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| Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka, Bishop of Karonga Diocese |
The long awaited Tuntufye Radio Station of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga finally hits the airwaves; Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga has confirmed.
Tuntufye Radio Station becomes the 4th Catholic Radio station in Malawi. Other radio stations include; Radio Maria in Mangochi Diocese, Radio Alinafe of Lilongwe Archdiocese and Tigabane Radio of Mzuzu Diocese.
According to Bishop Mtumbuka establishing a radio station is one of the very first projects the diocese on which he is deeply pleased that the diocese has now reached a stage of establishing a Radio Station.
“Of course what we have started doing is only a signal-testing. We will continue doing so for some time because we are yet to install the big transmitters which are due to arrive in the country within the next two weeks. But reaching this far is very gratifying indeed and we are very grateful to all those who have supported us,” he said.
Bishop Mtumbuka who is also the Chairperson of Social Communications Commission at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi said establishing a radio station is not a small job for anyone – let alone for a young and small Diocese like Karonga.
“A lot of work had to be done with very few people to assist us. As mentioned above, we still have to install the big transmitters. So there is still a lot of work to be done. The transmitter we are using now is very small – it can fit in a briefcase. But thanks to advanced technology, with it we are able to reach around 50,000 people within and around Karonga Township,” he said.
He said that the Diocese of Karonga has 6 parishes but with only 16 priests and that the terrain in some of the parishes is extremely difficult in terms of movement for both goods and people.
“Furthermore, we are the only Diocese in Malawi that has large areas where no priest has been to, since the beginning of Christianity in the country. These are places where there are no road, no school, no hospital, no Church etc. Against this background it was very clear to me from the very beginning of the existence of the Diocese that a radio station would be the most effective means of reaching out to the people within the Diocese with the Good News of Salvation and development which is part of Salvation,” he said.
Bishop Mtumbuka said Chitumbuka, Kya Ngonde, Chindali and English will be the major languages used at the station for broadcasting its programs.
Bishop Mtumbuka also disclosed that the humble beginning of the radio station was also financially supported by Church in Need, Missio Aachen and the Archdiocese of Cologne as well as SIGNIS. Radio Tigabane of Mzuzu diocese has also given a lot of technical assistance for the establishment of the radio station.
Source: Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer
