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afrol.com/AENS, 17 January - Malawi President Bakili Muluzi's press spokesman resigned on Wednesday to head one of only two commercial radio stations in the central African country. Alaudin Osman told African Eye News Service (AENS) that he resigned after six years of uninterrupted service in Muluzi's office to focus on the management and expansion of Capital FM. South Africa's United Alliance Media (UAM) recently bought a large but as yet undisclosed equity stake in Capital FM and announced plans to launch Malawi's third national commercial radio station, Youth FM. UAM already manages the popular Y-FM in South Africa, Yorona FM in Botswana and various smaller stations in Tanzania. "I have no regrets having worked for President Muluzi and in fact learnt a lot - especially about the mechanics of power. We all had our ups and downs, but my time with the Sanjika Presidential Palace has been the best in my life," Osman said. Osman confirmed that his resignation and full-time employment at Capital FM was a condition of the UAM deal but declined to disclose any other details. Osman stressed that Muluzi accepted his resignation in the interests of national media development, and said a replacement who could give undivided attention to the presidential press office would be announced soon. He refused to confirm or deny that senior presidential staffer Wille Zingani would be appointed. Osman also denied local speculation that his departure had been hastened by internal politicking at the Sanjika Presidential Palace, or by a fallout with Muluzi. UAM meanwhile announced that Capital FM would be refocused on Malawi's adult listenership while the proposed Youth FM station would seek to capture the country's large teenage population. The pan-African media group added that it would make considerable technological investment in the stations, and would spearhead an application to expand Capital FM's footprint from Blantyre and Lilongwe to the entire country. UAM chief executive Anthony Glass confirmed that Capital FM had already broached the issue with Malawi's Communication Regulatory Authority. Capital FM began broadcasting in March 1998 when Osman's family established the station. By Brian Ligomeka, African Eye News Service (AENS)
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