World Radio Day Celebrations 2023

8th February every year is designated as World Radio Day. This day was established in 2012 by UNESCO to reflect on the contribution of radio in various aspects of human life. This year, the day was celebrated under the theme “Radio and Peace”. However, Malawi celebrated the day on Tuesday 28th March 2023.

This year’s World Radio Day celebrations were held in Zomba and were hosted by Yoneco FM, Chanco Community Radio, and Mzati FM. As it is every other year in Malawi, the celebrations were organized by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) in collaboration with UNESCO. The guest of honour at the function was the Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Hon. Moses Kunkuyu.

In addition to highlighting the role of radio in conflict prevention and peacebuilding in line with the theme, the host radio stations also took advantage of the event to showcase some of the areas they have impacted. Chanco Community Radio invited representatives from 3 of its 10 radio listening clubs, women from the Bwalo La Amayi radio listening group, and two musicians who also performed at the function. The radio station also invited Chikho Travelling Theatre, one of the drama groups that contribute to some of its radio plays, who also performed. Also invited were various stakeholders such as officials from the District Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry offices.

In preparation for the function, Chanco Community Radio procured banners, golf shirts and t-shirts. The banners were displayed during the function while the t-shirts and golf-shirts were distributed among the radio station’s staff and invited stakeholders.

As one of the hosts of this year’s World Radio Day, Chanco Community Radio was part of the organizing committee. The radio station also provided a lorry which was used to ferry tents and chairs to and from the venue. The whole event was also broadcast live on radio as part of its contribution. Chanco TV was also there, recording the event to be broadcast at a later date.

As part of the celebrations, MACRA pledged to gift each of the three host radio stations with a computer, a printer and a recorder. The Registrar of the University of Malawi, Mr. Martin Matululu, received the computer on behalf of Chanco Community Radio. The printer and recorder will be delivered in due course.

These gifts will help the radio station in the execution of its activities, filling the long-standing gaps that are there in terms of equipment.