Misa-Malawi bemoansmedia houses’ closure

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter has asked government to reconsider its position on broadcasting licences which has led to the closure of some electronic media houses.

Misa-Malawi chairperson Teresa Ndanga, speaking yesterday during a media breakfast meeting that President Lazarus Chakwera hosted at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe to mark World Press Freedom Day said revocation of licences endangers freedom of expression which is essential for enjoyment of all rights.

In her address, she highlighted failures by the Tonse Alliance administration to walk the talk on the promotion of media freedom and access to information.

Of particular concern, Ndanga said, is the closure of some broadcasting houses for failure to pay licence fees, which was unfortunate as the prevailing economic environment made it difficult to afford such fees.

She said: “As we speak, 250 journalists lost their jobs. And when we talk about loss of media jobs, we are talking about the limitations that this presents to the enjoyment of other rights such as freedom of expression and access to information.”

The outgoing Misa- Malawi chairperson said she was particularly disappointed with Chakwera’s lack of response to concerns presented to him on this matter.

She said the Misa regional office wrote to the Office of the President and Cabinet seeking intervention, but received no response.

Ndanga further expressed frustration that while the current administration has done well to enact the Access to Information (ATI) law, there is lack of commitment to implement

 the same.

She said: “For two consecutive years, your government has not allocated resources to the Malawi Human Rights Commission for the implementation of ATI law.

“T h e c a m p a i g n promise was fulfilled by your administration in operationalising the law, but we are obviously stuck on the implementation side. I am at a loss on whether we should continue to applaud your administration on the gains registered on ATI.”

Misa-Malawi, according to Ndanga, is also worried with the presence of criminal defamation law when the same can be sorted out through the civil means.

She cited the arrest of ACB director Martha Chizuma last December for an alleged defamation case as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

After pointing out shortfalls, Ndanga, however, gave credit to Chakwera’s administration for some legislative milestones as a step in the right direction.

She said : “ Last November , your government championed the repeal of sedition laws and the Amendment of the Protected Names and Emblems Act by removing the President’s as one of the protected names. That was a very big victory for us. And a bold stance on your side.”

Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said government has noted the concerns and will continue to engage Misa-Malawi to find solutions.

He said: “Some are policy issues and others are legislative issues that still need to be looked into. We’ve taken note of those.

“Some of these are already on draft stage and some Bills are completed while others are ready to be presented before Cabinet and then will be presented before Parliament for enactment.”

In his brief speech, Chakwera did not touch on the concerns raised, but underscored his commitment to promote and protect freedom of expression as this is the driver of a free press’s ability to promote and protect all other freedoms.

Said the President: “We must never abuse, discredit, or corrupt because this puts all other human rights at risk. When all the weapons, all the money, all the laws, all the institutions, all the governments and all the borders in the world are no longer available or able to defend, promote and protect any of our rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are our last line of defence.

“And if we allow our last line of defence to be abused, dissuaded, discredited or corrupted then we leave the gates to all of our other freedoms open to be attacked.”

He further assured that he will continue to fulfil the oath that he took to uphold the Constitution in which all the freedoms and rights we enjoy are enshrined.

This is the second time Chakwera is hosting the press for breakfast, after doing the same last year, to celebrate World Press Freedom Day.

Later in the day, the President left for the United Kingdom to attend King Charles III’s coronation.