Government says radio plays a critical role in fostering development and coexistence.

Minister of Information and Digitalisation Gospel Kazako said this during commemoration of World Radio Day at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District.

According to Kazako, radio is a powerful medium which influences decisions and promote diversity.

He said: “We have enormous expectations from our radio stations and it is important that these radio stations are economically sustainable.”

“To deliver on what we expected them to be: ethical, professional and widely accessible.”

On its part, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) board member Alekeni Menyani has called upon media practitioners to use the radio responsibly by uniting Malawians.

“I would like to appeal to all radio station owners whether public, commercial, faith-based or community to strive towards making radio a game-changer for the good of the nation,” Menyani said.

“Radio should provide hope and answers to challenges and many other issues that may stand out in communities by availing a linkage with policymakers, partners in development and all relevant stakeholder in addressing them.”

During the commemoration, Macra made a donation of desktop computers Dowa FM and Yetu community radio stations.

In her message released on the February 13 2022, a radio day which is commemorated globally, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director General Audrey Azoulay observed that more than half a people in Europe trust radio as a credible source of information.

“This trust is all the more important under serious circumstances, as radio is the only medium which can reach so many households, especially in the remotest of areas,” Azoulay said.

“During a pandemic, radio thus remains one of the surest ways to know what to do, without controversy confusing matters.”

This year’s World Radio Day has been commemorated under the theme: “Radio and Trust”.