The Media, Information and Communications Committee of Parliament has faulted state broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) over an out of court settlement of K48 million that the Corporation paid to 4 survivors of sexual violence on behalf of its employee.

The settlement followed a recommendation by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) which found that former MBC Director General (DG) Aubrey Sumbuleta sexually harassed the female employees.

But reacting to the settlement, the Committee`s vice chairperson Suzan Dossi said the Committee is not impressed with how the state broadcaster carried out the matter saying that the perpetrator could have personally settle the costs .

“We are not satisfied as a Committee hearing that the K48 million settlement will be paid by taxpayer`s money not the individual himself.

This is taxpayer’s money, and it’s painful because government shouldn’t be accountable of someone’s irresponsibility and unprofessionalism, that’s uncalled for, we are not happy,” she said.

Dossi has since called upon MBC to improve how it runs its affairs but being impartial and apolitical.

“We have not been impressed with MBC how it has been operating but the new DG has assured us that will see a lot of changes at MBC.

“As a Committee we expect that MBC should acting impartially but also the issue of politics they have to put it aside but also we want to see MBC being on its own because as you are aware MBC relies on government subversion,” wished Dossi.

On his part, newly appointed MBC DG George Kasakula said the Corporation opted for out of court settlement because it had no Sexual Harassment Policy.

“The reason why MBC settled this because there wasn’t this policy [sexual harassment] so these survivors can argue in court that MBC didn’t protect them.

“And also it would not look good for MBC to be fighting these claims in court because it happened and institutions like MHRC are very clear that probably this happened,” said Kasakula.