Tag Archives: MISA Malawi Chapter

Business

FDH Bank pumps K5 million towards  MISA  awards

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Bank Plc has committed K5 million towards this year’s Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi award gala slated for Saturday night in Lilongwe.

Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony  in Blantyre on Friday, FDH Bank Public Relations Manager Lorraine Chikhula, said the Bank applauds the crucial role the media plays in the country and the support it renders to different stakeholders and partners including the financial sector.

“As FDH Bank Plc we are honoured to have sponsored the upcoming activities with  an amount of K5 million towards the MISA Awards Gala which includes sponsorship of several key awards categories to our media partners.” said Chikhula.

She added  that as a homegrown institution, the Bank  recognizes the importance of putting  people first and resonate with the values that are important to the people of Malawi under their sustainability program, ‘FDH Cares’.

“It is  important  for the corporate sector  to support initiatives that are of great value to the media hence FDH Bank Plc taking part in reflecting the fundamental principles of Press Freedom, evaluation of the state media and press freedom in the country and efforts in defending journalists,” she said.

Chikhula further congratulated the new MISA National Governing Council (NGC) that was ushered into power on Thursday led by Golden Matonga as Chairperson.

Representing MISA Malawi at the event, Aubrey Mchulu who is also Editor of The Nation newspaper commended FDH Bank Plc for the support saying it will go a long way in ensuring the awards gala is colourful and memorable especially this year as it celebrates 30 years since its establishment.

“FDH Bank is a true partner of the media fraternity in Malawi. This support cannot go without appreciation,” he said.

During the gala, journalists from various media houses are awarded for their exploits within the year.

Human Rights, Malawi

World Press Freedom Day: MISA Malawi dares Chakwera on Electronic Transaction Act review

Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-As today marks 30 years since the United Nations set aside May 3 for the observance of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the outgoing Chairperson for MISA Malawi, Theresa Ndanga again observes that Electronic Transactions and Cyber security act of 2016 as barrier to online media work which is against freedom of expression.

Ndanga expressed worrisome over the law on Wednesday during World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) breakfast at Kamuzu Palace.

She said some provisions in the law are broad and vague that law-enforcers frequently using them to restrict freedom of expression.

Ndanga however said MISA Malawi does not condone misinformation, publication of false news by criminalizing online communication.

She also said criminal defamation is benefiting those that are in advantaged positions at the expense of the country’s scarce resources.

The MISA chair therefore urged President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance administration to consider repealing criminal defamation as the law already provide for alternative civil suit.

She further added that Access to Information (ATI) seem to be of no value since it’s registration as the country registers decline in World Press Freedom rankings this year.

“Freedom of the press and freedom of expression means that from time to time someone will write or say things that offend or embarrass us but that does not give any of us license to deal with them,” said Ndanga.

Chakwera therefore assured the media that Tonse government will continue engaging the press on crucial matters of the nation.

The Malawi leader also promised to fulfil the oath that he took to uphold the Constitution of this Republic by enshrined all the freedoms and rights to promote and protect freedom of expression as it is a driver of media ability as a free press to promote and protect all other freedoms.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day is commemorated under a theme; “Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”.

Meanwhile, MISA Malawi is expected to go for elective polls on Thursday, May 4, 2024 to usher new leadership of the chairperson, Vice and Executive Member.

Malawi, Obituaries

Malawi media mourns Mzimba community radio reporter Victor Tembo

Chisomo Phiri
Mzimba community radio reporter Victor Tembo dies

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPst)-MISA Malawi is deeply saddened and shocked with the untimely death of Mzimba Community Radio Reporter Victor Tembo.

In a statement, MISA Malawi Chairperson Teresa Ndanga describes Tembo as a dedicated and ambitious up-and-coming media practitioner whose contribution in the media industry shall forever be remembered.

“He will be remembered as a dedicated and ambitious up-and-coming media practitioner. Our condolences go to the Tembo family, colleagues at Mzimba Community Radio and the media fraternity. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” reads MISA statement.

Tembo died on Friday, November 4, 2022 at Mzuzu Central Hospital after a short illness.

Until his death, Tembo was MCR’s deputy bureau chief in Mzuzu.

He joined the station in September 2020.

Tembo graduated with a Diploma in Journalism in 2021.

He will be laid to rest on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at his home village Emtiyani-Njuyu, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mtwalo in Mzimba district.

Development, Human Rights

Misa Malawi audits Tonse administration’s 2020 performance

Richard Kayenda
MISA
Teresa Temweka Ndanga: Chairperson of MISA Malawi

by Richard Kayenda

Mzuzu MaraviPost: Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter has weighed in on the gains and losses of the Tonse administration in the just ending year of 2020.

In a press statement issued on January 1, 2021, the media body has clapped hands for the Chakwera–Chilima government for tossing the Access to Information (ATI) law into action, though it is yet to be gazetted.

“As we close the year 2020, we applaud the administration for having operationalized the Access to

Information law, whose advocacy work last for as long as 17 years. The operationalization in September, barely three months after the Tonse Administration took office is highly commendable and government should build on this to finalize the process to gazette the ATI regulations.

