Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga diocese on Saturday 4th July 2015 lead the Catholic Faithful in a high Eucharistic Mass that marked the official commissioning of an evangelization tool in the name of Tuntufye FM Radio that the diocese has been sharpening for years since its inauguration on 20 November, 2010.
The commissioning ceremony kick-started with the cutting of the ribbon and the blessing of the studios by the Right Revered Bishop Martin Mtumbuka and later the holy Eucharistic mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Karonga.
In his homily during the mass, His Lordship Bishop Mtumbuka said the radio station should be a source of inspiration and bring salvation to the world.
“This is a great day for the diocese as we thank God since we have achieved our vision by establishing this radio station. Let me challenge all those working at this radio station to have courage in dissemination information to the masses hence bring joy to the listenership,” he said.
Bishop Mtumbuka who is also the Bishop Chairman for the Communications Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi then bemoaned domestic violence which has become a common trend in the diocese of late.
He said let the radio which mainly focuses of spiritual and developmental programming help in promoting the livelihoods of its listenership for the better.
Earlier in his biography speech of the radio station, the Communication Secretary for Karonga diocese, Fr. Kondwani Mwenegamba said Tuntufye FM Radio Station is an idea that was conceived by His Lordship Bishop Mtumbuka with the aim of assisting the diocese which has few priests to reach out to the people that are in the area of jurisdiction and beyond.
“The radio borders with Tanzania to the North and East and Zambia to West of the Diocese. Initially, it covers a number of difficult to travel places where no instant messages can reach hence the radio will help to reach out to these people,” said Fr. Mwenegamba.
Licensed under the Community of Interest Sound Broadcast – Regional by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Tuntufye FM opened its air waves under the banner “Your Good News and Development Radio” on the 21st of December 2014.
The radio’s frequencies are 91.8MHz and covers Karonga and surrounding areas, 98.4MHz in Chitipa and surrounding areas.
According to the radio’s Coordinator, Moses Kamanga, Tuntufye FM plans to plant a third transmitter at Livingstonia to cover the remaining parts of the Diocese.
Karonga diocese has managed to realised its dream of establishing Tuntufye FM radio with the help of its partners; Missio Aachen, Holy Childhood and Archdiocese of Cologne and SIGNIS.
Apart from Tuntufye FM radio, the Catholic Church in Malawi has other media houses that include Radio Maria Malawi in Mangochi, Radio Alinafe in Lilongwe, Radio Tigabane in Mzuzu, Luntha Television and Montfort Media in Balaka.