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Mzuzu, MALAWI — The launch of Unenesko FM last September at the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) campus in Mzuzu, north of Malawi, has enabled aspiring journalists who have long dreamed of being on air to start living their dreams. “Unenesko” is a Tumbuka word, spoken in north Malawi, which means “justice” or “truth.”
Every day, its studio is always abuzz with activities; learners rehearse scripts, edit audio and host live programs. Some learners say this is the first time they have stepped behind a microphone, mixing audio, and hosting a live program.
“This radio station has changed everything for me,” says Natasha Kanjere, a final-year Diploma student. “I used to hear our lecturer talk about ‘dead air’ but never really understood it. Now, as the host of two programs, I know how serious it is when you’re on air and there’s silence. I’ve also learned how to edit audio in Adobe Audition.
Kanjere, who is 25 years old, hosts the Kids Corner and Career Guide programs at Unenesko FM, which has now made her a celebrity in her community. “My friends envy me,” she says. “I feel on top of the world.”
Hands-on broadcasting experience
For Ken Philips Kanyinji, a 26-year-old final-year diploma student, the campus radio has deepened his passion and sharpened his skills as an aspiring sports commentator. “It has helped me connect with other sports enthusiasts and practise live commentating while still in school. I’m mastering my craft before I even graduate,” he says.
Unenesko FM is part of Malawi’s inaugural Campus Radio Project, launched in 2023 by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority, to provide learners in higher learning institutions with hands-on experience in broadcasting. According to MACRA Director General Daud Suleman, the project also seeks to help learning institutions generate revenue by attracting advertising from small and medium-sized enterprises.
Whenever I walk into the studio, I feel like my future has already started
Student Natasha Kanjere
To date, 10 universities and colleges have benefited from the project. These include the University of Malawi, Mzuzu University, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Karonga Teacher Training College, St. Luke’s Medical College, Malawi University of Science and Technology and MIJ’s campus in Mzuzu.
Under the project, each campus station receives a complete broadcast package. The equipment includes an FM transmitter, antenna, mixer, microphones, audio processors and even a backup generator.
Roselyn Mankhambera, head of radio at the Malawi Institute of Journalism, says that before Unenesko FM, learners at the northern campus had no real platform for hands-on training in broadcasting. “They were just writing stories in class without the chance to present, produce, or operate studio equipment. Now, they can put theory into practice every day,” she says.
Costs and setbacks
However, the initiative is not short of setbacks. “When we started the campus radio, we thought it would be self-sustaining,” Mankhambera says. “The plan was to find advertisers and small projects to cover costs. But many businesses ask about our coverage, and when they hear it’s under 20 kilometers, they choose radio stations with a wider reach. They say they want to reach decision-makers, not just students.”
Mankhambera, also station manager for MIJ FM, the institution’s national commercial radio, says as a result, running costs for the Mzuzu station are being absorbed into MIJ FM’s main budget. “We haven’t hired extra staff. Instead, we’re using MIJ FM staff within existing resources. We want the station to stand on its own, but it’s proving difficult,” she says.
According to MACRA, the total budget for the Campus Radio Project is 500 million Malawian kwacha (about US$300,000). It has, however, promised to provide each campus radio with 50 million Malawi Kwacha (about US$30,000 which beneficiaries believe will help ease budget concerns.
However, learners like Kanjere and Kanyinji continue to make the most from the radio, seeing it as a launchpad for their careers. “Whenever I walk into the studio, I feel like my future has already started,” Kanjere says.
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