Sub-editor Che Kaukutu Ndege in the Radio Islam on-air studio presents a weekly news roundup program in cooperation with CII radio. BLANTYRE, Malawi — Malawi’s only Islamic radio station, Radio Islam has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Africa’s satellite radio Channel Islam International to facilitate the exchange of content between the two stations.
The agreement, according to CII consultant Faheem Muhammad, will allow the two radio stations to interchange staff members in addition to programs and news. “As an international broadcaster CII produces many transnational programs covering political, social and economic issues,” said Muhammad. “So the core objective of this agreement is to assist each other and for us in particular to support Radio Islam Malawi with various tasks. We will organize, for example, vigorous training sessions for Radio Islam Malawi,” he said.
Muhammad says another crucial element of the agreement is that it will permit the exchange of ideas between each station’s department heads.
“Our head of news will liaise with Radio Islam’s head of news, sharing ideas and stories. Radio Islam will also send staff to CII headquarters in Johannesburg for hands on experience,” he said.
Meanwhile, Radio Islam has started airing live programs from CII on weekdays from 8 to 10 p.m. via a decoder, which CII has donated to the radio. CII broadcasts via a digital satellite television station, which transmits across Africa and other satellite platforms.
Radio Islam Malawi Director Muhammad Osman is upbeat about the agreement saying it will help the station’s listeners benefit from CII programs, which he says, cover global issues in a very professional way. Osman points out that in addition to CII, Radio Islam also partners with Mozambique’s Radio Haq and South Africa’s Radio Islam.
The MOU between CII and Radio Islam Malawi will be reviewed and adjusted annually.
— Lameck Masina
