A Milestone Celebration: Chanco Radio & TV’s 10th Anniversary
There was a whirlwind of joy on 28th September, 2023 at Jali Hunger Project Ground as the University of Malawi's media house, Chanco Radio and Television (TV), celebrated its 10th anniversary since embarking on the journey of broadcasting various programs. Over 200 Chanco Radio and Television listeners from various Zomba communities, such as Chiwamba, Muwa, Nankhuni, and Mulapo, as well as Nyalungwe and Chiwale in Phalombe, gathered to celebrate this milestone with UNIMA’s management and staff members from the media house.
During the function, the Guest of Honor, Mr. Zadziko Mankhambo, Director of Broadcasting at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), applauded and recognized Chanco Radio and Television for being a distinct media house that exclusively broadcasts programs focused on environmental and climate change issues. He further stated that the media house serves as a model for others in its consistent dedication to the programs covered by its broadcasting license.
In an interview with one of the listeners, Mr. Kampeni Kaduya from Mulapo Village, he expressed his gratitude to the Chanco Radio and Television team for assisting people in various communities by showcasing their talents through the radio and television. He stated, “The team came to my village after recognizing my talent in carpentry. Through the footage they captured of my work, I was featured on the ‘Luso Langa’ program, which airs every Friday. As a result, I gained numerous customers from across Zomba and Phalombe, earned money, and received exposure to many people who were previously unaware of my talents.”
The Vice Chancellor of UNIMA, Prof. Samson Sajidu, expressed his appreciation for the Chanco Radio and Television team as they celebrated their 10th anniversary. He commended their diligent hard work, creativity, and dedication throughout the years. Additionally, he elaborated on some of the achievements Chanco Radio and Television has attained.
“The radio has successfully trained numerous journalists from various public universities, such as Soche Technical and the University of Malawi, among others. Furthermore, the radio has played a significant role in fostering relationships among people in various communities through its phone-in programs, which are regularly aired on our media platform,” he said.
Sakina Majawa, the Station Manager, was also present at the function. “Having a wide audience for our programs that solely broadcast environmental and climate change issues was not easy,” she explained. “People want to be entertained and prefer to listen more to political matters, which is contrary to our goal. However, our coordination and creative efforts in producing many programs broadcasted on our media house have attracted audiences from various communities.”
“For example, in 2017, Chanco Radio and Television received an award for being the best green media house of the year, which encouraged our team to put in even more effort in all the programs we produce. The media house broadcasts over 80 programs.”
The celebration was spiced with various mesmerizing activities, including drama, poetry, music performances, and dances. Showcasing the University of Malawi’s commitment to community engagement, the day started with the team cleaning the Jali Market and concluded with a gift presentation from the UNIMA management to Jali market representatives.
