Twenty-seven district reporters who were fired by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) have gone to the Industrial Relations Court, Zomba Registry, demanding damages and compensation of about K688.5 million.
They argue that reinstatement is not practical, hence the need for the court to order compensation for unfair dismissal and damages for unfair labour practices.
According to court documents we have seen, the claimants were offered three-year contracts effective April 1 2025, subject to “annual performance review”.
But on May 28, MBC sent termination letters to them via email, terminating their contracts on the grounds that they were employed for a specific task, which was the 2025 General Elections held on September 16 2025.
However, through their lawyer, Dominic Makawa, they have submitted to the court that their contracts did not permit early termination upon completion of the elections.
The reporters say since each one of them was earning K250 000 per month and had 22 months of the contract remaining, they should be paid their remaining proceeds totalling K148.5 million.
They are also seeking K540 million in damages for unfair and unsafe labour practices, bringing the total claim to K688.5 million.
Meanwhile, The Nation has established that another group of about 16 journalists who were employed between October and September 2025 was fired in July this year.
One of them confided in us that they received letters of termination on July 24, saying they were fired because of unsatisfactory performance during the probationary period.
When we first asked if MBC would defend the court case, the corporation’s spokesperson, Chisomo Mwamadi, declined to comment yesterday, saying they were mourning the passing of director general Brian Banda, who was buried on Monday.