“We would also like to applaud the new administration for opening up the state house and introducing

the weekly press briefings which we believe have allowed the media more access to the highest office in

the country as well as fulfilling the proactive disclosure requirement under the ATI regime?,” reads the statement in part.

However, the media institute has not spared any words for the government and its supporters for conversely taking actions which are aimed at squeezing the media space and freedoms. In particular, Misa has criticised  the violation of freedom of some media practitioners.

“In our ongoing media monitoring project, we have sadly recorded the cyberbullying of Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalists: Suzgo Chitete and Ephraim Munthali following a story by the newspaper on EU’s budget support to Malawi and Munthali’s opinions in his weekly column ‘Cut the Chaff’ which appears in the Weekend Nation.

The attackers, who have not hidden the fact that they are supporters of the Tonse Alliance Administration, have cowardly launched their onslaught of the journalists under pseudo Facebook accounts.

“Some MCP insiders have been writing Chitete to warn him of what was being planned against him for writing articles deemed critical of the administration; some cabinet ministers have also been calling and threatening journalists after publication of stories deemed to be critical of the Tonse Alliance Administration,” expressed Misa, among other concerns.

Meanwhile, the institute has assured the current administration of its unwavering support, saying it is not immune to criticism so long as such is done through proper procedures and without bruising the existing cordial working relationship between the two. As the year 2020 drew to an end, various commentators came to the limelight to register their comments on the Tonse government performance since its ascendancy to power on June 23 in the

Law and order

“Stop using MBC, MACRA as propaganda tools”-MISA challenges Malawi Govt on World Press Freedom Day

Angella Semu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-As the world is commemorating World Press Freedom Day, today under the theme “Journalism without fear or favor”, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter has reminded government, political parties, media users and other stakeholders to ensure that journalists and the media in general is free from political and commercial interests to effectively serve public interest.

In press statement issued on May 3, 2020, signed by its Chairperson Theresa Ndanga, MISA has asked government to stop using Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) as tools to spread propaganda in favour of the ruling party in the country.

The local chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Malawi has also asked government to ensure that the state media is run under the Communications Act of 2016.

MISA Malawi has highlighted the need for government to stop using MACRA as a tool to silence and intimidate independent broadcasters in the country.

The broadcasting media regulatory framework has also been asked to be
independent and promote and defend media independence and professionalism by refraining from abusing its power by stopping the broadcasting of information which is in public interest.

MISA Malawi has disclosed that many journalists in 2019 were attacked by party functionaries, cabinet ministers, Members
of Parliament, the police, and members of the public and hence has asked the Police to investigate and prosecute cases involving the assault, harassment or unlawful detention or arrest of journalists and other media practitioners in the country.

MISA Malawi has also asked the Minister of Information and Communications Technology to set a date for the commencement of the Access to Information Act to ensure that Malawians fully enjoy the right to free expression and other fundamental human rights.

MISA Malawi has however commended the media for adhering to professional standards of practice and implementing the code of conduct in the 2019 Tripartite Elections and media managers for reviving the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) to drive media self-regulation and ensure a professional, independent and accountable media sector in the country

Human Rights, Malawi

MISA Malawi concerned with assault of MBC reporters by prison warders

Patience Mandowa 1 Comment

Informing the public that journalist have the right to cover stories within and outside Malawi

Maula Prison
warders at Maula in Lilongwe manhandled reporters from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)

Monday, July 17, 2017

Statement for immediate release

The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi)
is concerned with reports that prison warders at Maula in Lilongwe
manhandled reporters from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for
covering the on-going strike by the prison warders.

The Chapter would like to remind people that the ‘media has a right to
report within Malawi and abroad and to be accorded the fullest possible
facilities for access to information.’ We believe that media coverage of
the strike by the prison authorities in no exception.

MBC reporter Patrick Dambula and camera man Hastings Khombo were
manhandled by the warders around lunch hour today, Monday, July 17, 2017.

In an interview with MISA Malawi, Dambula said that they failed to do
their story because of the hostile atmosphere at the prison.

“Things got worse when we approached the gate. The prison warders tried to
confiscate the camera but fortunately they failed. We failed to even do
any interviews for our story. Lucky enough no one was hurt,” Dambula said.

Efforts to speak to prison authorities proved futile.

We would however like to call upon prison authorities to desist from
attacking the media and to ensure that the matter is investigated and the
culprits disciplined.

Beating up reporters and treating them as criminals is barbaric and
retrogressive.

MISA Malawi would like to caution the general public against any form of
attack on journalists in their line of duty. Journalists have a
responsibility to report and inform Malawians on developments in the
country. Any form of attack on journalists is an infringement on not just
the media’s right to gather and report but also citizens’ rights to
know.

The media is not an enemy of the people but a partner in development.
Signed
Teresa Ndanga
Chairperson, MISA Malawi
For more information contact Teresa Ndanga on +265999 247911 or National
Director Aubrey Chikungwa on 0999327311 or through email
info@misamalawi.org

 

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MISA Malawi
Onions Complex
Off Chilambula Highway
P.O. Box 30463
Lilongwe 3
Tel: +265 758 091