Northern Region MCs on sensitisation tour
Master of ceremonies (MCs) from the Northern Region will today embark on sensitising the public on the need to utilise registered members of the newly established Northern Region Emcees Association of Malawi.
Speaking during the launch of the association on Friday at Chenda Motel in Mzuzu, chairperson of the association, Martin Nkhoma, said there is a need for the public to recognise the members of the association so that they should be accountable if they are to deliver poor services.
During the tour, Nkhoma said the team will be demonstrating how the members ought to conduct themselves.
“We want the public to understand that it is only through the association’s members that they can get good services,” said Nkhoma.
Nkhoma said with the establishment of the association, anyone working as an MC without membership to the association will be penalised.
“We are encouraging all MCs to come and register because having launched the association, anyone practicing outside the association’s membership will be penalised. We have powers to confiscate their equipment,” he said.
However, Lewis Kulisewa, director of consumer welfare and education at the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC), said the Malawi Constitution provides for freedom of association, hence Malawians are free to choose whether to belong to a trade association.
“In this regard, no one, except through an Act of Parliament, has powers to stop others from doing business in Malawi. If the MC association is preventing non-members from doing business, it is committing an offence under the Competition and Fair Trading Act,” said Kulisewa.
Meanwhile, MC Associations in Malawi have partnered with Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) in awareness campaigns in sensitising the public on the need to avoid damaging bank notes.
RBM currency and planning manager Charles Msosa, who graced the Northren Region association launch, said the central bank realised the need to partner with emcees because they are at the centre of most ceremonies where bank notes are prone to damage.
“In events such as weddings, engagements and bridal showers, bank notes are prone to damage, they are thrown anyhow. We spend a lot of money to purchase such notes outside of the country. We therefore, find it appropriate to incorporate emcees who are key in such events to assist us with the sensitisation campaigns,” said Msosa.
