Mkushi community radio challenged

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 09:54:54 +0000

By PETER MALASHA

The Mkushi youth coordination committee has urged Mkushi Community Radio station to call for an annual general meeting (AGM) to promote accountability and transparency.

The station has been accused of  failing to organise an annual general meeting since 2015.

This is contained in a statement made available to the Daily Nation by Mkushi district youth coordinator, Bright Mumba.

Mr. Mumba said the AGM and board elections at the local media station was long overdue because their mandate expired when they clocked three years in office.

“As youths of Mkushi district we have nothing against the board in question because it was democratically elected into office. But it is high time they called for the annual general meeting so that people can exercise their rights to vote and give them another legal mandate again if need be,” Mr. Mumba said.

He noted that many activities had happened during tenure, ranging from some members leaving due to political engagements and others for unforeseen circumstances.

Mr Mumba added that the reasons qualifies the calls people are making for board members to renew their mandate and pave way for other people to come in and bring in fresh ideas as well as experiences.

He said the move would make the elected members accountable to the people who vote because currently, some members are either co-opted or appointed making it difficult for the community to make them accountable of their deeds.

Meanwhile, Imbalasa ye Lala ne Swaka Association secretary Getson Kapotesha has reiterated the call for dissolution of the Mkushi Community radio station board.

Mr. Kapotesha said the board was operating illegally because their tenure of office ended.

Mr. Kapotesha stressed that, according to Mkushi radio constitution, the board’s mandate should be three years in office not more than that.

“We are concerned as an association and community members that the radio station is not calling for the annual general meeting where new board members must be ushered in but kept on postponing the dates,” Mr. Kapotesha said.

When contacted for the comment, Mkushi Community radio vice board chairperson Godfrey Mupindo said the management was organising for the AGM anytime.

“Mkushi radio management is organising for the AGM. It was supposed to be held last December 28, 2017 but due to financial woes it was put off,” Mr. Mupindo said.