Malawi SECTOR 3: 3.1 Broadcasting regulation is transparent and independent, the state broadcaster is transformed into a truly public broadcaster. Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body adequately protected against interference, particularly of a political and economic nature. ANALYSIS: Broadcasting in Malawi is regulated by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) established by the Communications Act 1998. The Authority is nominally independent. Members of the MACRA Board are, however, appointed by the State President while the Minister of Information appoints the Director General of the authority. The Secretary to the President and Cabinet and the Secretary for Information also sit on the board as ex-officio members. The present chairperson of the board is an executive of the ruling party. Others are informally affiliated to political parties, being active without necessarily having a formal post. The language of the law allows this by excluding only persons who are “a member of a committee of a political party” from the eligibility as a board member. No board since 1999 has ever served its full tenure of four years. Instead members were dismissed by the State President without giving any substantial reasons. SCORES: Individual scores: 3, 2, 4, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1.8 African Media Barometer - Malawi 2006 21