MISA Malawi has asked H.E the state president Dr Lazarus Chakwera and the vice president Saulos Chilima to set a date for the operationalization of the Access to Information (ATI) Act.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday June 3 signed by MISA Malawi Chairperson Teresa Temweka Ndanga.
According to Ndanga, the ATI Act is necessary to fight corruption and ensure an open and accountable government hence the need to implement
the ATI Act and ensure the Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has adequate resources to oversee implementation of the legislation to unveil corruption and bad governance that has been thriving in darkness and secrecy.
The media institution has revealed that Malawi registered 12
attacks on journalists between January and June this year without any arrests made and has asked Chakwera-Chilima presidency to work diligently to put an end to impunity and attacks on journalists.
In the congratulatory message to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Right Honourable Saulos Chilima for their victory during the June 23, 2020 Fresh Presidential, MISA Malawi has also asked for independence of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and the Malawi
Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) so they can be used as a platform for diverse and robust debate on matters of national interest.
MISA Malawi has also implored with the new leadership to maintain the duty-free clause for radio and television broadcasting equipment and also to consider scraping off VAT on newsprint to support the print media which is struggling with circulation figures because of the tough economic environment prevailing in the country.