why administrators not engineers are leading a technical mission. With clear signal transmission problems in the district, many argue Acting Director of Engineering Raphael Kasawala who was appointed by embattled former Director General George Kasakura and technical team including Wilson Kumtambila now Controller of studios who was then demoted by Kasakura, from controller of engineering to Chief Engineer should have been on the ground instead.
The visit has also sparked debate over the government’s ban on unnecessary travels and meetings by public officials. At a time when institutions are expected to tighten spending, such trips risk being viewed as allowance driven exercises rather than urgent service delivery missions.
Each of them Matonga and Mwansambo have gotten 300 litres, 5 night allowances among many other benefits.
It remains to be seen why they have opted not to include MBC Regional Manager for the North Chimbizga Msimuko on their tour.
Rumphi residents say what they need is action not inspection.
‘The problem is technical and demands technical solutions,” argues Ireen Gondwe
For years, MBC’s signal in Rumphi has been unreliable, limiting access to national information and programming.