Tikuferanji’s blackout on MBC shocks Adra
Followers of MBC-TV’s soap Tikuferanjihad a rude awakening last Saturday evening when, instead of the programme, they got a documentary touting President Joyce Banda’s Safe Motherhood Initiative.
Equally shocked was Adra Malawi, the sponsors of the programme, who, during a press conference yesterday in Blantyre, expressed ‘deep shock’ over MBC’s decision not to air the latest episode of the soap which airs from 7:30pm to 8pm.
Adra deputy country Michael Usi said he only received the news of barring a “few minutes before the time soap starts”.
“I was called by MBC director news, Hamilton Chimala, a few minutes before the airing of the soap. He told me that they will not air it because it may incite the violence in the country,” he said.
The Nation was given an opportunity to watch the soap during the press briefing.
The soap, through discussions made in quite a relaxed among five actors, tackles two issues: political violence and the debate of removing Junior Certificate (JC) from secondary school education.
On political violence, the soap discusses the disadvantages of political violence, as a result, condemns it in strongest terms.
“I don’t know how condemning political violence and debating rumours of scrapping off JC could incite violence. I just do not know. This is not Adra’s programme; it is for Malawians,” said Usi, popularly known as Manganya.
When contacted, Chimala said MBC will come up with an official statement today.
